MrBeast surprises fans with major 'Shark Tank' announcement

ABC has unveiled the guest shark lineup for Shark Tank Season 18, with YouTube creator MrBeast, actor and producer Mindy Kaling, entrepreneur Steven Bartlett and former NFL star J.J. Watt among the high-profile names joining the business reality series this autumn.

MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, will appear alongside Beast Industries CEO Jeffrey Housenbold as guest investors. Also joining the panel are Diary of a CEO host Steven Bartlett, who currently serves as an investor on the UK's Dragons' Den, and fashion entrepreneurs Erin Foster and Sara Foster, co-founders of the lifestyle brand Favourite Daughter.

ABC also confirmed that lifestyle entrepreneur Kendra Scott and venture capitalist Rashaun Williams have been promoted from recurring guest sharks to permanent members of the investor panel. They will join returning sharks Barbara Corcoran, Robert Herjavec, Lori Greiner, Daymond John, Daniel Lubetzky and Kevin O'Leary.

The new season marks another chapter for the long-running entrepreneurial competition following the departure of longtime investor Mark Cuban, who exited the series after Season 16 in 2025.

Since premiering in 2009, Shark Tank has become one of ABC's most successful unscripted programmes, giving entrepreneurs the opportunity to pitch their businesses to a panel of millionaire and billionaire investors in exchange for funding and mentorship. The series has earned 27 Primetime Emmy Award nominations and won five awards during its run.

Shark Tank Season 18 will premiere this autumn on ABC, with new episodes also streaming on Hulu. Produced by MGM Television, a division of Amazon MGM Studios, in association with Sony Pictures Television, the series continues to introduce new investors while showcasing innovative business ideas from entrepreneurs across the United States.