Mark Cuban, the outspoken billionaire and star of "Shark Tank," recently made headlines with his bold statement that he'd love to buy both Fox News and X (formerly Twitter), if only he had the money.
In an interview with Wired’s Lauren Goode, Cuban admitted, “If I had enough money to do it, which I don't, I'd buy it in a heartbeat." His reasoning behind the desire to acquire Fox News is rooted in his frustration with what he terms the "Fox News generation," a demographic shift that has left him both puzzled and disappointed.
Cuban has previously expressed disappointment in how his own generation—once the counterculture champions of the 1960s and '70s—has evolved into a demographic heavily associated with conservative media.
Reflecting on his youth, Cuban noted that the same individuals who were once immersed in the rebellious culture of “sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll” are now, in his view, aligned with Fox News, a channel that Cuban feels is at odds with the ethos of that era.
Speaking to The New York Times in 2020, he lamented, “The idea that those are the people condemning Black Lives Matters and watching Fox News in droves. It's so upsetting to me.”
However, despite his interest, Cuban is well aware that the price tag for Fox News—estimated at around $15 billion to $20 billion—would be far out of his reach. He conceded as much in his interview, stating, “I don’t have $15 or $20 billion in cash sitting around.” Even if Fox News were to come up for sale, it would be a monumental financial challenge.
Cuban's interest in X, on the other hand, seems less financially daunting but equally improbable for different reasons. Elon Musk, who bought Twitter for $44 billion in 2022 before rebranding it to X, is not likely to part with the platform any time soon. Cuban acknowledged this, saying, "There's no reason for him to sell it."
Cuban, a frequent user of X, has been vocal in his criticisms of Musk’s management of the platform, yet remains an active participant. Cuban has often sparred with Musk over the changes, finding some amusement in their clashes, stating, “He who controls the algorithm controls the platform... They're fun to f--- with.”
Even with Cuban’s candid criticisms of Musk, the two seem to share a peculiar dynamic where insults and jabs don’t seem to deter Cuban’s engagement on the platform. In fact, he’s gone so far as to call it “fun sparring with Elon,” underscoring Cuban’s willingness to challenge the status quo in both media and social media spheres.