15 surprising facts you didn't know about 'Shark Tank'

Frank OlitoMay 4, 2021, 22:59 IST

"Shark Tank."Eric McCandless / Getty

"Shark Tank" premiered in 2009 and is now in its 12th season.
Entrepreneurs pitch their businesses for an hour or two, but it gets edited down to 10 minutes.
The sharks listen to six to eight pitches per day for 12 hours straight.

"Shark Tank" isn't an original show concept. In fact, it started as a series in Japan.

"Shark Tank" first aired in 2009. ABC

"Shark Tank" was not popular with audiences in the first season, and it was going to be canceled.

Mark Cuban in season two. Craig Sjodin / Getty

In the first season, the sharks were seated behind a tall desk that had stacks of money on it.

The desk in season one. ABC

It's extremely difficult to be featured as an entrepreneur on "Shark Tank."

There's a lot of competition. Craig Sjodin / Getty

Even if an entrepreneur makes a deal with the sharks on set, there's still a chance that deal will fall through.

A hug or a handshake is not a guarantee. Kelsey McNeal / Getty

There was a time when entrepreneurs would accept the shark's offer and then look for a better offer somewhere else.

ABC started a "no-shop" clause. Michael Desmond / Getty

Scrub Daddy is considered one of the most successful businesses to come out of "Shark Tank."

Scrub Daddy is the most successful company. Craig Sjodin / Getty

When contestants arrive in the Tank, they have to stare at the sharks for 60 seconds without saying a word.

They must be silent for 60 seconds. Karen Neal / Getty

Entrepreneurs get only one take to get their pitches right.

Entrepreneurs get one take. ABC

Filming days are long and grueling for the sharks.

Sharks film for 12 hours. Eric McCandless / Getty

The experience can be difficult for the entrepreneurs too, so production provides an on-set psychiatrist.

It can get emotional in the tank. ABC

The sharks admitted that they sometimes make offers just because they feel bad for the entrepreneurs.

Deals are sometimes made for a sad story. Michael Desmond / Getty

Mark Cuban threatened to leave the show once when they offered him $30,000 per episode.

Mark Cuban. Adam Glanzman/Getty Images

"Shark Tank" once had a spin-off series called "Beyond the Tank."

A scene from "Beyond the Tank." ABC

Every shark has a reel that shows them looking rich and powerful, but it was difficult to produce one for Chris Sacca.

Chris Sacca. Nicola Gell / Getty

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