Steven Bartlett is officially crossing the Atlantic. The entrepreneur, investor, and host of The Diary of a CEO has been announced as a Guest Shark for Season 18 of ABC’s hit reality business show, Shark Tank, premiering in the autumn of 2026.
Bartlett will be swimming with the Sharks alongside a star-studded lineup of fellow guest investors, including YouTube titan Jimmy “MrBeast” Donaldson, actor and producer Mindy Kaling, former NFL star J.J. Watt, and Favorite Daughter co-founders Erin and Sara Foster.
Already the youngest-ever Dragon on the BBC’s Dragons’ Den, this strategic move marks a massive milestone in Bartlett’s continued expansion into the US market and cements his status as one of the most influential new-media investors globally.
From the Den to the Tank: Cracking America
For Bartlett, joining Shark Tank is the realisation of a lifelong dream. Having watched the show as a teenager building his first businesses, taking a seat alongside legendary veteran Sharks like Mark Cuban, Barbara Corcoran, and Kevin O’Leary brings his entrepreneurial journey full circle.
The Business Empire Behind the Shark
While audiences know him for hosting what is now the most viewed host-led podcast in the world on YouTube as of July 2026, reaching over 100 million people globally every month, Bartlett’s track record as an investor and founder is what makes him a formidable force in the Tank. His recent financial milestones:
- Steven.com’s Record-Breaking Valuation: In 2025, Bartlett’s US-incorporated creator holding company, Steven.com, closed a major eight-figure investment, raising capital at a $425 million (£320 million) valuation. It is widely believed to be the largest creator holding company in European history and he retains more than 90% of the equity.
- According to Forbes: his personal annual earnings solely from being a creator (excluding all his other business activities) was $52M in 2025 alone.
- The $1.2 Billion Huel Exit: As an early investor and board member in the nutritionally complete food brand Huel, Bartlett secured a monumental victory when the company was acquired by Danone in 2026 in a deal worth close to $1.2 billion.
- PerfectTed’s $190 Million Growth: Bartlett’s very early investment in the matcha brand PerfectTed remains the most successful Dragons’ Den pitch to date, with the company now valued at $200 million.
- Thirdweb’s $160 Million Milestone: Bartlett is the co-founder of the San Francisco-based Web3 software company Thirdweb, which reached a $160 million valuation after being backed by heavyweights like Shopify, Coinbase, and fellow Shark Mark Cuban.
- Stan Store’s Revenue Engine: In 2025, Bartlett became a co-owner of Stan Store, a US technology platform for creator entrepreneurs that boasts $35 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR) and processes $400 million in gross merchandise value (GMV).
- Flight Story Fund: Bartlett continues to deploy capital through his investment fund, targeting high-growth startups in biotech, space, blockchain, and health.
A New Era of Investment on Shark Tank
Bartlett’s addition to the Season 18 roster highlights a major shift in the business landscape. Traditional retail and consumer goods are now competing with the booming creator economy. By bringing an investor who understands how to leverage digital communities, hyper-scale media, and community-led brands, Shark Tank is tapping into the future of commerce.
For the entrepreneurs entering the Tank this season, an offer from Steven Bartlett doesn’t just mean capital – it means instant access to a multi-million-dollar media infrastructure, an unparalleled global audience, and the strategic mind behind some of the fastest-growing startups of the decade.
Shark Tank Season 18 will air on Wednesdays this autumn on ABC and will be available to stream on Hulu and Disney+.