Mark Cuban Backs Skims Co-Founder as His 'Shark Tank' Successor
Mark Cuban and Emma Grede
Shark Tank's Mark Cuban announced plans to leave the show after Season 16 in a November 2023 interview with the podcast "All the Smoke." In a follow-up conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, Cuban said of his decision, "I just want to have a couple summers with my teens before they go off on their own. Nothing to do with the show. I love it. I love being on it. I love what [it] represents and how it motivates entrepreneurs around the world." (That squares with comments he previously made in an interview with Parade: "It comes down to just being able to get family time together over the summer," the tech billionaire said.)
Related: Mark Cuban Teases His Favorite Deals from 'Shark Tank' and Why He Might Consider Leaving the Show
Although ABC has yet to comment on Cuban's plan to exit the show, talk has already turned to who will be his successor on the hit series, led in part by the star himself. According to TMZ, Cuban enthusiastically backs Emma Grede for his soon-to-be vacant spot, saying she would be "insanely good" at the job. Shark Tank fans are more than familiar with the British entrepreneur, who was the first Black woman to appear on the show as an investor when she guested in the Season 13 premiere.
Here's what we know about the businesswoman who Cuban believes can more than fill his shoes.
Who Is Emma Grede?
Grede, 41, is a British-born, Los Angeles-based entrepreneur who cofounded Kim Kardashian's shapewear brand Skims and Khloé Kardashian's clothing brand Good American, among other ventures. She's also the founder of the marketing company Independent Talent Brand. Essentially, she's a pioneer of the influencer economy.
How did Emma Grede get her start?
Grede, who was raised by a single mother alongside three sisters, has worked in the fashion and entertainment industry since 2008, when she founded the entertainment-marketing agency Independent Talent Brand. “My skill was in interpreting a creative person’s vision and generating real business from it,” Grede said in an interview with Harper's Bazaar UK. “I was a poor kid, and I wanted to create something that had profit.”
Her early roots in the influencer economy led her to interact with the Kardashians (the pillars of the industry), which in turn led her to cofound several businesses with the famous family, starting with Good American, which she pitched to Kris Jenner in 2016.
“If you go back seven years, people weren’t talking about body positivity in the same way they do now," Grede told Harper's Bazaar UK. "There was a huge gap in the fashion market because so many women were left out of the conversation. At my agency, I was being asked by my clients to put forward the image of inclusivity and diversity, but the companies weren’t actually reflecting those values. I saw there was an opportunity to do things differently, and Kris and Khloé felt strongly about what I was saying; they got it instantly.”
How did Emma Grede make her money?
ITB was acquired by Rogers & Cowen in 2018. She's also the cofounder of many profitable Kardashian/Jenner companies.
Which Kardashian companies did Emma Grede cofound?
Grede cofounded Good American with Khloé Kardashian, Safely with Kris Jenner, Khy with Kylie Jenner and Skims with Kim Kardashian.
Did Emma Crede create Skims?
Grede is the cofounder of Skims. She and Kim Kardashian created the company together.
Has Emma Grede been on Shark Tank?
Grede has been featured on Shark Tank a number of times, starting with the Season 13 premiere, in which she was the first Black woman to be an investor on the show.
Is Emma Grede replacing Mark Cuban on Shark Tank?
Grede has not been formally tapped to replace Mark Cuban on Shark Tank; however, Cuban himself has recommended her for his spot. Place your bets!
