Billionaire businessman and longtime Shark Tank judge Mark Cuban revealed that he was approached to be Kamala Harris’s running mate during her 2024 presidential campaign. But ultimately, he said no. The startling claim surfaced during an episode of The Bulwark Podcast, where host Tim Miller brought up rumors that Cuban was being vetted for the vice presidency. To many, it sounded like political fan fiction. But Cuban confirmed: the offer was real.
The tech mogul, who is also the former majority owner of the Dallas Mavericks and founder of Cost Plus Drugs, explained his decision with a characteristic dose of blunt honesty: “The last thing we need is me telling Kamala, the president, ‘No, that’s a dumb idea.’ And I’m not really good at the shaking hands and kissing babies.”
Despite Harris selecting Tim Walz, the Governor of Minnesota, as her running mate, she ended up losing the election to Donald Trump, who has, in turn, been in the news for his proposed “Big Beautiful Bill” and a recent tiff with Elon Musk. Throughout the race, Cuban, who considers himself politically Independent, strongly advocated for Harris.
Mark Cuban often shares Harris’ views on TV and social media (especially on X) and doesn’t hold back when arguing with Trump’s supporters. This is probably why Kamala Harris extended the VP offer to him in 2024.
Why Did Cuban Mark Turn Kamala Harris Down?
Cuban, who has toyed with the idea of running for President and is open about his Independent leanings, was quite frank when looking back on the situation. “My personality is completely different than Tim’s. My experiences (…) are completely different. I think I’ve cut through the s–t more directly. I’m not a politician.”
“It would have been awful,” he stressed. He also admitted he’s not cut out to play second fiddle: “I’m not very good as the number two person.” He joked that, due to his personality, he could have been fired within a week of joining as VP.
VP Kamala Harris sits down with Mark Cuban for an interview.
Mark makes MAGA melt down so share it so they get big mad!
— Art Candee 🍿🥤 (@ArtCandee) October 24, 2024
Despite declining the opportunity, Mark Cuban’s enthusiasm for Kamala Harris was no act. “I really thought she was going to win,” he confessed on the podcast. Being one of her big-name fans from the business scene, Cuban’s backing brought some extra shine to her campaign, even though she didn’t win.
Cuban has never held back when speaking his mind about Donald Trump, and his criticism has been loud and clear over the years. He used his platforms to endorse Harris and debunk what he called disinformation propagated by Trump loyalists. Cuban’s outspokenness during the 2024 cycle was perhaps the closest he’s come to a formal role in American politics.
A Businessman, Not a Politician…But Never Say Never!
While Cuban insists he’s “not a politician,” this wasn’t the first time his name was floated for office. In June 2020, during an interview with CNN’s David Axelrod, Cuban acknowledged seriously considering running for president as an Independent. He said he had thought about a presidential run a lot at the time, though he backed out due to the political gridlock and media scrutiny.
I miss the old Mark Cuban. I don’t know what they have on him, but he has really lost it. Shout out to Bill O’Reilly for fact checking Cuban and putting him in his place.
Politics isn’t your thing, Mark! pic.twitter.com/Ble3DTDSRC
— David J Harris Jr (@DavidJHarrisJr) November 1, 2024
Cuban, 66, resides in Dallas, Texas, with his wife Tiffany and their three children: Alexis, Jake, and Alyssa. With a net worth estimated in the billions, a 15-season run on Shark Tank, and multiple ventures under his belt (including AXS TV, HDNet, and Cost Plus Drugs), Mark Cuban’s brand of blunt pragmatism has won him fans across political lines.
Still, don’t expect him to re-emerge on a ticket anytime soon.
