Mark Cuban Shares How To Get Rich: 'Loved My Life Eating Mustard and Ketchup Sandwiches' But Says It's Definitely Better Having Money

Mark Cuban, the billionaire entrepreneur and former owner of the Dallas Mavericks, is no stranger to sharing his thoughts on wealth and success. In a 2008 blog post titled "How to Get Rich," Cuban laid out his straightforward, no-nonsense advice on achieving financial success. 

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Cuban reminisced about his early days, saying, "I'm certainly not going to lie and say it is not much better having lots of money. I had a whole lot of fun and loved my life when I was eating mustard and ketchup sandwiches and sleeping on the floor of a 3-bedroom apartment that housed me and five buddies." Despite his modest beginnings, Cuban is clear that his life has improved with wealth. "I have a whole lot more fun now. It doesn't suck to be rich."

However, Cuban is quick to caution against the allure of quick fixes and easy money. "There are no shortcuts. NONE," he emphasized. During financial uncertainty, such as the 2008 economic downturn, Cuban warned of scams and schemes that prey on those desperate for financial success. "The less money you have, the more likely someone will come at you with some scheme. The schemes will guarantee returns, use multilevel marketing, or be something crazy that is now ‘backed by the U.S. Government.' Please ignore them," he advised.

Cuban's approach to getting rich is grounded in practicality and discipline. "Save your money. Save as much money as you possibly can. Every penny you can," he wrote. Cuban encourages cutting unnecessary expenses and living frugally as the first step toward building wealth. "Instead of coffee, drink water. Instead of going to McDonald's, eat Mac and Cheese. Cut up your credit cards. If you use a credit card, you don't want to be rich."

The billionaire also emphasized the importance of having cash on hand, especially during market volatility. "The first step to getting rich is having cash available," Cuban noted. He criticized the traditional buy-and-hold investment strategy, pointing out that those who followed it often found themselves without cash when opportunities arose. "Buy and hold is a sucker's game for you," he stated, adding that those who saved their money in safer vehicles like CDs could capitalize on opportunities during economic downturns.

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Cuban's second rule for getting rich is to invest time in yourself and become knowledgeable about a business you love. "Whatever your hobbies, interests, passions are … GET A JOB in the business that supports it," he advised. Cuban highlighted the value of learning on the job, stating that working in an industry you're passionate about is akin to getting paid to learn.

"This is not a short-term project. We aren't talking days. We aren't talking months. We are talking years. Lots of years and maybe decades," Cuban wrote. He emphasized that there's no perfect path to wealth, but with patience and preparation, the right opportunity will eventually present itself.

Cuban concluded his advice by underscoring the cyclical nature of business, with periods of boom and bust. "Booms are when the smart people sell. Busts are when rich people started on their path to wealth," he wrote. According to Cuban, the key is to be prepared when the time comes. "The question is whether you have the discipline to be ready when it happens for you?"

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Mark Cuban's journey from eating mustard and ketchup sandwiches to becoming a billionaire is a testament to the power of discipline, knowledge, and preparation. While he doesn't sugarcoat the reality that having money is better, his advice remains grounded in the belief that success is within reach for those willing to work for it.