"Not a great time"- Shark Tank star Robert Herjavec reflects on his life 10 years ago

Robert Herjavec, a longtime investor on Shark Tank, recently shared a personal reflection on Instagram (@robertherjavec) about how much his life has changed over the past decade. In a video posted on January 2, 2025, Herjavec spoke about his struggles 10 years ago:

"You always overestimate what you can achieve in one year, and you underestimate what you can achieve in 10. 10 years ago, I was living in a rented apartment in Los Angeles, long story, not a great time in my life. And 10 years later, I've completely altered my life to places and heights I can't even imagine."

He has been a part of Shark Tank since its inception and is known for his strategic investments and calm approach. His demeanor has won him the affection of viewers. Besides the Tipsy Elves, his most important investments are Sand Cloud, Buttercloth, and others.

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About Shark Tank investor Robert Herjavec

Herjavec was born in Croatia and moved to Canada with his family when he was young. He worked as a waiter before starting his first technology business, BRAK Systems, which he eventually sold to AT&T for $100 million.

He stayed in the tech sector and assisted in negotiating another company's $225 million sale to Nokia. He is currently the head of the cybersecurity company The Herjavec Group.

Herjavec has made over fifty investments on Shark Tank, supporting numerous profitable ventures. His business philosophy emphasizes hard work and patience, aligning with the message he shared in his recent video, which stated:

"I just want to say life is absolutely incredible. The chances, the opportunities we all have to do the things that we've always dreamed of, to do great for the people that we love."

In the video, he congratulated his followers on the new year and wished them success, emphasizing that in 10 years, people can transform their lives and the lives of those they love. He acknowledged that he had been fortunate but stressed that anyone could achieve significant change with time and effort. In Robert's Shark Tank bio, it is stated,

"If you're emotional and you're great at something, the money will follow."

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Some of the best investments by Robert Herjavec on Shark Tank

On Shark Tank, Sand Cloud, a Turkish cotton beach towel company, asked for $200,000 for 8% equity. With a $15,000 Kickstarter campaign, the company's founders, Bruno Aschimanini, Brandon Leibel, and Steven Ford, started the business. In addition to towels, they offered jewelry, clothing, and beach blankets for sale, with 10% of the proceeds going to marine conservation.

They received many offers in 2016 after making $2.4 million in sales. Daymond John and Mark Cuban both offered $300,000 and $400,000, respectively, for a 25% stake. Robert Herjavec and Kevin O'Leary made offers of $200,000 for 15%. Herjavec used his prior Shark Tank success with Tipsy Elves to seal the deal. Sand Cloud makes $7 million a year as of 2024.

Buttercloth, a manufacturer of wrinkle-free shirts, requested $250,000 for a 10% stake. Vietnamese immigrant founder Danh Tran talked about his experience in fashion.

Although the business made $500,000 in 2017, it had to pay a lot of money to get new clients. Herjavec's offer of $250,000 for 25% shares was accepted when other Sharks withdrew. Buttercloth's income amounted to $6 million by 2024.

Drain Strain, a clog-preventing drain stopper, sought $110,000 for 15% equity. With a $110,000 offer for 10% shares subject to a licensing agreement, Herjavec secured the deal. It sold $5 million in its lifetime by 2023.

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Shark Tank airs every Friday at 8/7c on ABC.