Mark Cuban Receives an Emotional Tribute in His Final ‘Shark Tank’ Episode: How He Said Goodbye After 14 Years

Mark Cuban’s time on Shark Tank has formally come to an finish.

On Friday, May 16, the 66-year-old billionaire businessman closed his ultimate deal (with a luxurious deviled egg corporate!) after 14 years at the long-running display. At the tip of the milestone episode, Cuban appeared again at his affect on entrepreneurship over the last 15 seasons.

“I remember literally thinking, ‘This show is not gonna last. Just go on there, just tear it up, raise Hell, cause trouble,’ ” he admitted. “I really didn’t expect there to be a third season, and then, boom. It just blew up.”

Ironically, season 3 used to be when Cuban was a chief solid member of the ABC hit after making a number of visitor appearances the 12 months prior. 

“I think I just brought a little bit of an edge, where I tried to make it not so much about an academic investment show, but more a show that is about people trying to reach their goals, trying to have their dreams come true,” he defined of his good fortune. “I’ve been in their shoes. I’ve been broke, I’ve been sleeping on the floor. I can put myself in the shoes of pretty much anybody who’s standing on the carpet.”

Some of the marketers Cuban invested in additionally returned within the finale to thank him for his beef up.

“From getting a deal with Mark, our lives have completely changed,” stated the founders of BeatBox Beverages, who made a care for Cuban in season 6. “We’re over $350 million in lifetime sales.”

The faces in the back of Dude Wipes hit an excellent larger quantity, pronouncing they have got completed over part one thousand million bucks in gross sales since their pitch in season 7.

“We’re so grateful to Mark and to Shark Tank for where we are today,” they gushed.

“What I’d like to say is, thanks to everybody who took a chance on me, all the entrepreneurs who said yes to me,” Cuban later added. “Who knows how many millionaires we’ve created, and their employees, how many people we’ve inspired? I’m proud of what we’ve done.”

Never leave out a tale — join PEOPLE’s unfastened day by day e-newsletter to stick up-to-date on the most productive of what PEOPLE has to provide​​, from famous person information to driving human passion tales.

His fellow Sharks closed out the season 16 finale with an emotional toast to Cuban.

“Mark, having you leave is really like having a big brother leave the house,” Barbara Corcoran stated prior to Lori Greiner added: “You’re a warrior, you’re a humanitarian, you’re just an all-around great, great person. And I admire and respect you and love you.”

Robert Herjavec shared that he has “learned a lot” in his time running with Cuban, as Daymond John famous that he has “changed the world.”

Kevin O’Leary, teary-eyed, went directly to reward Cuban for the imprint he left on everybody who is aware of him or appears to be like as much as him.

“I’m so proud of what we’ve all built together,” he stated. “We have become ambassadors of the American dream around the world. So much of it is because of you. We don’t always agree. We don’t. And sometimes, you’ve learned a lot from me!”

“You guys are amazing,” Cuban answered. “I mean, I’ve learned so much from all of you. We’ve had such an impact. And to Shark Tank, to the people who supported us, to the people who love us, I love you guys like family. Thank you.”

In the general few moments, Cuban made one ultimate observation. “This show changed me. I think I changed the show. And I think we all together as Sharks changed America.”