Forbes Staff
Mark Cuban, the billionaire entrepreneur and investor, is a firm believer that the presence of billionaires in U.S. society reflects the thriving of the American Dream. Despite sparring online with other wealthy individuals like Elon Musk and facing criticism from politicians addressing the country’s growing wealth inequality, Cuban insists that the ability to accumulate massive fortunes is a positive sign of opportunity and success in America.
Cuban shared his views in a recent interview on the new Netflix series What’s Next?, hosted by fellow billionaire and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates.
“Sure, you could say, ‘Yeah, having a billion dollars is kinda crazy,’ but you need to understand that’s not the problem—it’s a symptom of something great,” Cuban explained. “It’s the American Dream. That’s what makes America special.”
Cuban emphasized that with great wealth comes greater responsibility, particularly in terms of creating jobs and contributing to society through taxes.
“One of the most patriotic things you can do as an American is get filthy rich, create a ton of jobs, invest in your company and others, and then pay your taxes,” he said.
According to Forbes’ latest report, the number of billionaires worldwide has reached an all-time high. There are now 2,781 billionaires globally, 141 more than in 2023. Cuban himself ranks 563rd on the list, a fortune he built during the dot-com boom. In 1999, he sold his radio-for-the-internet service Broadcast.com to Yahoo for a staggering $5.7 billion.
Despite the criticism of his wealth, Cuban takes pride in his tax contributions. “When I write that check to the IRS for hundreds of millions of dollars, it’s not that I enjoy it, but I am proud of it,” he explained. “Because those taxpayer dollars go toward essential services—roads, the military, police, teachers, Medicaid, Medicare—and I feel like I’ve given something back.”
