Mark Cuban Predicts AI Will Create World's First Trillionaire, Urges Focus on AI Learning

Mark Cuban: The world's first trillionaire could be 'just one dude in the basement' who's great at using AI

Mark Cuban speaks onstage during the 2025 SXSW Conference and Festival at Hilton Austin on March 10, 2025 in Austin, Texas. Billionaire entrepreneur and investor Mark Cuban says that artificial intelligence has the potential to generate more wealth for a single person than any individual has ever accumulated before. Specifically, Cuban predicts that AI will help create the world's first trillionaire, he said on a recent episode of the podcast "High Performance." That person will be someone who is able to harness AI in a yet-to-be-discovered way, he added. 'We haven't seen the best, or the craziest, of what [AI] is going to be able to do," said the 66-year-old former "Shark Tank" star. "Not only do I think it'll create a trillionaire, but it could be just one dude in the basement. That's how crazy it could be." Currently, some people use generative AI to automate everyday tasks like making schedules and to-do lists. Others see AI as a virtual companion, guiding them on how to have difficult conversations or using them for personal reassurance. In the corporate world, Chipotle CEO Scott Boatwright told Fortune on June 9 that AI tools had cut his company's hiring time by 75%. That's only the "preseason" of AI's capabilities, Cuban said. "Remember the early days of PCs and people were like, 'I don't need that. ... What's this internet thing? Why do we need it?' Then it was smartphones," said Cuban. "We'll find something equivalent for AI and then, five years [later] ... people will be like, 'How did I live without it?' People will make a lot of money." "I'm not saying we're going to get the Terminator," he added. "I'm not saying that all of a sudden, there are going to be robots that are smarter than people ... But we'll find ways to make our lives better." There are a few problems that come with AI, like it's potential to displace jobs -- tech companies like Shopify and Fiverr are strongly urging their employees to learn AI skills, and Duolingo will gradually stop using contractors for tasks that can be completed by artificial intelligence People have also misused AI to carry out online scams and hoaxes, perpetrate cyber attacks and create and spread misinformation. AI also has a significant environmental impact, as data centers require a lot of energy and water to keep their processors cool and running smoothly. Researchers found that training a model like Open AI's GPT-3, for example, requires 1,287 megawatt hours of electricity, which is enough to power about 120 homes in the United States for a year. But given how quickly the technology is evolving, Cuban argues that you'll do yourself a disservice if you don't at least try to familiarize yourself with AI. "Download Gemini from Google. Download ChatGPT ... and just ask your questions about anything," he said. "But don't assume the answers are right. And when you find something you don't agree with, tell the AI you don't agree with it," to improve the bot's performance and address any biases it may have. "You have to realize that it's not actually thinking ... It's not actually smart," Cuban added. "But what it can do is find information and package it in a way that people can understand." Are you ready to buy a house? Take Smarter by CNBC Make It's new online course How to Buy Your First Home. Expert instructors will help you weigh the cost of renting vs. buying, financially prepare, and confidently navigate every step of the process -- from mortgage basics to closing the deal. Sign up today and use coupon code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 30% off $97 (+taxes and fees) through July 15, 2025.

Mark Cuban says AI could create the first trillionaire - "just one dude in the basement"

Serving tech enthusiasts for over 25 years. TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust. A hot potato: There have been a lot of wild promises about what AI will accomplish - most of which have yet to happen. According to billionaire investor Mark Cuban, the technology will create the world's first trillionaire. And it won't be someone who's already rich: Cuban believes the first person to make $1,000,000,000,000 will be "just one dude in the basement." Cuban, who has an estimated fortune of around $5.7 billion, was extolling the virtues of AI on a recent episode of the High Performance podcast. He said that generative AI was in its nascent stage, and that we still haven't seen "the best or the craziest of what it's able to do." Cuban shares the same view as the many CEOs who have compared the new wave of AI to the arrival of the internet or the cloud. He said that in the early days of PCs, smartphones, and networks, there was always something bigger and better being created by an innovative entrepreneur, but AI "dwarfs all that." He said the person who comes up with a way to make AI essential to everyone will make "a lot of money," and it could be a person working out of their basement. The former Shark Tank star also compares the initial pushback against PCs, the internet, and smartphones during the technologies' launches to what AI is experiencing today. "Most people condemn things when they first happen," he said. "But then, when you see people using it and you realize the value, that's when people come around." When asked how he felt about the AI naysayers, Cuban said "you have no say in the matter." The investor practices what he preaches. Cuban said he uses AI an "insane" amount, from health and exercise tracking to writing software and using text-to-video abilities for work. For all his praise, Cuban does admit that AI can get things wrong and people should check output that appears incorrect. Millionaires and billionaires like Cuban are often the most vocal when it comes to worshipping AI - it doesn't threaten their livelihoods the way it does for many people, and some execs see it as a way of making even more money while cutting employee costs. Cuban did say "I'm not here to tell you it's going to replace everyone's job - it won't," though the likes of Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, Ford CEO Jim Farley, and Anthropic boss Dario Amodei have all said the opposite. There are also questions over the environmental damage stemming from the data centers powering this new revolution.

AI can make anyone rich: Mark Cuban says it could turn 'just one dude in a basement' into a trillionaire

Some of the world's largest and most successful tech companies were built at home: Steve Jobs founded Apple in the garage of his parents' home, and Jeff Bezos also founded Amazon in his garage. And thanks to artificial intelligence, the trend of developing blockbuster companies at home is sure to continue. Mark Cuban, the billionaire former principal owner of the Dallas Mavericks and Shark Tank star, recently said AI could help make the world's first trillionaire. "We haven't seen the best or the craziest of what [AI is] going to be able to do," Cuban told the High Performance podcast in an episode published June 29. "And not only do I think it'll create a trillionaire, but it could be just one dude in the basement. That's how crazy it could be." Take OpenAI, for example, which was formed in cofounder and President Greg Brockman's living room in 2015. OpenAI is currently valued at $300 billion thanks to a $40 billion fund-raising deal in March. Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, is worth at least $2 billion. While that's a far cry from AI creating the world's first trillionaire, a September 2024 report by wealth-tracking service Informa Connect said Tesla CEO Elon Musk is on pace to become a trillionaire by 2027. Musk also has his own AI startup xAI, which has an estimated $80 billion valuation. "There's always something bigger and better that's created by an innovative entrepreneur," Cuban said. "But AI just dwarfs all that." How Mark Cuban uses AI Cuban appears to firmly believe in the power of AI, and said we're only in the "preseason" of what the technology can really do. "As it becomes more advanced -- and I'm not saying we're going to get the Terminator -- I'm not saying all of a sudden there's going to be robots that are smarter than people, like the movie," he told High Performance. "But we'll find ways to make our lives better, more interesting, to work better, more effectively." Cuban also said he uses AI for nearly everything. He gave an example of how he uses it to track health metrics since he suffers from atrial fibrillation (A-Fib). He had to track when he was taking medications and working out and used ChatGPT to help him record it. He also asked ChatGPT to let him know if there's something he writes down that doesn't seem right or that he should be concerned about. "And damn if it doesn't do it," Cuban said. "Now you've got to be careful. It's like talking to a friend who you think knows a lot about something. You've still got to be careful and talk to an expert, but being able to do the process and just having things identified that I might not have known to look for was insane -- just insane." Cuban touches on one of the larger concerns when it comes to relying on AI for making important health- or life-related decisions. While ChatGPT has served as an accessible means for getting advice, and even therapy, experts have warned the technology still has limitations and makes mistakes. To combat this, Cuban said he challenges the AI tools he's using with more questions and does his own research. "There's times when I don't think the answer is what it should be, or I think it's wrong. And I'll say, 'I don't think you're right. I need you to show me the evidence of how you got to this decision,'" he explained. "And it's no different than talking to a friend or a work colleague and just calling bullsh-t." And on the hot topic of whether AI will take everyone's jobs, Cuban said no. "I can just go on all the sh-t I'm trying with AI, and I'm not here to tell you that it's going to replace everybody's job. It won't," he predicted. "But the things that you like to do, if you're creative, innovative, whatever it may be -- or you're just bored -- it might end up being the best alternative to boredom."

Billionaire Mark Cuban predicts 'who will be the world's first trillionaire?' And it is not Elon Musk

Billionaire entrepreneur and former "Shark Tank" star Mark Cuban has made a bold prediction: the world's first trillionaire will not come from rockets or electric cars, but from artificial intelligence. Speaking on the "High Performance" podcast, Cuban said someone will harness AI in a yet-unknown way that could redefine wealth forever -- and it might just be "some dude in a basement." Cuban, who has long been vocal about emerging tech trends, explained that current uses of AI -- like virtual assistants, smart scheduling, and corporate hiring tools -- are just the beginning. "We haven't seen the best, or the craziest, of what [AI] is going to be able to do," he said, suggesting we are still in AI's "preseason." Comparing the current AI moment to the early days of personal computers and smartphones, Cuban believes that what seems optional or even silly today will soon become indispensable. "People were like, 'What's this internet thing? Why do we need it?'" he recalled. "Then five years later, people couldn't live without it. The same thing will happen with AI. People will make a lot of money." The real game-changer, Cuban said, won't necessarily be a corporation, but an individual innovator -- someone who discovers an AI application so impactful, it redefines entire industries. The explosive potential of AI isn't without warning signs. Cuban acknowledged the technology's darker sides: job displacement, misinformation, and environmental concerns. Tools like ChatGPT and Gemini can now automate tasks that once required teams, while some companies, like Duolingo, are phasing out contractors altogether in favor of AI-powered workflows. Even training AI models can be resource-intensive. A study cited in Popular Mechanics reported that developing GPT-3 used enough electricity to power 120 homes in the U.S. for a year. Yet Cuban urged people not to fear the tech, but to engage with it critically and creatively. For those still unsure how to enter the AI space, Cuban had one simple recommendation: just start. "Download Gemini from Google. Download ChatGPT... ask your questions about anything," he advised. But he cautioned users not to assume the answers are correct. "It's not actually thinking... It's not actually smart," he added. "But what it can do is find information and package it in a way that people can understand." Ultimately, Cuban's vision is one of opportunity. AI, he says, is not about replacing people -- but about helping them unlock new levels of creativity, productivity, and wealth. And somewhere out there, maybe in a garage or basement, the future's first trillionaire might already be coding away.

Mark Cuban's resurfaced wish about AI is a wake-up call for Gen Z: 'If I were 16 or 18 today...'

In a resurfaced SXSW video, billionaire Mark Cuban urged young entrepreneurs to focus all their energy on learning artificial intelligence. He emphasized that AI isn't the answer but a tool to amplify existing skills. Cuban suggested mastering tools like NotebookLM and offering AI consulting to small businesses as a simple, scalable way to succeed in today's market. At a time when the internet is flooded with advice on side hustles, passive income, and "making it big," billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban offers a sobering -- and inspiring -- alternative. If he were 21 and starting over, he wouldn't be gambling on crypto or selling oddball inventions. He'd be doing one thing: obsessively learning artificial intelligence. In a resurfaced video from his South by Southwest (SXSW) talk, the Dallas Mavericks' former majority owner and famed Shark Tank investor laid out what he believes is the single most valuable skill of our time. "If I were 16, 18, 20, or 21 starting today, I would spend every waking minute learning about AI," he said to a packed crowd. "Even while I'm sleeping, I would have podcasts playing about AI." Cuban, who famously turned his early ventures like MicroSolutions and Broadcast.com into multimillion-dollar successes, admits his journey began with many stumbles -- including trying to sell powdered milk. But unlike those ventures, which required risky bets and long hours, AI, he believes, is a game-changer that anyone can learn and use with little upfront capital. "This isn't about building the next Google," Cuban emphasized. "Just understanding how to use AI can create real value." His advice to beginners? Start with simple AI tools like NotebookLM and approach small businesses. "Charge $25 an hour to show them how to boost productivity and cut costs," he said, outlining a direct, scalable business model that turns knowledge into immediate income. Despite his bullish stance on AI, Cuban is careful to strike a note of realism. Artificial intelligence alone won't make anyone rich or successful -- it's a tool, not a shortcut. "AI is never the answer," he said. "AI is a tool. Whatever skills you have, you can use AI to amplify them." This, he argues, is where many go wrong -- believing that simply learning AI will make them indispensable. But Cuban insists the true differentiator still lies in human traits like curiosity, persistence, and hustle. "Your mind is just going to go nuts," he said, encouraging young entrepreneurs to dive in and explore the limitless possibilities AI presents -- from startups to consulting gigs. Mark Cuban's life is a masterclass in pivoting, adapting, and always staying curious. From working as a bartender and getting fired from his first tech job in Dallas, to building and selling MicroSolutions for $6 million and later selling Broadcast.com to Yahoo! for $5.7 billion, Cuban's success story has been anything but conventional. As of May 2025, Forbes estimates his net worth at $5.7 billion. Cuban's message is clear: this era's greatest currency isn't capital or connections -- it's knowledge. Whether you're a student, a job-hopper, or a frustrated corporate employee, Cuban's advice hits like a lightning bolt: "If you're just getting started today... you will find a million different ways you can leverage this."

Mark Cuban Predicts AI Will Create The First Trillionaire And 'It Could Just Be One Dude In The Basement'

Enter your email to get Benzinga's ultimate morning update: The PreMarket Activity Newsletter Billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban said that he believes artificial intelligence (AI) could lead to the creation of the world's first trillionaire. What Happened: Cuban, aged 66, predicted this during the "High Performance" podcast by CNBC on Sunday. He highlighted that the future trillionaire will likely be someone who innovatively harnesses AI. He remarked, "We haven't seen the best, or the craziest, of what [AI] is going to be able to do." He also speculated that this groundbreaking innovation might emerge from an unexpected source, noting, "Not only do I think it'll create a trillionaire, but it could be just one dude in the basement." Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. CEO Scott Boatwright recently pointed out AI's effectiveness in cutting down hiring time by 75%, according to Fortune. Cuban compared AI's potential to the early days of personal computers and smartphones, predicting it will become essential. See Also: Mark Cuban Talks About His Struggles During His First Company: 'I Didn't Take A Vacation For...7 Years' Despite AI's promising future, Cuban acknowledged potential challenges, including job displacement and environmental impacts. He encouraged people to engage with AI tools like ChatGPT to better understand and improve them, emphasizing the importance of familiarizing oneself with this rapidly evolving technology. Subscribe to the Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox. "I'm not saying that all of a sudden, there are going to be robots that are smarter than people ... But we'll find ways to make our lives better," Cuban added. Why It Matters: Mark Cuban has long been a vocal advocate for technological innovation. His insights into AI's potential to create unprecedented wealth come amid a broader conversation about the transformative power of technology. Cuban's entrepreneurial journey, which began with the founding of MicroSolutions at age 24, underscores his belief in hard work and innovation as keys to success. He has previously shared his struggles, including not taking a vacation for seven years while building his first company. Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by following this link. Read Next: Trump Signs Sweeping Tax And Spending Bill That CBO Says Will Add $3.3 Trillion To US Deficit, Cut Health Coverage For 11.8 Million Americans Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. Photo courtesy: Joe Seer / Shutterstock.com Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs