Get All Access for $5/mo

Mark Cuban on Going to Space: 'I Don't Even Think I Can Afford That Sh*t' The billionaire sounded off in an interview about his lack of plans to join the great space race.

By Emily Rella

Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

2021 saw the great billionaire space race finally come to fruition.

Jeff Bezos launched himself into the ether in a historic flight among his company Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket ship while later this year taking celebrities William Shatner and Michael Strahan on the same journey.

Richard Branson also made his way into the atmosphere aboard the VSS Unity with his space exploration company Virgin Galactic.

And then of course there was Elon Musk, who won the sole lunar landing grant from NASA in preparation of sending SpaceX rockets to the moon, sparking contention and pushback from Bezos and Blue Origin.

But notably missing among these billionaires eager to leave good old Planet Earth has been Mark Cuban, who had a hilarious response earlier this year after being questioned on whether or not he would ever make the journey.

As we revisit some of our favorite interviews from 2021, Mark Cuban's interview from this past October with Jim Norton and Sam Roberts on Faction Talk comes to mind.

In blunt terms, after being asked if he had any desire to go into space, Cuban replied with a simple "F*ck No!" before admitting that he is "terrified of heights."

"I own a sports team, I own the Mavs," the Dallas Mavericks owner said. "I want those trophies, those are the skins I want on the wall."

The talk show hosts brought up to concept of "competitiveness" amongst the billionaire brigade, asking Cuban if that sentiment would ever be enough to get him to change his mind.

"I don't even think I can afford that sh*t, those guys are really rich. I mean I'm really rich but they make me look poor, like really poor," Cuban joked amid roaring laughter. "Pay your way on Cuban, that's ok!"

As of Monday afternoon, Cuban's net worth was an estimated $4.5 billion.

Emily Rella

Entrepreneur Staff

Senior News Writer

Emily Rella is a Senior News Writer at Entrepreneur.com. Previously, she was an editor at Verizon Media. Her coverage spans features, business, lifestyle, tech, entertainment, and lifestyle. She is a 2015 graduate of Boston College and a Ridgefield, CT native. Find her on Twitter at @EmilyKRella.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Business News

7 AI Secrets Every Entrepreneur Must Know: AI Quiz and Breaking News from OpenAI You Can't Miss

Check out these 7 critical questions from our unique quiz that uncovers the AI secrets every entrepreneur must know!

Leadership

Want to Get The Most Out of AI? Start Treating AI Like Your Human Employees

The latest AI agents are capable of fantastic growth and evolution — if we learn to coach them past their mistakes

Side Hustle

'I Could Never Go Back to Corporate': She Quit Her Silicon Valley Tech Job After Her Creative Side Hustle Hit 6 Figures

As a college student, A Jar of Pickles owner Kirstie Wang found it difficult to focus in class — instead teaching herself Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.

Marketing

5 Small Business Marketing Tactics to See Results This Quarter

Five quick and effective small business marketing strategies that can yield both short-term results and long-term success.