Mark Cuban reveals frugal habit that helped him protect his wealth after becoming a millionaire
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Mark Cuban, the straight-talking billionaire from 'Shark Tank', has always been about keeping it real when it comes to money.
Long before the private jets and courtside seats, Cuban was just a newly minted millionaire trying not to blow it all. His secret -- living like a broke college kid on purpose.
Mark Cuban became a millionaire but remained modest
Back in 1990, Cuban had his first big payday when he sold his software company MicroSolutions for $6 million. After taxes, he walked away with a cool $2 million. You’d think he’d go wild—fancy cars, luxury mansions, the works—but nope. Cuban had other plans.
“By the time I sold [MicroSolutions], I had just bought the worst house in the best neighborhood, but I wasn’t big into that. I wasn’t big into cars. I wanted to live like a student and just have fun,” Cuban told social media personality Jules Terpak in an interview released last week.
And live like a student he did. Cuban bunked up with five roommates, sometimes even crashing on the floor. A fancy lifestyle was not his thing. Instead, he focused on preserving his cash for the long haul.
Right after his MicroSolutions deal, Cuban made a smart move by seeking professional advice. And instead of going YOLO (you-only-live-once) with his investments, he told his broker something rather unusual for a guy in his 30s, “I want you to invest for me like a 60-year-old. I don’t want you to invest like I’m young, because I want to live off this for a long time.”
It wasn’t just a quirky request—it was a deliberate strategy. Cuban didn’t want to risk it all on flashy investments. His modest upbringing with a dad who upholstered cars and a mom who hustled odd jobs had taught him the value of financial security, Moneycontrol reported.
Mark Cuban's billionaire status changes the game
Things shifted in a major way in 1999 when Mark Cuban sold his second company, Broadcast.com, to Yahoo for a jaw-dropping $5.7 billion.
“Becoming a billionaire helped me feel like, 'OK, I’m set.' It gave me breathing room to take on more risks,” Cuban said of this turning point. “I could afford to take chances I wouldn’t have considered before,” he explained.
With billions in the bank, Cuban started exploring all kinds of ventures—from owning the Dallas Mavericks to investing in tech startups. But even with his newfound freedom to gamble a little, Cuban stayed true to one core principle: smart decision-making.
“Taking smart risks is essential to becoming wealthy,” he often insists.
Now a judge on 'Shark Tank', Cuban is all about passing on his money smarts. He tells entrepreneurs to think beyond quick cash grabs and focus on long-term, sustainable opportunities.
“It’s not just about making money; it’s about making good decisions with the money you have,” he said—a mantra he’s lived by from day one.
You can watch Mark Cuban's full interview here:
