When entrepreneurs walk into the tank, they dream big. Some walk out with a deal, others walk out with exposure. But a select few turn their appearance on the show into real, lasting business empires. Below are ten of the most successful items featured on Shark Tank, ranked by a combination of lifetime sales, brand longevity, category impact, and publicly available data. Each includes the story, current status (as recent as publicly available) and what challenges lie ahead.

1. Bombas

Randy Goldberg & David Heath Shark Tank appearance: Season 6 (2014); deal: $200,000 for ~17.5% with Daymond John.

Why it succeeded:

• Clear and simple product (socks) addressing a basic need.
• Mission‑driven model (“buy one, give one”) which appealed emotionally to consumers.
• Smart scaling from direct‑to‐consumer to retail channels.
• Latest (2025): Reported lifetime sales over $2 billion. Valuation cited around $3.42 billion with ~10% yearly growth.
• Future challenges: Maintaining growth as they move further from their DTC roots into wholesale; preserving the authenticity of their mission; fending off intense competition in apparel/footwear.

2. Scrub Daddy

Aaron Krause Shark Tank appearance: Season 4 (2012); deal: ~$200,000 for 20% from Lori Greiner.

Why it succeeded:

• A quirky yet effective product (smiling‑face sponge whose texture changes with water temperature) instantly recognizable.
• Strong follow‑up: retail expansion, product line diversification, leveraging QVC/TV marketing.
• Latest (2025): Annual revenue ~$220 million in 2023; ~$340 million in 2024. Lifetime sales cited over $1 billion in some reports.
• Future challenges: Deciding on exit/valuation, maintaining momentum in a commoditized category (cleaning supplies), global supply chain pressures.

3. Squatty Potty

Bobby Edwards & Judy Edwards Shark Tank appearance: Season 6; deal: ~$350,000 for ~10% with Lori Greiner.

Why it succeeded:

• Targeted a quirky but universal problem (toilet ergonomics) and made it fun (viral unicorn‑poop ad).
• Strong retail partnerships and rapid growth following the show.
• Latest (2025): Lifetime sales over ~$260 million.
• Future challenges: Growing beyond the niche “toilet stool” market, continuing innovation, competing with imitators and commoditization.

4. The Comfy

Brian & Michael Speciale Shark Tank appearance: Season 9; deal: ~$50k for ~30% equity with Barbara Corcoran

Why it succeeded:

• Clear holiday/gift appeal (wearable blanket) with strong consumer pull.
• Leveraged social media, viral marketing, and major retail channels.
• Latest (2025): Sales estimated into hundreds of millions (though fewer publicly‑transparent reports).
• Future challenges: Managing seasonality (gift market), transforming from novelty to long‑term lifestyle brand, differentiating in home/comfort category.

5. Tipsy Elves

Evan Mendelsohn & Nick Morton Shark Tank appearance: Season 5 (2013); deal: ~$100k for ~10% with Robert Herjavec

Why it succeeded:

• Niche, fun product (ugly Christmas sweaters) turned broader into seasonal apparel and gift market.
• Strong branding, holiday momentum, and expansion beyond original niche.
• Latest (2025): Cumulative sales over ~$300 million+.
• Future challenges: Extending beyond seasonality, staying relevant to new gift trends, managing inventory risk and fashion cycles.

6. Simply Fit Board

Gloria Hoffman & Linda Clark Shark Tank appearance: ~2015; deal: ~$125k for ~20% with Lori Greiner

Why it succeeded:

• Fitness / home workout product aligning with growing at‐home fitness trend.
• Affordable, simple, mass market appeal.
• Latest (2025): Sales cited ~ $160 million+
• Future challenges: Fitness category is crowded, one‑product brands risk plateauing; need for product extensions or subscription model to sustain growth.

7. Cousins Maine Lobster

Jim Tselikis & Sabin Lomac Shark Tank appearance: Season 4 (2012); deal: ~$55k for ~15% with Barbara Corcoran

Why it succeeded:

• Unique food concept: lobster‑based food trucks turned national franchise.
• Media/specialty appeal + franchising model.
• Latest (2025): System‑wide sales reportedly over $1 billion in some sources
• Future challenges: Restaurant/food‑service business has higher cost structure, quality control across franchisees, adapting to delivery‑first food trends.

8. CordaRoy’s (Convertible Bean Bag)

— Shark Tank appearance: Season 4; bean‑bag to bed concept

Why it succeeded:

• Innovated within home‑furnishing category, converting bean bag chairs into beds.
• Captured novelty + functional furniture niche.
• Latest (2025): Cumulative sales estimated ~$100‑400 million
• Future challenges: Home‑furnishings are high‑logistics, slower replacement cycles; brand must maintain novelty or broaden range.

9. Ring (formerly Doorbot)

Jamie Siminoff Shark Tank appearance: Appeared but did not make a deal with Sharks

Why it succeeded:

• Smart home security doorbell concept; huge category demand.
• Later acquired by Amazon for ~$1 billion.
• Latest (2025): Now part of Amazon’s smart home ecosystem; shows even non‐deal Shark Tank entries can become massive wins.
• Future challenges: As part of Amazon, growth depends on parent strategy; oversight/regulation in smart home and privacy are large concerns.

 10. Honourable Mentions

A number of other products from Shark Tank achieved significant scale but may lack full data transparency. They still illustrate the range of smart pitches that turned into multi‑million to billion‑dollar brands.

Why include them: They show that beyond the headline winners, the show has launched multiple success stories across categories.

Challenges: Often the same themes—differentiation, scaling, and staying relevant.

How the Ranking Logic Worked

• Scale / Lifetime Sales: Brands that generated hundreds of millions or billions.
• Longevity & Growth: Not just a flash in the pan, but sustained business.
• Category Impact & Brand Strength: Did the product define its niche?
• Data Transparency: Only brands with reasonably verifiable public numbers.

Key Lessons for Entrepreneurs

• Solve a clear consumer problem (Bombas: comfy socks + mission; Scrub Daddy: better sponge; Squatty Potty: bathroom ergonomics).
• Make your product instantly understandable and shelf‑ready.
• Use your TV appearance (or equivalent exposure) as a launchpad, not the finish line.
• Expand smartly into retail + e‑commerce, and diversify your product line to maintain momentum.
• Protect early momentum—invest in supply‐chain, branding, and differentiation to avoid commoditization.

My Personal Takeaways

Observation Table

Final Thought

The show Shark Tank gives entrepreneurs a big stage. But the real winners are those who treat that stage as the starting line. The above ten items prove that with the right product, brand strategy, and execution, what began as a simple pitch can become a multi‑hundred‐million (or billion) dollar success. Whether you’re launching your own product or writing about one, the blueprint is clear: problem → solution → brand → scale. Follow it well, and your item could be the next one listed here.