SHARK Tank star Robert Herjavec has admitted he was initially “jealous” of his co-star Mark Cuban’s extraordinary success but that his friendship with the billionaire helped him dream bigger.
In an exclusive interview with The U.S. Sun, the Croatian-Canadian entrepreneur revealed how his co-star had a huge influence on his life and that his friendship with Cuban made him richer.
“I think I was a little bit jealous, but then I really respected him because he’s a great guy and I admired him,” Herjavec told The U.S. Sun.
Cuban and Herjavec both star on Shark Tank, where the Sharks give budding entrepreneurs the chance to secure business deals that could make them millionaires.
I have to give him full credit, I’m worth way more money after meeting Mark than I was before
Robert Herjavec
While acknowledging he was envious of the billionaire’s success at first, Herjavec said his jealousy of Cuban helped him realize he had lost his purpose in life.
He got to know Cuban while filming the show and grew to respect him.
“Mark is larger than life in all things, in airplanes, and his demeaner…everything.
“I think it was just such a different character for me, and I didn’t know how to handle it at first.”
Since meeting Cuban, Herjavec created a YouTube series called Things I learned from a Billionaire to Become a Billionaire where he shares lessons learned from Cuban
Herjavec said he originally started his company with a few simple goals including earning enough money to pay off his mortgage and buy a Corvette if he could afford to.
But the investor now admits his relationship with Cuban actually helped him dream bigger.
“I said to myself, if Mark can then why can’t I?”
Herjavec surpassed his initial goal, making hundreds of millions of dollars.
He first became successful after selling his internet security software to AT&T Canada in 2000 for $30 million.
After selling his company to AT&T, he founded The Herjavec Group, which became one of Canada’s largest information technology security providers.
The company was rebranded to become Cyderes.
Herjavec stepped down as CEO of the company in September this year, saying he would like to spend more time with his family.
‘RETAIL RENAISSANCE’
During the exclusive on-camera interview in New York, the shark covered a wide range of topics, including politics, the economy, and the retail sector.
Herjavec insisted the US economy was experiencing a “retail renaissance” despite mass closures and layoffs across the industry, forecasting a major boom over the next few years.
The investor said retail companies could be successful if they sold high-quality products and offered shoppers a destination experience.
Herjavec also threw his weight behind President-elect Donald Trump after his election victory, saying the former President would be the best person to manage the economy.
He also revealed he still “loves” Dancing with the Stars and watches the show with his wife Kym Johnson after they met as co-stars in 2015, saying he believes people often fall in love on the show because they get “very close” during filming.
RAGS TO RICHES
Herjavec has a remarkable life story.
His family left Croatia when he was just eight years old, arriving in Canada with just one suitcase after his father fled from jail in a communist country.
In what is a classic “rags to riches” story, Herjavec started off as a newspaper delivery boy and waiter until rising up the ranks with various business ventures and investments.
“We came from a communist country, and I didn’t realize we were poor until we came to Canada originally, and life was just really, really hard,” Herjavec exclusively told The U.S. Sun.
“And I think what made me stand out was that I just refused to live like that anymore. So if I had to work harder, no problem.”
Herjavec said he was motivated after he watched his parents work hard and sacrifice so much, often feeling an “incredible pressure” to “make something” of himself.
Plus, Herjavec shared his biggest show secrets viewers don’t know.
The U.S. Sun also reported on a founder who was rejected by Shark Tank but later proved the billionaires wrong.