Billionaire Mark Cuban is feeling the cost of his political views — literally. Just hours after endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris in her 2024 presidential campaign, the Dallas Mavericks owner and Shark Tank star saw his net worth plummet, plummeting by a staggering $2 billion. The endorsement, meant to show support for Harris’ stance on technology, artificial intelligence, and small business reform, has turned out to be one of the most financially disastrous statements of Cuban’s career.

“Money is not the point here, but $2 billion — wow!” Cuban said in a phone interview, trying to laugh off the staggering loss. “It turns out that standing up for what you believe in comes at a price.” While the billionaire seemed unfazed, his supporters and financial analysts are less optimistic, seeing this drastic blow as a warning to any other tycoon tempted to mix business with politics.

The debacle began when Cuban publicly endorsed Harris, praising her understanding of technology and commitment to lowering health care costs — issues he believes are vital to the country’s future. “She gets it,” Cuban said in an interview with The Guardian. “Kamala understands technology and artificial intelligence in a way that can make a real difference for national security and business stability.” She also expressed disapproval of Donald Trump’s tariffs, arguing that they hurt small businesses and disrupt economic stability.

However, this endorsement did not sit well with a significant portion of her supporters. Investors saw Cuban’s shift as a departure from his usual pragmatic approach, sparking widespread panic that led to a rapid sell-off in shares of Cuban’s companies. “Cuban’s endorsement of Harris seemed too politicized,” one Wall Street analyst explained. “Investors didn’t know what to make of it, so they pulled out.”

For years, Cuban’s financial decisions have been widely respected for their focus on profitability and growth. But his foray into the political arena with a $2 billion price tag has left investors and supporters reeling. Within hours of his promotion going public, his various investments suffered sudden declines and several prominent backers pulled their stakes.

“We trust Cuban because he’s always been smart and calculating about risks,” lamented one anonymous investor. “Now he’s risking billions to back a politician? It’s one thing to have an opinion; it’s another to make it your brand.” On financial news forums, frustrated investors expressed anger and disbelief, with comments like, “Politics doesn’t pay; Cuban just proved that,” and “I didn’t sign up for a political roller coaster.”

When news of Cuban’s financial blow broke, social media users wasted no time in weighing in. Memes and hashtags like #BrokeCuban and #CubanCrash began trending within minutes. Twitter was filled with reactions ranging from sympathy to outright mockery, with one user joking, “I guess Cuban just proved he can eat sharks too!” Others took the opportunity to remind Cuban of his previous advice to businesspeople to “focus on the numbers.”

Even Cuban’s supporters were divided. “I admire his courage,” one wrote, “but $2 billion just to support a candidate? Maybe he should have checked with his accountants first.” Meanwhile, Cuban’s critics were quick to call the situation a “financial crash of epic proportions,” jokingly suggesting he apply to be a contestant on Shark Tank to pitch his latest strategy to win back political support.

Despite the overwhelming backlash, Cuban remains defiant. In a statement posted on his social media, he reiterated his support for Harris and assured his followers that he will weather the financial storm. “If standing up for what I believe in costs me $2 billion, so be it,” he wrote. “It’s not about money, it’s about the future we’re building.”

Unsurprisingly, Cuban’s post did little to reassure bewildered investors. “He may not care about $2 billion, but we do,” one disgruntled shareholder tweeted. “If Cuban is willing to bet billions on politics, what else is he willing to risk?” Cuban’s stance, while principled, has caused some to question his commitment to the financial security he has long preached to aspiring entrepreneurs.

News of Cuban’s loss spread quickly through the celebrity world, with reactions ranging from supportive to mild ridicule. Fellow billionaire Elon Musk posted a cryptic tweet: “Maybe there’s a lesson here, Mark: rockets don’t do politics.” Jeff Bezos, for his part, remained silent, with sources suggesting he is “happy to watch from the sidelines.”

Not all responses were critical, however. Pop superstar Taylor Swift, another Harris supporter, posted on Instagram: “Money can’t buy integrity. I’m proud of you, Mark.” Similarly, Hollywood actor Mark Ruffalo praised Cuban’s stance, writing: “The price may be high, but values ​​are priceless.”

For many financial analysts, the real question now is whether Cuban’s reputation — and net worth — can recover from this unexpected political maneuver. While some argue that Cuban’s record speaks for itself and that he will recover, others are skeptical. “The financial world has a very long memory,” one analyst noted. “Investors are going to think twice before trusting someone who is willing to lose billions for a political statement.”

The endorsement has also raised broader questions about the place of politics in the business world. Cuban’s $2 billion gain could serve as a stark warning to other billionaires who may be tempted to throw their financial weight behind political causes. “People may admire Cuban’s stance,” one financial columnist said, “but money has no political loyalty. Just because Cuban believes in a candidate doesn’t mean his investors are going to follow suit.”

Now facing a major financial blow, Cuban’s next steps will be crucial. Will he double down on his support for Harris and risk alienating more investors, or will he revert to a business-focused approach in an attempt to regain their trust? So far, Cuban appears unfazed, and sources close to him say he is already working on strategies to recover from the $2 billion loss.

Pero Cuban, conocido por su tenacidad, parece no estar dispuesto a renunciar a su postura pública. “No llegué a donde estoy jugando a lo seguro”, dijo a los periodistas. “Llegué aquí siguiendo mis instintos, y no voy a cambiar eso ahora. Si eso significa recibir un golpe, puedo recibirlo. Lo que importa es que creo en Kamala Harris y en lo que ella representa”.

Sólo el tiempo dirá si la última apuesta de Cuban dará sus frutos o servirá como advertencia duradera. Por ahora, el multimillonario parece haber perdido 2.000 millones de dólares, pero ha aumentado en condenas, aunque algunos de sus inversores no estén convencidos.