1 00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:05,280 Speaker 1: Some very special programming today featuring billionaire Mark Cuban on 2 00:00:05,519 --> 00:00:07,760 Speaker 1: how he made his money and then lost it and 3 00:00:07,800 --> 00:00:11,560 Speaker 1: then made even more. You know, you know, Cuban made 4 00:00:11,560 --> 00:00:13,760 Speaker 1: some of his money betting against some of the companies 5 00:00:13,800 --> 00:00:16,440 Speaker 1: that he did business with. And of course we'll also 6 00:00:16,480 --> 00:00:19,159 Speaker 1: hear from about owning a basketball team and how he 7 00:00:19,200 --> 00:00:22,360 Speaker 1: didn't care if he overpaid for it. And David Rubinstein, 8 00:00:22,480 --> 00:00:25,840 Speaker 1: host of the David Rubinstein Show Peer to Peer Conversations, 9 00:00:26,280 --> 00:00:29,920 Speaker 1: begins here by kind of going through all of Cubans successes. 10 00:00:30,040 --> 00:00:33,120 Speaker 1: Let's listen in Mark, let me ask you this um 11 00:00:33,560 --> 00:00:36,879 Speaker 1: you have at an early age made some money, and 12 00:00:36,880 --> 00:00:39,159 Speaker 1: then you made an enormous amount of money when you 13 00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:43,279 Speaker 1: sold broadcast dot Com to Yahoo, made you know, over 14 00:00:43,320 --> 00:00:46,320 Speaker 1: a billion dollars, and then you bought a basketball team. 15 00:00:46,680 --> 00:00:49,639 Speaker 1: Then you have a Shark Tank series that's very successful, 16 00:00:49,640 --> 00:00:53,559 Speaker 1: one Emmy award. You're well regarded by entrepreneurs all over 17 00:00:53,640 --> 00:00:56,440 Speaker 1: the world. Presidents the United States call you for advice. 18 00:00:57,040 --> 00:00:59,320 Speaker 1: What is wrong with this life? I mean, there's something 19 00:00:59,320 --> 00:01:04,880 Speaker 1: about your life. It isn't perfect. I have kids. I 20 00:01:05,240 --> 00:01:07,600 Speaker 1: have a sixteen year old daughter and a fourteen year 21 00:01:07,600 --> 00:01:10,920 Speaker 1: old daughter. That's all any parent needs to hear it 22 00:01:10,959 --> 00:01:13,160 Speaker 1: doesn't matter what you have or what you don't have. 23 00:01:13,600 --> 00:01:16,080 Speaker 1: The minute my oldest daughter turned fifteen, my wife and 24 00:01:16,080 --> 00:01:20,240 Speaker 1: I got really stupid, lost half our brain capacity and 25 00:01:20,319 --> 00:01:24,280 Speaker 1: are beholden to our kids for their with It's you know, 26 00:01:24,360 --> 00:01:27,920 Speaker 1: being a parent is a challenge and um it's very 27 00:01:27,959 --> 00:01:30,560 Speaker 1: humbling as ever as everybody knows. Well. I have three 28 00:01:30,640 --> 00:01:32,840 Speaker 1: children as well, and I agree. So you grew up 29 00:01:32,840 --> 00:01:35,199 Speaker 1: in Pittsburgh, but not from a wealthy and a wealthy family, 30 00:01:35,240 --> 00:01:37,720 Speaker 1: is that right? No? My my dad did a poultry 31 00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:40,120 Speaker 1: on cars, my mom did our jobs. He went to 32 00:01:40,200 --> 00:01:43,120 Speaker 1: University of Pittsburgh. I was always into business, just how 33 00:01:43,160 --> 00:01:45,600 Speaker 1: I've been since as long as I can remember. And 34 00:01:45,680 --> 00:01:48,920 Speaker 1: my high school wouldn't let me take business classes, and 35 00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:52,360 Speaker 1: so as a as a junior, as a sophomore junior, 36 00:01:52,400 --> 00:01:55,920 Speaker 1: there were only senior level economics classes, and so just 37 00:01:56,040 --> 00:01:59,440 Speaker 1: despite them, I started taking classes at night and my 38 00:01:59,520 --> 00:02:01,800 Speaker 1: junior year and then dropped out of high school for 39 00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:03,960 Speaker 1: my senior year, went to the University of Pittsburgh and 40 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:06,960 Speaker 1: took classes there. But then you went to Indiana University. 41 00:02:07,400 --> 00:02:10,120 Speaker 1: Why didn't you go to Indiana Because pitt didn't have 42 00:02:10,160 --> 00:02:12,880 Speaker 1: a full undergrad business program. And I saw a list 43 00:02:12,919 --> 00:02:15,800 Speaker 1: of the top ten undergrad programs and picked out the 44 00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:18,280 Speaker 1: cheapest one, and it was Indiana and I went there 45 00:02:18,320 --> 00:02:21,040 Speaker 1: site unseen. Now. When you were there, you started a 46 00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:24,200 Speaker 1: bar and it was a very successful bar, well kind 47 00:02:24,200 --> 00:02:27,239 Speaker 1: of successful. So my I always like my parents to 48 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:29,320 Speaker 1: pay for my school. My dad sent me twenty bucks 49 00:02:29,360 --> 00:02:31,280 Speaker 1: a month, and I had to figure out how to 50 00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:34,080 Speaker 1: pay for things one way or the other. Um. Sometimes 51 00:02:34,080 --> 00:02:36,480 Speaker 1: I was able to get scholarships, other times, you know, 52 00:02:36,560 --> 00:02:39,280 Speaker 1: just saving money from jobs I had. Other times it 53 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:41,959 Speaker 1: was a hustle. So when you graduated, you moved to Dallas. 54 00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:44,080 Speaker 1: Why did you move to Dallas. I had a bunch 55 00:02:44,080 --> 00:02:46,320 Speaker 1: of buddies down there that we're living that had gone 56 00:02:46,360 --> 00:02:49,120 Speaker 1: to Indiana and moved to Dallas. And I was talking 57 00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:51,520 Speaker 1: to one, my buddy, Greg Shipper, on the phone and 58 00:02:51,560 --> 00:02:54,680 Speaker 1: he's like, Mark, the weather is great, the women are beautiful, 59 00:02:54,720 --> 00:02:56,680 Speaker 1: the economy is good. And I'm like, wait, back up, 60 00:02:58,400 --> 00:03:01,559 Speaker 1: I'm coming. But you ultimately start today kind of technology 61 00:03:01,600 --> 00:03:04,120 Speaker 1: consulting firm. Is that what it was? Well, what happened 62 00:03:04,160 --> 00:03:05,880 Speaker 1: was when I first got there and I was sleeping 63 00:03:05,919 --> 00:03:07,880 Speaker 1: in the what we called at the hill hotel with 64 00:03:07,960 --> 00:03:11,000 Speaker 1: my five roommates. Um, I got a job at night 65 00:03:11,040 --> 00:03:14,160 Speaker 1: working as a bartender slash far back, and then during 66 00:03:14,200 --> 00:03:16,800 Speaker 1: the day I applied for jobs and finally got a 67 00:03:16,880 --> 00:03:20,480 Speaker 1: job selling software at this company called Your Business Software, 68 00:03:20,800 --> 00:03:23,240 Speaker 1: which I did for nine months until I got fired, 69 00:03:23,520 --> 00:03:26,640 Speaker 1: and so I started my own company, micro Solutions, which 70 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:29,320 Speaker 1: at the time was when we started, was just a 71 00:03:29,360 --> 00:03:32,480 Speaker 1: PC consulting company. And you ultimately sold that for a 72 00:03:32,520 --> 00:03:35,160 Speaker 1: couple of million dollars or or so well. I sold 73 00:03:35,200 --> 00:03:38,280 Speaker 1: it seven years later for six million dollars, of which 74 00:03:38,680 --> 00:03:41,040 Speaker 1: a million went to all the employees, two million went 75 00:03:41,040 --> 00:03:43,200 Speaker 1: to a partner that I brought in, and two million 76 00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:45,360 Speaker 1: came to me and then some Texas. All right, so 77 00:03:45,400 --> 00:03:48,320 Speaker 1: you've got two million dollars, which is a king's ransom 78 00:03:48,440 --> 00:03:51,320 Speaker 1: in those days for somebody your age. Right, Yeah, I was, 79 00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:53,520 Speaker 1: you know, twenty nine. Actually by the time I closed, 80 00:03:53,520 --> 00:03:55,760 Speaker 1: I was thirty and so I just thought I was 81 00:03:55,760 --> 00:03:57,600 Speaker 1: the luckiest guy and the richest guy in the world. 82 00:03:57,640 --> 00:04:00,240 Speaker 1: This is ninety nine. In my mind, I was just 83 00:04:00,280 --> 00:04:03,440 Speaker 1: gonna take time off my driving force was. I wanted 84 00:04:03,480 --> 00:04:05,720 Speaker 1: to retire by the time I was thirty five, because 85 00:04:05,960 --> 00:04:08,000 Speaker 1: you know, one thing that my dad had always really 86 00:04:08,360 --> 00:04:11,240 Speaker 1: you know, taught me and and really emphasized me is 87 00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:13,200 Speaker 1: the one asset you can never own or get back 88 00:04:13,240 --> 00:04:16,040 Speaker 1: his time, and so, you know, enjoy the time while 89 00:04:16,080 --> 00:04:18,560 Speaker 1: you're young, take advantage of it. You know, his job 90 00:04:18,640 --> 00:04:21,320 Speaker 1: was backbreaking. He lost an eye in an accident at work. 91 00:04:21,760 --> 00:04:24,040 Speaker 1: You know, he did upholstery, and a stable broke and 92 00:04:24,200 --> 00:04:27,480 Speaker 1: and and destroyed his his right eye, and and so, 93 00:04:27,880 --> 00:04:30,560 Speaker 1: you know, and he would take me to work sometimes 94 00:04:30,560 --> 00:04:32,960 Speaker 1: and make me sweep the floor because he wanted me 95 00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:35,280 Speaker 1: to see the type of work he did not want 96 00:04:35,279 --> 00:04:38,000 Speaker 1: me to do. And so when I you know, my 97 00:04:38,080 --> 00:04:40,680 Speaker 1: goal was to retire so I can just enjoy my life. 98 00:04:41,120 --> 00:04:44,840 Speaker 1: And so we sold microsolutions, and I literally retired by 99 00:04:44,839 --> 00:04:48,239 Speaker 1: the lifetime pass and American Airlines just traveled the world 100 00:04:48,279 --> 00:04:51,600 Speaker 1: and partied like a rock star, um, you know, for 101 00:04:51,720 --> 00:04:55,760 Speaker 1: the next few years. So after you retired at the 102 00:04:55,760 --> 00:04:58,200 Speaker 1: age of thirty or so, he ultimately came up with 103 00:04:58,240 --> 00:05:02,280 Speaker 1: an idea which was to listen to Indiana University basketball 104 00:05:02,360 --> 00:05:05,599 Speaker 1: games on I guess a kind of streaming process is that. 105 00:05:05,760 --> 00:05:08,520 Speaker 1: Right by the time I sold micro solutions, you know, 106 00:05:08,560 --> 00:05:11,159 Speaker 1: I was really tech heavy. I mean, I we were 107 00:05:11,160 --> 00:05:15,360 Speaker 1: one of the largest systems integrators. I taught myself the program. 108 00:05:15,360 --> 00:05:17,520 Speaker 1: We did local and wide area network, so I got 109 00:05:17,520 --> 00:05:20,760 Speaker 1: to understand networking and technology really well. I made a 110 00:05:20,760 --> 00:05:24,560 Speaker 1: lot of money actually afterwards, just trading technology stocks because 111 00:05:24,600 --> 00:05:26,880 Speaker 1: back then it was so much easier, you know. I'd 112 00:05:26,880 --> 00:05:29,560 Speaker 1: call up Rick Sherlan who had Goldman Sachs or you 113 00:05:29,600 --> 00:05:32,360 Speaker 1: know Lee Ainsley before he was even at Maverick Capital, 114 00:05:32,760 --> 00:05:35,119 Speaker 1: and we would just swap ideas and I knew more 115 00:05:35,400 --> 00:05:37,880 Speaker 1: about all the details of tech and what worked and 116 00:05:37,920 --> 00:05:41,000 Speaker 1: what did work, and what companies were doing well, and 117 00:05:41,120 --> 00:05:43,840 Speaker 1: ended up making tens of millions of dollars doing that. 118 00:05:44,400 --> 00:05:47,520 Speaker 1: I then got together with my buddy Todd Wagner, who 119 00:05:47,520 --> 00:05:49,920 Speaker 1: I knew from Indiana. He actually came to me with 120 00:05:49,960 --> 00:05:52,240 Speaker 1: the idea. He was like, this new internet thing. You 121 00:05:52,320 --> 00:05:55,400 Speaker 1: understand technology? Is there any way that we can listen 122 00:05:55,440 --> 00:05:59,440 Speaker 1: to Indiana basketball um using the Internet? And I was like, 123 00:05:59,680 --> 00:06:04,280 Speaker 1: that's a cool idea. And this was early, and I'm like, 124 00:06:04,760 --> 00:06:07,800 Speaker 1: let's try to figure it out. And literally starting with 125 00:06:07,920 --> 00:06:12,000 Speaker 1: a Packard Bell PC that I bought for like four grand, 126 00:06:12,040 --> 00:06:15,240 Speaker 1: three or four grand at best Buy or something or 127 00:06:15,279 --> 00:06:17,960 Speaker 1: comp Usa in the second bedroom in my house. I 128 00:06:18,000 --> 00:06:20,120 Speaker 1: just sat there and tried to figure out how we 129 00:06:20,160 --> 00:06:22,880 Speaker 1: would do this. And it went from you know, ten 130 00:06:22,960 --> 00:06:25,960 Speaker 1: people the first week to a hundred to a thousand, 131 00:06:26,120 --> 00:06:29,240 Speaker 1: to thousands, and we knew we had something within thirty days. 132 00:06:29,480 --> 00:06:31,760 Speaker 1: But you took the company public, Is that right? Yeah? 133 00:06:31,839 --> 00:06:35,280 Speaker 1: July eighteenth and n and the stock zoomed. Uh. I 134 00:06:35,360 --> 00:06:37,520 Speaker 1: hate to use the word zoom, but uh, it went 135 00:06:37,600 --> 00:06:41,280 Speaker 1: up a lot. Yeah, the largest one day, largest first 136 00:06:41,360 --> 00:06:43,279 Speaker 1: day I p O bump in the history of the 137 00:06:43,279 --> 00:06:45,600 Speaker 1: stock market at the time. Right. So, did you say 138 00:06:45,600 --> 00:06:48,239 Speaker 1: I'm gonna build this company forever and just keep growing 139 00:06:48,360 --> 00:06:50,080 Speaker 1: or does somebody come along and say I'll buy it 140 00:06:50,120 --> 00:06:53,159 Speaker 1: from you? Well, the goal was to dominate because you know, 141 00:06:53,200 --> 00:06:55,160 Speaker 1: we called it netcasting at the time, and this was 142 00:06:55,240 --> 00:06:59,560 Speaker 1: pre YouTube, and literally we were the dominant force and streaming. 143 00:07:00,040 --> 00:07:03,119 Speaker 1: You know, we had rights to all the major sports leagues. 144 00:07:03,240 --> 00:07:07,839 Speaker 1: We had you know, hundreds of radio stations, um by 145 00:07:07,880 --> 00:07:11,120 Speaker 1: We were doing video as well, and we bought ten 146 00:07:11,200 --> 00:07:14,040 Speaker 1: percent of what turned out to be lions Gate Studios. 147 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:17,880 Speaker 1: We bought you know, video rights to all these libraries 148 00:07:18,200 --> 00:07:21,920 Speaker 1: and so you know, we're making acquisitions. We really were 149 00:07:21,960 --> 00:07:26,120 Speaker 1: on the path to dominate UM, and we had UM. 150 00:07:26,200 --> 00:07:29,960 Speaker 1: Yahoo had invested in us the previous year and came 151 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:31,880 Speaker 1: to us and said, you know, we want to buy you. 152 00:07:31,960 --> 00:07:34,679 Speaker 1: We need to get into multimedia, and you're the leader. 153 00:07:34,840 --> 00:07:37,280 Speaker 1: Let's combined forces. And they made us an offer we 154 00:07:37,320 --> 00:07:40,160 Speaker 1: couldn't refuse. They offered I think roughly fire or you 155 00:07:40,320 --> 00:07:44,800 Speaker 1: ultimately the five point seven billion dollars in points. So 156 00:07:45,240 --> 00:07:47,600 Speaker 1: you didn't own all five point seven billion yourself. I 157 00:07:47,640 --> 00:07:49,640 Speaker 1: guess you had some outside investors and other people, but 158 00:07:49,680 --> 00:07:52,680 Speaker 1: you have with about thirty of it. It was taxable 159 00:07:52,680 --> 00:07:54,880 Speaker 1: the way it was structured ended up being taxable on 160 00:07:55,040 --> 00:07:58,920 Speaker 1: the on the games. But um, yeah, it turned out 161 00:07:58,960 --> 00:08:02,680 Speaker 1: to it turned out well. Yeah, here's the question I've 162 00:08:02,720 --> 00:08:05,680 Speaker 1: always had, and uh, why is it that you had 163 00:08:05,720 --> 00:08:07,760 Speaker 1: the foresight or how did you have the foresight to 164 00:08:08,000 --> 00:08:10,880 Speaker 1: sell the Yahoo stock at a time when the markets 165 00:08:10,880 --> 00:08:12,800 Speaker 1: were going up, people thought, yeah, who would be going 166 00:08:12,880 --> 00:08:16,480 Speaker 1: up forever? You sold your Yahoo stock and cashed out 167 00:08:16,480 --> 00:08:19,920 Speaker 1: before yeah who went down? By Well I actually hedged 168 00:08:19,960 --> 00:08:22,480 Speaker 1: it right. So remember I mentioned that I had traded 169 00:08:22,520 --> 00:08:25,320 Speaker 1: stocks between the time I saw my first company did really, really, 170 00:08:25,320 --> 00:08:29,760 Speaker 1: really well, and I watched complete industries just skyrocket and 171 00:08:29,800 --> 00:08:32,760 Speaker 1: then collapse. You know, there were there were companies when 172 00:08:32,800 --> 00:08:36,319 Speaker 1: Dell Computer went public, there there were ten other PC 173 00:08:36,480 --> 00:08:40,040 Speaker 1: companies that crashed and burn. I've seen it multiple times. 174 00:08:40,040 --> 00:08:41,800 Speaker 1: And I made money going up, and I made money 175 00:08:41,800 --> 00:08:44,240 Speaker 1: shorting them on the way down. And so I was 176 00:08:44,360 --> 00:08:47,160 Speaker 1: very clear to Golden Sacks at the time that I 177 00:08:47,240 --> 00:08:50,880 Speaker 1: wanted to to do a hedge. And so the first 178 00:08:50,880 --> 00:08:53,840 Speaker 1: thing I did because I had a six month moratorium 179 00:08:53,880 --> 00:08:56,840 Speaker 1: where I couldn't do anything, and so I took literally 180 00:08:57,360 --> 00:09:02,400 Speaker 1: almost every penny. I had twenty some million dollars um 181 00:09:02,480 --> 00:09:06,480 Speaker 1: and but um puts on an index and Internet index, 182 00:09:06,920 --> 00:09:10,160 Speaker 1: and I lost all my money on that on that hedge, 183 00:09:10,480 --> 00:09:14,000 Speaker 1: literally just all gone. Which was good because that got 184 00:09:14,040 --> 00:09:16,960 Speaker 1: me to the point where Yahoo was still a high 185 00:09:17,040 --> 00:09:20,800 Speaker 1: flyer and I sold covered calls and bought puts over 186 00:09:20,840 --> 00:09:23,720 Speaker 1: the next three years, and that hedge saved me and 187 00:09:23,760 --> 00:09:26,360 Speaker 1: actually made me money. But you you lost the first 188 00:09:26,400 --> 00:09:30,439 Speaker 1: twenty million. Yep, what did your wife say? Oh No, 189 00:09:30,600 --> 00:09:34,480 Speaker 1: I wasn't married at the time, and it was it was, 190 00:09:34,600 --> 00:09:37,040 Speaker 1: you know, but the whole it was timed out right. 191 00:09:37,080 --> 00:09:38,920 Speaker 1: So I got through the six months, even though I 192 00:09:38,960 --> 00:09:43,160 Speaker 1: lost the money on that hedge. We already knew approximately, 193 00:09:43,559 --> 00:09:45,840 Speaker 1: you know, based off of where the Yahoo stock was, 194 00:09:46,000 --> 00:09:48,760 Speaker 1: how I'd be able to and what the volatility levels were, 195 00:09:49,040 --> 00:09:51,320 Speaker 1: how I was gonna be able to sell calls on 196 00:09:51,440 --> 00:09:55,360 Speaker 1: my Yahoo stock and use that money to buy UM 197 00:09:55,679 --> 00:09:59,400 Speaker 1: buy puts on UM the Yahoo stock, and when the 198 00:09:59,400 --> 00:10:02,520 Speaker 1: stock apps, my poots were worth a fortune. You bought 199 00:10:02,520 --> 00:10:07,400 Speaker 1: the Dallas basketball team, the Mavericks, for roughly two million dollars, 200 00:10:07,920 --> 00:10:09,360 Speaker 1: which at the time was thought to be a lot 201 00:10:09,400 --> 00:10:12,000 Speaker 1: of money. Today it's a fraction of what it's worth. 202 00:10:12,280 --> 00:10:15,120 Speaker 1: Why what propelled you to buy a basketball team? So 203 00:10:15,160 --> 00:10:17,160 Speaker 1: I've always been a basketball junkie as long as I 204 00:10:17,240 --> 00:10:19,880 Speaker 1: can remember, And so I was the Dallas Mavericks season 205 00:10:19,920 --> 00:10:23,920 Speaker 1: ticket holder. And during that time that I owned season tickets, 206 00:10:23,920 --> 00:10:26,800 Speaker 1: they were awful. I mean all of the nineties. They 207 00:10:26,800 --> 00:10:29,640 Speaker 1: were voted the worst professional sports franchise of the nineties. 208 00:10:29,960 --> 00:10:32,880 Speaker 1: And I'll never forget. It was the thousand season open 209 00:10:33,160 --> 00:10:36,240 Speaker 1: opener and we're undefeated, right, I mean, I'm a season 210 00:10:36,320 --> 00:10:38,600 Speaker 1: ticket holder, I'm decided to go to the game. It 211 00:10:38,760 --> 00:10:41,080 Speaker 1: wasn't a sell out. There was no energy in the crowd. 212 00:10:41,280 --> 00:10:45,240 Speaker 1: And you know, I just sold broadcast dot Com and 213 00:10:45,280 --> 00:10:47,520 Speaker 1: I thought I can do better than this, and then 214 00:10:47,679 --> 00:10:50,600 Speaker 1: it donned to meet. Wait, I can put my money 215 00:10:50,600 --> 00:10:53,360 Speaker 1: where my mouth is. Finally, and you know, not just 216 00:10:53,440 --> 00:10:57,240 Speaker 1: say it, but enquire about buying it. And from late 217 00:10:57,240 --> 00:11:01,640 Speaker 1: October when it first the concept first him up um, 218 00:11:01,679 --> 00:11:05,600 Speaker 1: it took till January four to close the deal. And honestly, 219 00:11:05,640 --> 00:11:07,600 Speaker 1: I didn't even care about price. They told me here's 220 00:11:07,600 --> 00:11:10,959 Speaker 1: the price. I said yes because realized that I still 221 00:11:11,040 --> 00:11:14,559 Speaker 1: had my hedge on for Yahoo and I still benefited 222 00:11:14,559 --> 00:11:18,040 Speaker 1: when Yahoo stock went up. So there were days still 223 00:11:18,080 --> 00:11:21,000 Speaker 1: then when this is before the Internet bubble collapse. I 224 00:11:21,000 --> 00:11:25,400 Speaker 1: remember being on the team bus um in January talking 225 00:11:25,440 --> 00:11:27,439 Speaker 1: to the coaches and I'm like, why did you spend 226 00:11:27,440 --> 00:11:29,600 Speaker 1: so much money? This is the worst franchise in all 227 00:11:29,640 --> 00:11:32,520 Speaker 1: the NBA. The you know, the revenues are lower than 228 00:11:32,559 --> 00:11:35,600 Speaker 1: everybody else. I'm like, let me, you know, let me 229 00:11:35,679 --> 00:11:37,520 Speaker 1: just show you the price of y'allho It went up 230 00:11:37,559 --> 00:11:39,920 Speaker 1: a hundred dollars or two hundred dollars today and that 231 00:11:40,000 --> 00:11:43,600 Speaker 1: paid for the whole team. So when you when you 232 00:11:43,640 --> 00:11:45,880 Speaker 1: buy a basketball team and get to play with the players, 233 00:11:45,880 --> 00:11:47,600 Speaker 1: can you work out with them or they don't? Really 234 00:11:47,760 --> 00:11:50,080 Speaker 1: I like you to do that up until obviously the 235 00:11:50,160 --> 00:11:53,720 Speaker 1: changes with this season. Before every home game, I would go, 236 00:11:53,800 --> 00:11:56,679 Speaker 1: I go on the court and get shots up. There's nothing, 237 00:11:56,800 --> 00:12:00,480 Speaker 1: you know, crazier and to me as a basketball a junkie, 238 00:12:00,520 --> 00:12:03,760 Speaker 1: exciting that to have, you know, an arena and you're 239 00:12:03,800 --> 00:12:06,439 Speaker 1: out there shooting, and you know, there were a lot 240 00:12:06,480 --> 00:12:08,319 Speaker 1: of times over the years where I play one on 241 00:12:08,400 --> 00:12:10,440 Speaker 1: one with the players, or I shoot for money with 242 00:12:10,520 --> 00:12:13,880 Speaker 1: the players and shoot threes, and they don't. They don't 243 00:12:13,920 --> 00:12:15,800 Speaker 1: ease up when you're when you're playing with them, they 244 00:12:15,840 --> 00:12:17,280 Speaker 1: don't ease up a little bit to let you win 245 00:12:17,280 --> 00:12:20,120 Speaker 1: because you're the owner. No, hell no, these are you know, 246 00:12:20,160 --> 00:12:24,880 Speaker 1: because realize the other side of it. If I beat them, 247 00:12:25,040 --> 00:12:27,199 Speaker 1: they'll never hear the end of it. And then you know, 248 00:12:27,280 --> 00:12:29,760 Speaker 1: there's just no way, no way. Now in your early 249 00:12:29,800 --> 00:12:31,840 Speaker 1: the years as an owner, you're owning team now for 250 00:12:31,880 --> 00:12:34,600 Speaker 1: twenty years, and the early years of the owner and 251 00:12:34,640 --> 00:12:38,120 Speaker 1: maybe even recently, you've been um find a lot by 252 00:12:38,280 --> 00:12:41,040 Speaker 1: the league, maybe more than any other owner for criticizing 253 00:12:41,040 --> 00:12:44,720 Speaker 1: the referees, criticizing the league. Um, what was all that about? 254 00:12:44,760 --> 00:12:47,320 Speaker 1: Did you do that on purpose because you wanted attention 255 00:12:47,400 --> 00:12:50,120 Speaker 1: or did you just couldn't constrain yourself. No, it was 256 00:12:50,120 --> 00:12:52,240 Speaker 1: because I wanted to approve the league. I mean when 257 00:12:52,320 --> 00:12:55,319 Speaker 1: I first got to the NBA, they didn't know what product, 258 00:12:55,400 --> 00:12:57,959 Speaker 1: what their product was. They always thought that we sold basketball, 259 00:12:58,240 --> 00:13:00,000 Speaker 1: and I was very clear to them that we don't 260 00:13:00,080 --> 00:13:03,559 Speaker 1: sell basketball. We sell experiences. You know, if you think 261 00:13:03,640 --> 00:13:06,640 Speaker 1: about the sporting events that you've gone to, you know, 262 00:13:06,679 --> 00:13:09,680 Speaker 1: you don't remember the score, the touchdowns, the dunks, the jumpers. 263 00:13:10,080 --> 00:13:12,240 Speaker 1: You you remember who you were with, you know, the 264 00:13:12,280 --> 00:13:14,720 Speaker 1: first time a parent took you, the first time you 265 00:13:14,760 --> 00:13:17,440 Speaker 1: went with you know, your friends, or you know the 266 00:13:17,480 --> 00:13:20,439 Speaker 1: time you know you had your your buddy's bachelor party 267 00:13:20,559 --> 00:13:23,360 Speaker 1: or the first date there. They didn't realize that's what 268 00:13:23,400 --> 00:13:25,680 Speaker 1: we sold. And so you know, it took a lot 269 00:13:25,920 --> 00:13:30,600 Speaker 1: of you know, aggression, I guess from both sides, you know, 270 00:13:30,800 --> 00:13:33,880 Speaker 1: a lot of a lot of going back and forth 271 00:13:33,960 --> 00:13:39,160 Speaker 1: with then Commissioner David Stern, you know. But to his credit, um, 272 00:13:39,200 --> 00:13:42,040 Speaker 1: while he had to find me, you know, privately, he 273 00:13:42,080 --> 00:13:44,079 Speaker 1: would agree with me on a lot of those things, 274 00:13:44,559 --> 00:13:46,640 Speaker 1: you know, And so to me, I was just being 275 00:13:46,679 --> 00:13:48,560 Speaker 1: a good partner, even though a lot of my partners 276 00:13:48,600 --> 00:13:51,440 Speaker 1: didn't really appreciate it. Well, in the early days, you 277 00:13:51,440 --> 00:13:53,280 Speaker 1: were a very young owner. Now you have an owner 278 00:13:53,320 --> 00:13:54,920 Speaker 1: for twenty years, you may be one of the more 279 00:13:55,000 --> 00:13:58,080 Speaker 1: experienced owners. Do you get people now listening to you 280 00:13:58,160 --> 00:14:00,640 Speaker 1: more than they did twenty years ago? Yeah, they're used 281 00:14:00,640 --> 00:14:02,480 Speaker 1: to me. Like you said, I'm one of the longer 282 00:14:02,640 --> 00:14:06,520 Speaker 1: term term owners, and so you know, I'll still raise 283 00:14:06,600 --> 00:14:08,960 Speaker 1: hell and and and speak up. But now they're kind 284 00:14:09,000 --> 00:14:10,920 Speaker 1: of used to me, and they've changed a lot. A 285 00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:13,320 Speaker 1: lot of things have changed, you know, whether how we 286 00:14:13,360 --> 00:14:16,880 Speaker 1: approach officiating, to how we market our games, to what 287 00:14:16,920 --> 00:14:21,000 Speaker 1: we do for broadcasts. Um, there's just so much that 288 00:14:21,040 --> 00:14:23,600 Speaker 1: has changed over the twenty years for the better. Now, 289 00:14:23,720 --> 00:14:27,880 Speaker 1: the NBA is playing in bubble in Orlando. How is 290 00:14:27,880 --> 00:14:30,920 Speaker 1: that working out? And are you, um surprised and it's 291 00:14:30,920 --> 00:14:33,320 Speaker 1: worked out reasonably well or you think it can be 292 00:14:33,360 --> 00:14:35,800 Speaker 1: done better or what what your view? I mean, it's 293 00:14:35,920 --> 00:14:39,000 Speaker 1: it's shocking how well it's gone. I mean, there's so 294 00:14:39,080 --> 00:14:42,000 Speaker 1: much risk, you know, just bringing such a large group 295 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:46,240 Speaker 1: of people, thousands of people together in one area, um, 296 00:14:46,360 --> 00:14:52,400 Speaker 1: and you know, and to have zero cases, that's stunning, stunning. 297 00:14:52,440 --> 00:14:55,800 Speaker 1: I mean literally were you know, we were concerned about 298 00:14:55,800 --> 00:14:59,200 Speaker 1: what might happen you know, because primarily you're talking about 299 00:14:59,440 --> 00:15:02,320 Speaker 1: population and the twenty somethings, and as you can see 300 00:15:02,360 --> 00:15:05,240 Speaker 1: outside the bubble, just you know, people twenty somethings in 301 00:15:05,280 --> 00:15:08,320 Speaker 1: any city, they're not the most conscientious when it comes 302 00:15:08,320 --> 00:15:11,880 Speaker 1: to wearing masks and so following social distancing and other protocols. 303 00:15:11,960 --> 00:15:14,720 Speaker 1: And so you know, to to our players and staff 304 00:15:14,920 --> 00:15:17,640 Speaker 1: and Disney and the n b A, to their credit, 305 00:15:18,000 --> 00:15:22,640 Speaker 1: everybody has been really, really careful and it's paid off. 306 00:15:22,960 --> 00:15:25,400 Speaker 1: Dirk Nawinski was one of your star players for want 307 00:15:25,640 --> 00:15:27,720 Speaker 1: a long time of European. You have a couple of 308 00:15:27,760 --> 00:15:31,400 Speaker 1: other Europeans now who are stars as well. Um, one 309 00:15:31,440 --> 00:15:32,960 Speaker 1: of them, like you traded you got from the New 310 00:15:33,040 --> 00:15:35,800 Speaker 1: York Uh next I think uh in a trade that 311 00:15:35,920 --> 00:15:40,560 Speaker 1: President Trump UH commended you on that I recall. So, um, 312 00:15:40,800 --> 00:15:42,240 Speaker 1: let me ask you this, So, when are you going 313 00:15:42,320 --> 00:15:45,720 Speaker 1: to recruit more Jewish basketball players in the NBA. Yeah, 314 00:15:45,760 --> 00:15:48,840 Speaker 1: I don't care if they're from Mars, right, you know, 315 00:15:49,320 --> 00:15:51,600 Speaker 1: if they wear a kimba during the game, I'm fine 316 00:15:51,600 --> 00:15:54,240 Speaker 1: with that too. I don't care. You know, just what 317 00:15:54,520 --> 00:15:59,000 Speaker 1: ever ever ever works, I just want to win. You know, 318 00:15:59,080 --> 00:16:01,280 Speaker 1: you have a very much of an every man image 319 00:16:01,800 --> 00:16:05,080 Speaker 1: where you're like an average Joe. You're a basketball fan, 320 00:16:05,160 --> 00:16:07,000 Speaker 1: so worth. But the truth is you have a lot 321 00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:10,800 Speaker 1: of technology background a lot of uh sophisticated financial backgrounds. 322 00:16:10,840 --> 00:16:13,120 Speaker 1: So you haven't kind of portrayed that the way. You know, 323 00:16:13,120 --> 00:16:16,000 Speaker 1: Bill Gates as seen as a technology guy, and maybe 324 00:16:16,200 --> 00:16:18,960 Speaker 1: Jeff Bezos is. But you have a lot of technology 325 00:16:18,960 --> 00:16:21,320 Speaker 1: knowledge which you don't kind of advertise as much, but 326 00:16:21,360 --> 00:16:24,160 Speaker 1: clearly you you know the technology work at the time. 327 00:16:24,280 --> 00:16:26,240 Speaker 1: Right when I worked at your business software before I 328 00:16:26,240 --> 00:16:28,800 Speaker 1: got fired, it became very clear to me that when 329 00:16:28,800 --> 00:16:31,960 Speaker 1: it came to technology, there were two people, two types 330 00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:34,359 Speaker 1: of people. There are the people who created the technology, 331 00:16:34,480 --> 00:16:37,040 Speaker 1: and then there was everybody else. And I was tied 332 00:16:37,120 --> 00:16:39,880 Speaker 1: for with everybody else in terms of knowledge of any 333 00:16:39,920 --> 00:16:42,560 Speaker 1: new technology that came out. And if I put in 334 00:16:42,600 --> 00:16:44,880 Speaker 1: the time and you know, put in the effort to 335 00:16:45,040 --> 00:16:48,160 Speaker 1: learn about that technology, no matter what it was, I 336 00:16:48,200 --> 00:16:51,560 Speaker 1: was going to move ahead of the maybe never catch 337 00:16:51,880 --> 00:16:54,680 Speaker 1: the person or the people who created the tech, but 338 00:16:54,760 --> 00:16:56,920 Speaker 1: I'd be ahead of everybody else. And that's always been 339 00:16:56,960 --> 00:16:59,600 Speaker 1: my mantra and I tried to stick to that today 340 00:17:00,240 --> 00:17:03,480 Speaker 1: as you are talking to us today, you you have 341 00:17:03,800 --> 00:17:06,959 Speaker 1: many different businesses. But you have a big investment business, 342 00:17:06,960 --> 00:17:10,000 Speaker 1: and you've said publicly that you're a gigantic investor in 343 00:17:10,040 --> 00:17:12,760 Speaker 1: Amazon and Netflix and other companies. And do you just 344 00:17:12,920 --> 00:17:15,439 Speaker 1: have advisors that help advise you on these or you 345 00:17:15,480 --> 00:17:18,600 Speaker 1: just make your own decisions? Pretty much make my own decisions. Yeah, 346 00:17:18,680 --> 00:17:21,119 Speaker 1: I mean I used to trade, as mentioned, Um, I 347 00:17:21,359 --> 00:17:23,480 Speaker 1: used to trade a lot. I used to be very 348 00:17:23,600 --> 00:17:27,159 Speaker 1: very active as a trader. And you know back you know, 349 00:17:27,200 --> 00:17:29,440 Speaker 1: back in the nineties and early two thousands, there was 350 00:17:29,480 --> 00:17:33,120 Speaker 1: a lot less money chasing more stocks, and now there's 351 00:17:33,160 --> 00:17:36,600 Speaker 1: a lot more money chasing fewer stocks. So, um, it's 352 00:17:36,640 --> 00:17:39,200 Speaker 1: harder to trade and be successful. So I just stick 353 00:17:39,280 --> 00:17:42,240 Speaker 1: to the companies I believe in. You know, I've owned 354 00:17:42,240 --> 00:17:45,560 Speaker 1: Netflix since it was fifty and and Amazon I was 355 00:17:45,640 --> 00:17:48,800 Speaker 1: mine between five hundred and seven hundred and actually bought 356 00:17:48,880 --> 00:17:52,640 Speaker 1: some more in the high thousands, just under two thousand. UM. 357 00:17:52,680 --> 00:17:55,680 Speaker 1: But I've got some scattered things, you know, beyond that 358 00:17:55,680 --> 00:17:58,000 Speaker 1: that I've owned over the years that I've held on too. 359 00:17:58,160 --> 00:18:01,159 Speaker 1: But I don't. I no longer trade. You know that 360 00:18:01,240 --> 00:18:03,960 Speaker 1: fed put is strong that that you know that fed 361 00:18:04,480 --> 00:18:08,720 Speaker 1: um inflation of financial assets kind of gives us a 362 00:18:08,760 --> 00:18:11,720 Speaker 1: tail wind now COVID you have said has changed the 363 00:18:11,760 --> 00:18:14,960 Speaker 1: world in terms of opportunities. Uh, it's obviously hurt people, 364 00:18:14,960 --> 00:18:18,360 Speaker 1: but it's obviously helped people who are entrepreneurial. So you've said, 365 00:18:18,359 --> 00:18:20,960 Speaker 1: this is a good time to actually figure out new businesses, 366 00:18:21,040 --> 00:18:24,000 Speaker 1: new areas of business. Is that fair statement? Yeah, you know, 367 00:18:24,440 --> 00:18:27,000 Speaker 1: it's so unfortunate, but it's true. I mean, you know, 368 00:18:27,240 --> 00:18:29,480 Speaker 1: we've heard Warren Buffett say, you know, by when there's 369 00:18:29,480 --> 00:18:34,080 Speaker 1: blood in the streets, and it's almost analogous here. So 370 00:18:34,160 --> 00:18:37,720 Speaker 1: many small businesses are closing, so many you know, retail 371 00:18:37,800 --> 00:18:42,879 Speaker 1: stores are closing malls or are you know, going bankrupt um. 372 00:18:42,920 --> 00:18:47,200 Speaker 1: Companies that are unable to transition to to selling digitally 373 00:18:47,359 --> 00:18:50,400 Speaker 1: or or really taking a full advantage of e commerce 374 00:18:50,440 --> 00:18:54,440 Speaker 1: are struggling. Big companies don't understand, don't really aren't sure 375 00:18:54,440 --> 00:18:57,720 Speaker 1: about how to protect our legacy businesses. That type of 376 00:18:57,800 --> 00:19:01,280 Speaker 1: uncertainty creates a lot of opportunity, and combine that with 377 00:19:01,359 --> 00:19:05,680 Speaker 1: people becoming far more comfortable with purchasing online and living 378 00:19:05,720 --> 00:19:08,719 Speaker 1: a digital lifestyle. I think there's a lot of unique 379 00:19:08,720 --> 00:19:12,440 Speaker 1: opportunities that are available to people who who who are creative, 380 00:19:12,440 --> 00:19:15,199 Speaker 1: who have a vision for the future, I think, you know, 381 00:19:15,520 --> 00:19:19,720 Speaker 1: ten years, we'll look back and they'll be ten thirty 382 00:19:19,800 --> 00:19:22,960 Speaker 1: world class companies that were created by people who we 383 00:19:23,040 --> 00:19:26,000 Speaker 1: probably think are thinking are crazy right about now. So 384 00:19:26,240 --> 00:19:29,000 Speaker 1: you had a relationship with President Trump at one point, 385 00:19:29,040 --> 00:19:31,239 Speaker 1: I think when he was first thinking and running. This 386 00:19:31,320 --> 00:19:34,480 Speaker 1: was after he announced and thinking he had no chance 387 00:19:34,520 --> 00:19:38,240 Speaker 1: to win whatsoever. Um, I'm made a public statement saying 388 00:19:38,520 --> 00:19:40,680 Speaker 1: I think Donald Trump is the best thing to ever 389 00:19:40,720 --> 00:19:43,639 Speaker 1: happen to politics. He's not a traditional politician, and he 390 00:19:43,680 --> 00:19:46,720 Speaker 1: says what's on his mind, and that got picked up everywhere, 391 00:19:46,920 --> 00:19:49,840 Speaker 1: and I became his new best friend, and so he 392 00:19:49,880 --> 00:19:52,960 Speaker 1: would call me all the time, all the time, um, 393 00:19:53,080 --> 00:19:56,080 Speaker 1: and just you know, that's who he is until I 394 00:19:56,119 --> 00:19:58,760 Speaker 1: said one day that I didn't think he was qualified, 395 00:19:58,760 --> 00:20:00,639 Speaker 1: and then it was all downhill from the So he 396 00:20:00,680 --> 00:20:03,639 Speaker 1: never invited you to the White House. No, actually he 397 00:20:03,680 --> 00:20:09,399 Speaker 1: did recently, but you know, everything Donald Trump touches, you know, 398 00:20:09,640 --> 00:20:11,800 Speaker 1: turns into a mess. So I didn't accept the offer. 399 00:20:12,000 --> 00:20:15,040 Speaker 1: Now you've said you might consider running for president. In fact, 400 00:20:15,040 --> 00:20:16,879 Speaker 1: you had a poster, look at it. Why did you 401 00:20:16,920 --> 00:20:20,040 Speaker 1: decide not to run for president this time? Primarily because 402 00:20:20,040 --> 00:20:22,520 Speaker 1: my family said no, I mean, you can't you know, 403 00:20:22,560 --> 00:20:26,239 Speaker 1: given the nastiness of politics um right now and just 404 00:20:26,320 --> 00:20:30,800 Speaker 1: the hate and the social media destructiveness, you know, your 405 00:20:30,840 --> 00:20:33,360 Speaker 1: family has got to really be up for it. Um. 406 00:20:33,520 --> 00:20:36,119 Speaker 1: And so that was the primary reason. And the secondary 407 00:20:36,200 --> 00:20:38,160 Speaker 1: reason was in in the polling that I did do, 408 00:20:38,520 --> 00:20:40,840 Speaker 1: I couldn't get more than of the boats. I could 409 00:20:40,880 --> 00:20:43,800 Speaker 1: dominate with independence, but I couldn't, you know, pull enough 410 00:20:43,800 --> 00:20:46,560 Speaker 1: Republicans or Democrats from Biden or Trump. Would you consider 411 00:20:46,640 --> 00:20:50,159 Speaker 1: running in the future for president? I hope not. You know. 412 00:20:50,760 --> 00:20:53,040 Speaker 1: The only reason I considered it now is just because 413 00:20:53,119 --> 00:20:56,560 Speaker 1: things are so partisan and people are putting party over country. 414 00:20:56,760 --> 00:20:59,800 Speaker 1: And I thought, as an independent and somebody who you know, 415 00:21:00,320 --> 00:21:03,440 Speaker 1: was not dogmatic about anything for that matter, except trying 416 00:21:03,480 --> 00:21:06,600 Speaker 1: to serve the American people, that the timing might have 417 00:21:06,680 --> 00:21:09,600 Speaker 1: been good, um, but it's not my ultimate dream job. 418 00:21:09,960 --> 00:21:12,119 Speaker 1: So if somebody's watching this and says, all right, I 419 00:21:12,119 --> 00:21:13,760 Speaker 1: want to be like Mark Cuban, I want to be 420 00:21:13,800 --> 00:21:16,480 Speaker 1: a leader in many different areas, be successful. What would 421 00:21:16,480 --> 00:21:18,880 Speaker 1: you say are that one or two or three traits 422 00:21:19,119 --> 00:21:22,119 Speaker 1: that are necessary to be a successful leader. Find something 423 00:21:22,160 --> 00:21:23,879 Speaker 1: that you love to do and be great at it. 424 00:21:24,320 --> 00:21:26,960 Speaker 1: You know, most people the one thing in life, you 425 00:21:26,960 --> 00:21:29,160 Speaker 1: can control was your effort. And most people don't put 426 00:21:29,160 --> 00:21:31,240 Speaker 1: in the effort. They think it comes to them and 427 00:21:31,320 --> 00:21:34,440 Speaker 1: it doesn't. As you know, you know, there there's lots 428 00:21:34,440 --> 00:21:37,520 Speaker 1: of competition on no matter what you choose, and you 429 00:21:37,520 --> 00:21:40,119 Speaker 1: have just got to put in the effort behind you. 430 00:21:40,240 --> 00:21:41,919 Speaker 1: It looks like it's one of a replica of a 431 00:21:41,960 --> 00:21:45,400 Speaker 1: basketball championship trophy, not a replica. That's that's the real deal. 432 00:21:46,040 --> 00:21:48,600 Speaker 1: That's the that's the real deal, all right. So you 433 00:21:48,640 --> 00:21:51,200 Speaker 1: look like you need another one to match it up? Here? 434 00:21:51,520 --> 00:21:55,119 Speaker 1: Are you hopeful and of getting another one someday? Oh? Absolutely, 435 00:21:55,280 --> 00:21:58,320 Speaker 1: you know, hopefully this year. Um, but yeah, that's the goal. 436 00:21:58,400 --> 00:22:01,679 Speaker 1: With the MAVs. You knows, there's one winner and twenty 437 00:22:01,760 --> 00:22:04,240 Speaker 1: nine people tied for last place in the NBA and 438 00:22:04,760 --> 00:22:08,000 Speaker 1: this one is almost ten years old. So Larry O'Brien 439 00:22:08,080 --> 00:22:11,000 Speaker 1: back there, needs some needs some friends. And that was 440 00:22:11,200 --> 00:22:14,240 Speaker 1: billionaire Mark Cuban with David Rubinstein, host of The David 441 00:22:14,280 --> 00:22:19,639 Speaker 1: Rubinstein Show, Peer to Peer Conversations. And that's it for 442 00:22:19,760 --> 00:22:22,880 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Best. I'm at Baxter and Dime, Denise Spelly Green 443 00:22:23,240 --> 00:22:25,520 Speaker 1: and this is Bloomberg