Mark Cuban
Mark Cuban founded Broadcast.com in 1995, pioneering online audio and video streaming. The company grew rapidly and was sold to Yahoo! for .7 billion in 1999. Cuban's journey from bartender to billionaire entrepreneur became an internet-era success story.
Mark Cuban's Bio
Mark Cuban is the co-founder of Broadcast.com and a star of ABC's "Shark Tank." The company pioneered online audio and video streaming, growing from a small startup to a public company before selling to Yahoo for $5.7 billion in 1999. That exit made Cuban a billionaire and launched his career as a tech entrepreneur, media proprietor, and professional sports team owner.
Cuban grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he learned to hustle early—selling garbage bags door to door and taking odd jobs. After earning his bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Pittsburgh, he attended Indiana University's Kelley School of Business for his MBA. He started his professional life as a bartender in Dallas before moving into software sales, where his relentless cold-calling technique earned him a reputation as a tireless competitor.
In 1995, Cuban and his business partner Todd Wagner invested in AudioNet, a company streaming radio broadcasts online. They renamed it Broadcast.com and scaled it aggressively during the early internet boom, taking it public in 1998 and selling to Yahoo a year later. Following the sale, Cuban purchased the NBA's Dallas Mavericks in 2000, transforming the franchise from league laughingstock into championship contender (2011 NBA Champions). He co-owns 2929 Entertainment and AXS TV, and remains a prominent voice on technology, entrepreneurship, and sports.
Career Timeline
1980 — Earned BS in Business Administration at University of Pittsburgh
Graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a bachelor's degree in business administration.
1981 — Started as Bartender in Dallas at Various
Worked as a bartender at a club called Tuesdays in Dallas while figuring out next steps.
1983 — Founded MicroSolutions
Launched his first software company, a computer consulting and software sales business.
1990 — Sold MicroSolutions to CompuServe
Sold the company to CompuServe, achieving his first major financial exit.
1995 — Co-founded AudioNet (later Broadcast.com)
Partnered with Todd Wagner to launch AudioNet, pioneering live internet streaming of audio and video content; renamed Broadcast.com.
1998 — Took Broadcast.com Public
Led the initial public offering of Broadcast.com during the dot-com boom.
1999 — Sold Broadcast.com to Yahoo
Sold Broadcast.com to Yahoo for $5.7 billion, making Cuban a billionaire.
2000 — Purchased the Dallas Mavericks
Bought the NBA franchise, then a struggling team, and vowed to turn it around.
2011 — Dallas Mavericks Won NBA Championship
Led the Mavericks to their first NBA championship, defeating the Miami Heat.
2011 — Joined ABC's Shark Tank at ABC / Shark Tank
Became a prominent 'Shark' investor on ABC's hit entrepreneurship show Shark Tank.
