Season 18 Guest Sharks
Shark Tank Season 18 Adds MrBeast, J.J. Watt, and New Permanent Sharks to Panel
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Key Points
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Deals struck during filming often don’t air; after filming, the Sharks’ legal teams review contracts and renegotiate terms, with about 80% of deals closing before the season airs and roughly 20% of pitches not making it to air.
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J.J. Watt, a former Houston Texans defensive end and 2023 Texans Ring of Honor inductee, will appear as a guest Shark; he founded the Justin J Watt Foundation and is a minority owner in several pro soccer clubs.
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Shark Tank is produced by MGM Television (Amazon MGM Studios) in association with Sony Pictures Television.
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ABC is leaning toward guest sharks who are content creators and podcasters, such as MrBeast and Steven Bartlett, signaling a shift in the show's guest mix to broaden appeal.
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Erin Foster and Sara Foster join as guest sharks; they are co-founders of Favorite Daughter and are described as the real-life inspirations behind Netflix’s Nobody Wants This.
Shark Tank is returning for Season 18 this fall on ABC with one of its most high-profile guest lineups yet. YouTube's most-subscribed creator, Jimmy Donaldson — better known as MrBeast — will join the panel, along with comedian Mindy Kaling, former NFL star J.J. Watt, and several other notable names, according to Broadway World.
ABC also elevated two familiar faces to permanent Shark status. Kendra Scott and Rashaun Williams will now sit alongside veterans Barbara Corcoran, Lori Greiner, Robert Herjavec, Daymond John, Daniel Lubetzky, and Kevin O'Leary. No exact premiere date has been announced yet.
MrBeast and Content Creators Lead Season 18 Guest Mix
ABC is leaning heavily into content creators and podcasters for Season 18. MrBeast, who has over 350 million YouTube subscribers, is the marquee guest addition. British entrepreneur and podcast host Steven Bartlett also joins as a guest Shark. MEAWW noted that this shift signals a clear strategy to draw younger viewers to the long-running show.
Erin Foster and Sara Foster round out the guest lineup. The sisters are co-founders of the clothing brand Favorite Daughter. They are also the real-life inspirations behind Netflix's hit series Nobody Wants This, according to Broadway World.
J.J. Watt Trades the Gridiron for the Tank
Former Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt will also appear as a guest Shark. Watt was inducted into the Texans Ring of Honor in 2023. He founded the Justin J. Watt Foundation and holds minority ownership stakes in several professional soccer clubs, Houston Chronicle reported.
Watt retired from the NFL in 2023 after a decorated career. He has since worked as an NFL commentator. His business experience and public profile make him a natural fit for the investor panel, the Houston Chronicle noted.
Not Every Deal You See on TV Was Easy to Close
Behind the cameras, the deal-making process is more complicated than it looks. After filming wraps, each Shark's legal team reviews the contracts. They often renegotiate terms before anything is finalized. About 80% of deals do close before the season airs, according to In Touch Weekly.
But roughly 20% of filmed pitches never make it to air at all. One entrepreneur told In Touch Weekly that a deal only goes into effect if their segment actually airs. Production edits and legal reviews shape what viewers ultimately see — and what they don't.
The Machine Behind the Show: MGM, Sony, and ABC
Shark Tank is produced by MGM Television, now under Amazon MGM Studios, in association with Sony Pictures Television. The show has aired on ABC since 2009. Season 18 will also stream on Hulu, keeping it accessible across platforms as linear TV audiences continue to shrink, Broadway World reported.
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