Billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban says wealth and fame completely change how people treat you, even if you’re still the same person.
During a recent appearance on the podcast Your Mom’s House, which is hosted by comedians Tom Segura and Christina Pazsitzky, Cuban reflected on how becoming rich and well-known shifts social dynamics in ways that are often superficial and unavoidable.
It started when Segura asked Cuban about “secret rich guy stuff.” Cuban joked that yes, there is some, and added:
“It makes ugly people handsome and pretty.”
Co-host Christina Pazsitzky brought up actor Jamie Foxx’s idea of the “fame mist,” where once you become famous, people like you more, even if nothing else has changed.
“Jamie Foxx said it great—there’s a fame mist. Once you become famous, people like you a lot more. Same with money.”
Cuban explained that fame and fortune usually go hand-in-hand, and both create a distortion in how others respond to you.
“They treat you differently. And that’s probably the hardest part.”
He said he’s no longer interested in making new friends because it becomes difficult to tell who is genuine.
“I’m not looking for new friends. My friends are still my high school buddies, my college buddies, my rugby teammates. All the same people.”
Cuban also shared that losing anonymity has been one of the toughest parts of fame. He described how people constantly recognize him, which can make everyday moments feel performative.
“You lose your anonymity for better or worse.”
This dynamic has even affected his relationship with his kids. Cuban said they sometimes ask him not to attend their events because his presence causes too much of a scene.
“There are times where my kids are like, ‘No, we don’t want you there, Dad,’ because it’ll make a scene. That’s brutal. But at the same time I understand it.”
He also emphasized that while money changes external treatment, it doesn’t change who you are inside.
“If you were happy when you were poor, you’re going to be happy when you’re rich. If you were miserable when you were poor, you’re going to be miserable when you’re rich.”
Cuban said he tried to enjoy life even when he was broke, sharing a story about selling newspapers during a strike at age 16 and living with five roommates in a three-bedroom apartment.
“I was sleeping on the floor… and had a blast.”
He added that once you make money, the instinct is to buy something big, like when he bought a jet right after selling a company. But ultimately, he believes the real power of money is choice.
“Money allows you to have the choice.“
Cuban’s reflections on wealth were some of the most candid moments of the episode, shedding light on what actually changes, and what doesn’t, when you cross the line into extreme success.
Fame, Family, and Setting Boundaries
Despite the attention that comes with wealth, Cuban said he works hard to keep his personal life grounded. He and his wife prioritize raising their kids without giving them a sense of entitlement.
“You know, you try to just let them be themselves, and I try not to say you’ve got to go in this direction or that direction,” he said.
Cuban said his kids won’t automatically inherit massive wealth without earning it. He wants them to stay curious, independent, and focused on building their own paths.
“Be curious,” he said. “The most knowledge you have, the most power, but the more capabilities you have and the more options are available to you and so I try to you know my wife and I try to really let them be themselves.”
He added that today’s world is changing so fast, young people shouldn’t feel pressured to figure everything out by the time they finish college.
“Even put aside our financial situation, I don’t think any kid should be under pressure at 18 or 22 to know exactly what they’re going to do.”
On Hustle, Planes, and Owning His Time
Cuban also told a story about driving from Pittsburgh to Cleveland during a newspaper strike as a teenager, buying hundreds of papers, and reselling them back home for a profit. His entrepreneurial streak started young and never stopped.
After making his first big money, he bought a jet, not just for show, but because it gave him time back.
“The more time you have, the more money you make.”
The hosts joked about using Cuban’s logic to justify buying a plane themselves. He leaned into it, calling private travel a tool for serious entrepreneurs who value their time and their team.
“You’re not doing it for yourself. You are doing it for them. You need a plane. Not because you need a plane. Because you care so much for their future.”
Cuban said he still loves to read and learn, now focusing mostly on healthcare and artificial intelligence. He believes in staying ahead by staying curious.
Cuban’s Bigger Mission
While many fans might expect him to slow down, Cuban said he’s more focused than ever on making an impact.
He’s currently working to reform the pharmaceutical industry with his online pharmacy, Cost Plus Drugs, which aims to lower prices and simplify access to medication.
He’s pushing for a model where getting prescriptions isn’t expensive or overwhelming, especially for people without insurance.
For Cuban, making the system more transparent and fair is just as important as turning a profit.
Beyond the Billions
Fame and money changed how people look at Mark Cuban, but not how he looks at himself. He’s still connected to the same friends he had before the billions, and he’s focused on using his success to build things that matter.
The podcast didn’t just show off Cuban’s business mind; it showed the emotional trade-offs that come with wealth.
Recognition, power, and freedom might come easier, but so do the expectations, pressures, and public scrutiny.
“It makes ugly people handsome and pretty,” Cuban said with a grin. But what stuck even more was what followed:
“If you were miserable when you were poor, you’re going to be miserable when you’re rich.”
IMAGE CREDIT: “Mark Cuban” by Gage Skidmore, via Flickr. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Image adjusted for layout.