Shark Tank's Most Successful Product
When Bombas appeared on Shark Tank in 2014, it redefined success for reality TV startups. The brand of ultra-comfy socks and apparel with a built-in social mission—donating one item for every item sold—has become the most successful product in the show’s history, with over $1.3 billion in sales to date. The founders, Randy Goldberg and David Heath, landed a deal with Daymond John for $200,000 in exchange for 17.5% equity, a move that grew into one of Shark Tank’s most iconic success stories.
Bombas’s Mission-Driven Success
Bombas blends purpose with profit. Its simple yet powerful one-for-one donation model resonated with both Shark John and consumers alike—particularly when they discovered that socks were the most requested item in homeless shelters. From launching in 2013 via a Shark deal to achieving over $100 million in annual revenue within a few years, Bombas demonstrates how empathy-driven companies can scale rapidly.
Bombas Product
The Top 3 Sharks’ Biggest Wins
While Bombas sits at No. 1, two of Lori Greiner’s investments also rank among the top performers. Everlywell, which provides at-home lab testing kits, and Scrub Daddy, the now-iconic smiley-face sponge, were both backed by Greiner and remain top-selling Shark Tank success stories. Greiner’s eye for innovation has paid dividends—her investments in these companies helped catapult them into billion-dollar valuations.
Related: How Shark Tank Sparked Explosive Growth for Brian Altomare’s LugLess Baggage Service
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Do the Sharks Get Paid?
Yes—but not from their investment deals. While the Sharks are paid for appearing on the show, the money they invest in companies comes solely from their personal funds, not from ABC or the production team. That means the stakes are real: if their investment doesn’t pay off, they bear the loss.
Randy Goldberg, the Co-Founder and Chief Brand Officer of Bombas
Who Got Fired from Shark Tank?
Interestingly, no current Shark has ever been “fired” from the show—it doesn’t function like a competition with eliminations. However, earlier in his career, after SoftKey was acquired by Mattel in 1999, Kevin O’Leary was fired following the acquisition, which later became infamous as a disastrous deal resulting in losses exceeding $100 million. This moment, while removed from Shark Tank itself, shaped his investor persona long before he became "Mr. Wonderful."
Conclusion
Bombas’s rise, coupled with Greiner’s consistent hits like Everlywell and Scrub Daddy, illustrates how Shark Tank can spark meteoric business growth—especially when paired with a compelling value-add. The fact that Sharks fund deals with their own money raises the show’s stakes even higher. And while there’s no executive turnover among Sharks on the show, real-world business consequences—like O’Leary’s firing—underscore just how brutal business can be.
Related: Mark Cuban’s Dad Gave Him This Life-Changing Advice at 14
