13.
The production company behind Shark Tank used to require contestants to give them 5% equity or 2% of the profits from their companies in exchange for appearing on the show. Mark Cuban threatened to quit over this rule, so producers got rid of it.
14.
Robert Herjavec has said that the 12-plus hour shooting days can be grueling on the Sharks: “We’re cold, we’re hungry, we’re miserable.”
15.
When contestants first walk onto the set, producers make them do a lengthy “stare-down” with the Sharks, where they stare at each other in total silence for up to a minute. Once the stare-down is over, contestants begin their pitch. A reporter for D Magazine once visited the set and described the silent stare-down as “excruciating to watch.”