Shark Tank: One Entrepreneur Regretted a $300,000 Deal With Daymond John Who Dragged Him to Court

Shark Tank completely changed the television genre with its unique concept when it premiered in 2009. Based on the British TV series Dragon’s Den, it showcases contestants making business pitches to a panel of five venture capitalists or “Sharks.” At the same time, it’s still a dream for many to showcase their ideas on this platform.

Daymond John || Credits: 4hourworkweek || CCA 2.0/Wikimedia Commons

But for Al “Bubba” Baker, his pitch to Daymond John turned into a complete nightmare. The entire scenario escalated so quickly that John, who had a deal in place with Baker, had to drag the entrepreneur to court.

How Al “Bubba” Baker’s $300K Deal With Daymond John Ended in Court?

Former NFL player Al “Bubba” Baker had a remarkable sports career before he transitioned to being an entrepreneur. He played as a defensive end from 1978 to 1990, after which he moved onto his ribs business. Baker appeared on Shark Tank alongside his daughter Brittani Bo Baker and presented their company, Bubba’s Q Boneless Ribs.

Al “Bubba” Baker via Sony Pictures Television || Credits: YouTube

With their presentation, the father-daughter duo impressed the judges. But out of the five, the most impressed was Daymond John, who offered them a deal of $300,000 for 30%. After careful consideration, both Bubba and Brittani accepted John’s offer, but it was here that their main issues started taking place. 

Despite the initial excitement, the Bakers encountered major problems with their deal. In a Los Angeles Times interview, they revealed that although Bubba’s Q Boneless Ribs brought in $16 million in revenue, they only received $659,653 – roughly 4% of their total earnings.

Furthermore, the Bakers accused Daymond John and his partners of misleading them and attempting to take control of their business. According to the Bakers, there was a complete breakdown in communication and a halt in promotional activities, which made it difficult for consumers to find their products.

This lack of support led to severe financial difficulties, ultimately forcing the Bakers to shut down their restaurant and sell their family home.

Daymond John Gets a Restraining Order Against the Bakers

Daymond John took legal action against the Bakers for allegedly badmouthing him on social media for years. This all started after a business deal with former NFL player Al “Bubba” Baker and his family went wrong. What began as a promising partnership soon turned into a mess. Baker, his daughter Brittani, and his wife Sabrina were excited when John agreed to invest in their BBQ business.

Daymond John || Credits: Isometric Enterprises, Inc. || CCA 4.0/Wikimedia Commons

However, over time, they claimed John was keeping most of the profits and trying to take over their company. This led to a legal fight, which ended in a 2019 settlement. The said settlement made it clear that the Bakers couldn’t say anything negative about John or his company, DF Ventures, to the public.

Despite the agreement, Bubba still shared his frustrations in the same interview with the Los Angeles Times. He called working with John a “nightmare.” This led the Shark Tank judge to file for a restraining order, mentioning that the Bakers broke their deal.

A New Jersey judge agreed with John, issuing a permanent order that prevents the Bakers from making any more public statements that could hurt John’s reputation.

You can watch Shark Tank on Hulu and Fubo TV.