In a captivating discussion with Grant Cardone on the 10X Studios YouTube channel, Shark Tank investor Robert Herjavec reminisced about his unforgettable experience on season 20 of Dancing with the Stars (2015). The interview, which aired on February 22, 2025, featured Robert recalling a pivotal conversation with his mother years prior, where she expressed her belief in his dancing potential, referring to him as “beautiful.”
Herjavec shared a promise he made to his mother: if he was ever approached by the show’s producers, he would seize the opportunity. This promise was particularly special to him since the show held a cherished place in his mother’s heart.
“This is years before I went on TV. One day my mom looks at me, and she used to call me Robbie, and she goes, ‘Robbie, you so beautiful. Why you not show?’ And I said to her ‘Mom, if they ever ask me, I would do it for you,'”he reflected.
Robert Herjavec’s Journey from Dreams to Reality
For context, during his time on Dancing with the Stars, Robert was paired with professional dancer Kym Johnson, finishing sixth in the competition. Their bond flourished, leading to their marriage on July 31, 2016, and they now have two children together.
When asked by Grant Cardone if his parents ever witnessed his television success, Robert revealed that his father had passed away before he stepped into the television spotlight. However, his mother was able to see his early appearances on the Canadian version of the show, Dragons’ Den. Despite the absence of his parents during his Shark Tank journey, he expressed no regrets.
Robert recounted his initial experience filming Dragons’ Den, recalling how he and his co-investors were brought into a room filled with probing questions about their motives for fame. He humorously noted that his desire for fame stemmed from his lifelong dream of appearing on Dancing with the Stars.
This aspiration was personally rooted in the profound influence of his mother, who was a devoted fan of the dance competition.
“So you got a picture of this European household, my mom and dad barely spoke English. My mom was this little woman working in, you know, a receptionist. Super nice lady. Her favorite show? Dancing with the Stars. Like if I would call home on a Monday she would say ‘Why you call? You know, show on? I can’t talk,'”he recalled.
Robert also shared an emotional chapter in their lives, detailing how his mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and spent over a year in the hospital. Every Monday, he would visit her, and together they would watch Dancing with the Stars with other patients, maintaining a sense of joy amidst the struggle.
During one of these visits, his mother poignantly questioned why he was not on the show, a moment that renewed his promise to her regarding participation in the competition.
“Never been on TV, no idea how to get on TV, and many years later I end up on Dancing with the Stars and meet my amazing wife. Isn’t life freakin incredible? But you know, it goes back to connecting the dots, constant forward momentum. Who would have thought saying that to my mom, getting on Dragons’ Den, and then 20 years later [we are here],”he concluded.
Currently, fans can catch Robert Herjavec in action on the latest episodes of Shark Tank, which air every Friday on ABC.