Doomed 'Shark Tank' Products That Actually Became Hugely Successful
ABC's Shark Tank has provided scrappy entrepreneurs with very public opportunities to make their business dreams come true. Yet not every pitch was a sure thing at first sight — and sometimes the sharks even passed on what are now massively profitable brands. In fact, of the hundreds of products the sharks have ever seen, these odd inventions are easily the strangest... but now they're all hugely successful.
NeatCheeks ($1 million)
Flavored face wipes might not seem like a hit product, but in 2015 Julia Rossi and Danielle Stangler landed a deal with Barbara Corcoran worth $150k for a 25 percent stake in their business. Believe it or not, Danielle actually invented the product by accident when she wiped her 22-month-old daughter's face with a napkin that had been dipped in lemonade. Sales reportedly hit $1 million in 2021.
Squatty Potty ($222 million)
In 2014 the Squatty Potty introduced Americans to a better way to go number two. This plastic stool lines "everything" up, making it easier to use the bathroom. Most of the sharks couldn't get over the silliness of the invention, but Lori Greiner invested $350,000 for a 10 percent stake. The next day, the company did $1 million in sales. Lori reported in 2021 that the product has made $222 million since then, too.
BedJet ($26 million)
Former NASA employee Mark Aramli went on Shark Tank in 2015 to promote BedJet. It's a mattress pad for both hot and cold sleepers. Using BedJet's heating and cooling system, users can adjust the pad to their preferred temperature. Mark didn’t make a deal on the show — but has since earned $26 million in sales revenue.
Chef Big Shake ($5 million)
Shawn Davis, better known as Chef Big Shake, was invited on Shark Tank in 2012 to pitch his homemade shrimp burgers. The sharks enjoyed them... but not enough to invest. However, the show exploded Shawn's business, and he accommodated his new fans with an expanded menu. Today, he's made more than $5 million from his products.
