Mark Cuban shares his secrets to becoming a billionaire.
In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE on the eve of the release of the hit series Aquarium for sharksThe 66-year-old entrepreneur shared eight rules he follows in his career and private life. From money to parenting, Cuban explains that there isn’t just one path to success.
“I was born at the right time so when Internet technology really took off, we were able to start AudioNet, which turned into Broadcast.com, which turned into the first streaming company, to go public and I was able to turn around and sell for $5.7 billion in shares,” he says. “That was the luck — being able to do all the work and learn how all the technology works, that was the job. However, I had no control over the second half.”
Mark Cuban shares what he will miss most Aquarium for sharks Before his release — and these are not deals! (Exclusive)
“Life is half random,” he continues. “What you do with the half you can control is what really sets the tone for your entire life.”
This is why Cuban notes that every successful person – including himself – also experiences failures. In the long run, the only idea that won’t fail will be the one you remember, he says.
“It doesn’t matter how many times you fail, you only have to be right once, then everyone can call you an overnight success,” he explains, later adding that his motto is, “Ask yourself, ‘Why not me? Why can’t I be the one to change the world?’”
Now, Cuban says he doesn’t work as much as he used to — in fact, he doesn’t even take phone calls because “people pretty much kiss my ass when it comes to work, [so] I can tell them that I do everything by email,” he jokes.
And while other luxuries come with wealth, Cuban reveals that he rarely splurges on anything.
“When I first made money, I went and bought things, I bought a house, I bought a plane,” he says. “But since then, I literally even had a conversation with my wife not too long ago, ‘Okay, we’re allowed to go out and buy some things, so if we want to, let’s go look at things.’ But I’m not a big spender.”
Mark Cuban and Tiffany Stewart.
Chris Kleponis/WHITE HOUSE POOL
Cuban also credits his wife, Tiffany Stewart, for much of his success, saying another rule he lives by is “if you can’t be alone, you can’t stay together.” When it comes to their family, she coordinates all things related to their three children.
“My wife and I have a great relationship,” he says. “She is independent, smart, kind, curious. She is always reading and learning and is exposed to new things, and through osmosis and as many conversations as possible, I can learn a lot from her.”
“More importantly, or just as important, she is in charge of our children,” he says. “I show up, but she organizes everything. They tell me where to be and when, whether it’s homecoming pictures, whether it’s welcoming a first date, whether it’s picking up the kids. I’m also late for work so she’ll take them to school in the morning, and now that they’re out late, you know anything after 10pm is late, I’m the one who has to pick them up, and it’s always been that way. But we make a great duo.”
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Aquarium for sharks airs Fridays at 8:00 PM ET on ABC.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education