No way Shaquille O’Neal would pass up a chance to trash Charles Barkley. But not in front of Mark Cuban. Who by the way dropped by The Big Podcast. Apart from his day job at the Dallas Mavericks, Cuban also is the most prolific investor in Shark Tank history. One of his success stories was in collaboration with a little-known guest Shark, Charles Barkley. Since SubSafe, Chuck’s business empire has grown with Redmont Vodka and, recently, Round Mound Media. He believes he would’ve been doing more if TNT had supported him. Much like Cuban did.

That’s where Shaq and Mark slightly differ in. He brought it up on The Big Podcast that “Barkley was on Shark Tank one time and he invested in something called SubSafe.” Cuban is not the type to forget the products in his massive portfolio the way Shaq forgets how many kids he has. He even had a SubSafe container in his home office.

When Cuban claimed, “They’re doing well,” Shaq was in denial. “They’re not! Stop It!” But Cuban rubbed it in, explained to Adam Lefkoe that “me and Charles went in on it.” He proceeded to market it right off Shaq’s show, telling folks to Google it, buy it on Amazon, and in stores.

The married business duo, Adam and Desiree Haller, brought their protective sandwich container on Shark Tank in season 10 in 2019. They were sinking in sales and looking for $50,000 for 13% equity. Chuck was a guest Shark that season and he went in with Mark for $100,000 for 25%. Despite Kevin “Mr Wonderful” O’Leary and Robert Herjavec showing distrust in the numbers. SubSafe and its big investors are different since then.

Shaq got behind Charles Barkley’s investment

These days SubSafe is a viral hit, available in stores nationwide, and even expanded its product line. Mark Cuban is now a minority owner of the Mavs while Charles Barkley has other business pursuits. He recently relaunched Round Mound Media after founding it in 2018.

He has at least 10 projects in development already, but Barkley claimed he could’ve had 30 projects if Turner had invested in him earlier. TNT has renewed interest in Barkley’s creative venture now since losing the NBA. Naturally, Chuck wanted the kind of backing Mark Cuban provides.

Shaquille O’Neal shouldn’t put Shark Chuck and SubSafe down. He has a part in its success. The endorsement machine that he is, he demonstrated the container’s versatile uses, including as a ‘Cereal Safe’ and as bowling pins via Inside the NBA. (Interesting that TNT gave Chuck’s this investment a fun platform.)

Since then, SubSafe became a $4 million company in 2021. No Cereal Safe but they now have SnackSafe, WineSafe, IceSafe, Charcuterie Safe, and SubSafe² for square sandwiches. Shaq could perhaps work out a Big Chicken Safe.