Mark Cuban Once Said 'The Stock Market Is for Suckers,' Calling 'Buy And Hold' the Second Most Misleading Slogan Ever—'Right After Rinse And Repeat'

If you think investing is as simple as parking your money in the market and watching it grow, Mark Cuban has some strong words for you. Back in 2006, the billionaire entrepreneur slammed the idea of "buy and hold," calling it the second most misleading marketing slogan ever—right after "rinse and repeat."

‘The Stock Market Is for Suckers'

In a blog post from Jan. 3, 2006, Cuban didn't mince words. "Wall Street has done an AMAZING job of creating conventional wisdom. ‘Buy and Hold' is the 2nd most misleading marketing slogan ever, after the brilliant ‘rinse and repeat' message on every shampoo bottle. We as a country have fallen for it…That is total bullshit. It's for suckers," he wrote.

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His issue with buy-and-hold investing? He argued that most people don't have the luxury of keeping their money locked in the market indefinitely. "You can have as long a term horizon as you want, but like most other long-term plans we have, most people's lives don't match up to their ‘horizons.' It's amazing how life intervenes."

Cuban pointed out that when unexpected expenses hit—whether it's a job loss, medical emergency, or just life happening—most people don't have the option to wait out a market downturn. If you're forced to sell stocks when the market is down, you may never recover from those losses.

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Can You Still Get Rich in the Stock Market?

Nearly 20 years later, the market has continued to grow, and plenty of investors have made serious money. But does that mean Cuban was wrong? Not exactly.

The stock market has historically delivered an average return of around 10% per year, but that doesn't mean every investor walks away a winner. Timing, market fluctuations, and even luck all play a huge role.

The good news? If you invest consistently, diversify your portfolio, and hold for decades—not just years—you can build wealth. That's why many financial experts, including Warren Buffett, recommend sticking to low-cost index funds rather than trying to pick stocks.

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On the flip side, Cuban's skepticism still holds weight. Many retail investors lose money by chasing trends, getting caught in market crashes, or investing in funds with high fees. The market isn't always fair, and big institutions and insiders often have the upper hand.

So, can you get rich by investing in the stock market? Yes—but it's not a guarantee, and it's not as simple as just "buy and hold." If you're relying on investing alone to build wealth, you might want to talk to a financial advisor—because as Cuban warned, if you're not careful, the market will "kick your a**."

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