When Lindsay Lohan leaves her 90-day court ordered rehab stint on July 31, the 27-year-old will head straight to Oprah Winfrey's couch for an in-depth interview.

The actress has also agreed to shoot an eight-part docu-series for Winfrey’s OWN cable network that will chronicle her journey to rebuild her career and stay sober. 

The interview and special will cover Lohan's struggles, her career and her plans for the future.

"OWN will air an exclusive interview with Oprah and Lindsay Lohan that will tape and air in August and an eight-part documentary series with Lindsay for 2014,"confirms an OWN Spokesperson.

But how much money did it take for Lohan to agree to spill her guts?

A whopping $2 million, reports TMZ, noting that it's a better deal than the $1 million she got to pose topless for Playboy.

While Lohan shoots her OWN reality series, Winfrey will also reportedly supply the actress with two fully-paid assistants and a stylist.

But Lohan's first, exclusive post-rehab interview — and subsequent reality series — is a coveted get for Winfrey, and worth the cash.

"Lohan has turned down unscripted project offers for years, preferring to focus on scripted acting roles," notes Entertainment Weekly.

Lohan recently had guest-star appearances on "Glee," Charlie Sheen's "Anger Management," Lifetime’s "Liz & Dick" and the upcoming "The Canyons."

Meanwhile Winfrey Oprah has scored a string of coveted celebrity interviews, from Lance Armstrong to Rihanna, for "Oprah’s Next Chapter"— helping ratings raise 32% this year from the first quarter.

As for what Lohan's family thinks of the deal, "It's fantastic!" mom Dina Lohan gushed toE! News, adding "If anyone is going to help mentor you, it's going to be Oprah."

Dina says she will "possibly" appear on the docu-series. "It's about family … and I'm family."

And watch out New Yorkers, Dina adds that Lindsay will "be getting an apartment in New York" after she leaves Betty Ford and likely shooting the docu-series in the Big Apple.

SEE ALSO: Lindsay Lohan Strips Down In Gritty Trailer For 'The Canyons'

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Social media and viewers aren't the only ones sounding off about racial remarks being said in the "Big Brother" house this season. 

Series host Julie Chen spoke out on "The Talk" about the insensitive comments made by contestants Aaryn Gries and GinaMarie Zimmerman in an unsettling clip that aired Sunday evening on CBS. 

"I think it shows us all that in 2013, race is still a deeply, deeply personal issue," says Chen. "It is so extremely hurtful and unless you have ever been on the receiving end of it, you simply do not know what it's like to walk a mile in someone's shoes who has been" 

"Aaryn in my opinion, has no clue what it's like to be on the receiving end," she adds. "I think she's ignorant, I think she's young, I think she's immature." 

When and if Gries is evicted from the "Big Brother" house, the sit down with Chen will be a big ratings draw for CBS. 

Watch the clip of Julie Chen below:

SEE ALSO: "Big Brother" airs racism disclaimer before episode

AND: Contestants address racism in "Big Brother" house

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A Long Island middle school health teacher was forced to resign his position after appearing as an extra on the Bravo reality show "Princesses: Long Island," according to the Daily News.

Stefan Serie was a well regarded health teacher at Merrick Avenue Middle School who, in his words, was "coerced" into quitting after appearing shirtless in a pool party scene. The Bravo series follows six self-proclaimed "Jewish-American Princesses" who still live with their parents.

As the Daily News writes, "the 30-year-old flashes his cut abs and laughs in the background while the rest of the 'Princess' crew drinks alcohol from red plastic cups, bounces around in their teeny bikinis and dishes about their dream boyfriends." You can watch the full episode here.

Serie tells the Daily News that "I didn’t do anything that I would tell my students not to do." The teacher had his tenure offer rescinded and was pressured into quiting his $75,000 job, he says.

Since appearing as an extra, Serie has distanced himself from the controversial show. He told the Daily News, "The behavior of the cast members was not something I wanted to be a part of moving forward."

Serie was popular among students and parents, and there is a rally in support of him planned for this evening, News 12 Long Island reports. Here's what one former student had to say about him on RateMyTeachers (lightly edited for typos):

My favorite teacher in all my years. He was the nicest when i had him- also the best wrestling coach. He is very Knowledgeable about his topics and taught me a lot. Talks to his students like we are his friends, and doesn't throw around his power. Best teacher- best coach- also one of my best friends

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Steve Stevens, the star of an upcoming CNBC reality show called "Money Talks," is being called a fraud and an ex-convict by some of the most prominent people in the sports betting world today.

Stevens has a business where he sells sports betting picks called VIP Sports Las Vegas.

The CNBC press release for the show calls him "a well-known handicapper," and a promo video on his company's website claims he has a winning percentage of 71.5%. The show is a "docu-soap," and it's set to air Sept. 10.

But apparently no one in Vegas has heard of Stevens, and his 70% winning percentage is considered impossible.

Even worse, a damning report from WagerMinds lays out evidence alleging that his name is actually Darin Notaro, and he has been arrested multiple times for telemarketing fraud.

Todd Fuhrman, a former oddsmaker at Caesar's Palace, wrote in a blog post yesterday, "No one, and I mean no one, in the sports betting community I speak with daily knows who this guy is."

Bob Voulgaris, a popular sharp NBA bettor, said on Twitter last night that he'd never heard of Stevens either, calling him "a complete scam artist" for the 70% claim.

WagerMinds — a sports betting website that is focused on transparency in the industry — also said they've never heard of him in their article.

The 70% claim was a red flag for a lot of sports betting folks. Voulgaris, whom Nate Silver called the best sports bettor in the world, only wins about 57% of his NBA bets. SportsInsights ran the numbers in June and found that your chances of winning 70% of bets against the spread are about one in one trillion.

It's basically impossible to win 70%, but the VIP Sports Las Vegas website is using that claim to sell its picks to customers. Here's the promo video from the website (with NSFW language):

A CNBC spokesman told us in a statement that viewers will have to draw their own conclusions about Stevens' business, adding, "We are merely betting that viewers will be interested in the world of touts and handicappers and in no way endorse either Stevens’ picks or his business model."

While CNBC says it doesn't endorse his business, there's a website called CNBCvipsports.com that directs readers to the VIP Sports Las Vegas site and asks readers for their email addresses and phone numbers.

A CNBC spokesman told us, "He is not authorized to use the CNBC name or logo." CNBC declined comment on whether or not they're taking steps to remove the association on the website.

The website boasts, "You may have seen VIP Sports on the new CNBC show Money Talks. If so you know Steve Stevens is the real deal."

Before we jump on CNBC, there's a big difference between Stevens being a fraud and the show itself being a fraud. We'll have to wait to see how he is portrayed.

But that's not all.

This morning, WagerMinds reported that the domain name for Stevens' business VIP Sports Las Vegas was only registered eight months ago. It was registered under the name Darin Notaro.

According to WagerMinds, Notaro has been arrested and convicted in telemarketing scams going back to 1999. He was sentenced to a year in prison at age 25 for a scheme that "bilked elderly citizens across the nation out of at least $234,000,"according to the Las Vegas Sun.

Judging by this screenshot from WagerMinds, they look alike:

According to WagerMinds, it appears that Notaro also rents the office space where VIP Sports Las Vegas is housed.

A CNBC spokesman said they are aware of the 1999 conviction. Here's the full statement:

"We are aware of Steve Stevens’ 1999 conviction and while we are very clear in the press release that VIP Sports clients risk big dollars in the hopes that Stevens and his agents have the expertise to consistently deliver winners, viewers should tune in on September 10th at 10pm ET/PT to draw their own conclusions about VIP Sports. We are merely betting that viewers will be interested in the world of touts and handicappers and in no way endorse either Stevens’ picks or his business model."

We called the number provided on the VIP Sports Las Vegas website and left a message. We are waiting a response.

Again, we'll have to wait until the show airs to see if he is portrayed as what he claims to be (a big-shot sports bettor) or what many in the betting community see him as (a shady figure).

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The beards of the stars from A&E‘s mega hit "Duck Dynasty" probably grew a few inches while their lengthy salary renegotiations were going on, but I’ve learned that the talks have successfully concluded with new deals, just in time for the series’ fourth season premiere tomorrow night.

I hear the Robertsons, who have been catapulted to A-list celebrity status by the success of "Duck Dynasty," have been able to secure the big salary increases they had been seeking.

I’ve learned that under the new agreement, the clan will earn more than $200,000 an episode, divvied up among the nine adults and 11 kids on the show. That is roughly 4-5 times what the Robertsons previously made.

Additionally, I hear the new pact includes additional seasons for the show as well as series/cast options.

The Robertsons started conversations with A&E and series producer Gurney Prods. in early 2013, delaying the show’s fourth season. "Duck Dynasty" eventually went into production, and a fourth season premiere date was set, all while negotiations were ongoing.

A&E and WME, which reps the Robertsons, had no comment.

"Duck Dynasty" chronicles the lives of the the bayou-dwelling Robertsons, who have built a multi-million dollar sporting empire manufacturing duck calls in Monroe, Louisiana, as they work together, play together and eat together.

The season 3 finale stands as the most watched A&E series telecast ever, drawing a staggering 9.6 million total viewers, 5.6 million adults 25-54, 5.5 million adults 18-49 and 2.6 million adults 18-34.

The family’s influence could spill beyond television — star Willie Robertson was a top draw at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in April, and there is talk about him possibly running for Congress. 

SEE ALSO: Greta Van Susteren Urges Fox To Hire Jay Leno So He Can Compete Against NBC

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Thirteen years ago, Richard Hatch — the conniving contestant who annoyed his tribesmen by walking around in the (not so buff) buff — took home the $1 million prize.

He was the first winner of “Survivor,” CBS’s low-budget reality-show-that-could.

Hatch, quite notably, evaded paying taxes on his earnings and served 51 months in prison for it. To this day, he insists that he was innocent.

Some “Survivor” winners end up losers, while others go on to host reality shows, start their own companies, and contribute to charities.

CBS announced the newest crop of contestants on Wednesday, revealing that season 27 will pin returning favorites against their loved ones — including previous winners Tina Wesson (and daughter) and Aras Baskauskas (and brother).

“Survivor: Blood vs. Water” debuts on CBS on September 28.

THEN: Richard Hatch, "Survivor: Borneo" [Season 1]

The Machiavellian, and often naked, first winner of "Survivor" is considered the pioneer of the show's alliance tactic.

NOW: Richard Hatch went behind bars for tax evasion.

After being convicted of tax evasion, Hatch served three years in prison and was fired from Donald Trump on "The Apprentice."

He met up with the two children he fathered as a sperm donor on an episode of "Oprah: Where Are They Now?"

During the interview, he insisted that he never deserved to go to prison.

THEN: Ethan Zohn, “Survivor: Africa” [Season 3]

The professional soccer player won seven challenges, making him a physical threat, but his big heart kept him from being targeted by other competitors early in the game.

What do you do when delusions and paranoia look an awful lot like the real world?

That's at least one question raised by a New Yorker article out this week on the "Truman Show" syndrome (pay-walled online, but worth shelling out the money for a print version), where people are convinced they've somehow woken up famous, the stars of a worldwide reality TV show. The name comes from the 1998 film, where that exact thing happens to Jim Carrey.

The author, Andrew Marantz, tells the story of Nick Lotz, who suffers from the delusions:

Suddenly, Lotz solved the puzzle of his life. Since starting college, he had been the star of a reality-TV show. The network had kept the cameras hidden, as in "Candid Camera" and "Punk'd." That night was supposed to be the finale. All he had to do was call his father, who'd find him in the crowd, lead him onstage, and present him with a check for a million dollars. Lotz took out his cell phone, but he was too strung out to place the call. It was too late — he'd missed his chance to make the cameras turn off.

"Truman Show" syndrome is a new phenomenon, but delusions of its type are not. People have always imagined things that aren't real — our culture just changes what those things are. Marantz explains:

Shifts in technology have caused the content of delusions to change over the years: in the nineteen-forties, the Japanese controlled American minds with radio waves; in the fifties, the Soviets accomplished this with satellites; in the seventies, the C.I.A. implanted computer chips into people's brains.

And today's delusion-fuel? Take your pick of the Kardashian sisters, then compound it with a dose of the latest NSA revelations. The resulting delusions aren't real, but they certainly aren't random: they're a half-skip past reality, a snippet of the world taken and blown out of proportion.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the go-to psychiatric illness index, once characterized delusions into two categories: the bizarre and nonbizarre, which were respectively described as impossible and possible but false. "'I am dead,' is bizarre," Marantz writes."'Millions of strangers are obsessed with me' is nonbizarre (and, for Ryan Gosling, nondelusional)." But the DSM-5, the latest version of the book, had to walk back that distinction. As it should have: In a world where the government really does have the capability to broadly and furtively spy on its citizens, it's suddenly delusional to not think Big Brother is watching. In a world where a tweet can almost instantly be read by millions, becoming famous seems more and more plausible.

So the "Truman Show" syndrome cases are as much a story about the exterior world (culture and technology) as the interior one (the mind). People can deride delusions as complete mental fabrications, but the truth is often more nuanced, a subtle cause-and-effect between a culture and a single person.

With that in mind, hopefully it's not too much to add another cultural touchstone that sums things up nicely. Author Joseph Heller wrote in Catch-22, "Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't after you."

[New Yorker]

SEE ALSO: A Weird Phobia Explains Why This Flower Disgusts Some People

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Jon Gosselin of TLC's "Jon & Kate Plus 8" reality TV show fame was once pulling in 10 million viewers a week, living in a $1.3 million Pennsylvania home, and on every red carpet and magazine cover.

Today, Jon lives in a secluded cabin in the woods with no internet or television and gets by by waiting tables at a small restaurant nearby.

So how did Jon's life change so drastically?

"It's nearly impossible to find work," the father of eight revealed to "Entertainment Tonight."

After the couple's messy divorce and cancellation of their reality show, Jon went on a party spree in New York and Las Vegas, where he was paid to make appearances.

"I went there because it was contracted, so I could earn income to pay my attorneys to protect me in court," Jon explains. "I was living the high life because everyone was paying for it."

Despite the reality show's success and earning around $22,500 per episode, Jon says "I haven't grossed millions and millions of dollars."

So, the 36-year-old went back to work waiting tables at Black Dog restaurant in Beckersville, Pa. 

"At first I was nervous because I didn't know how people would react," he says. "But then I'm thinking, 'It's fun and I get to talk to people, and technically they already know me.'"

Now, he says, he isn't struggling to make ends meet anymore.

"I've hit rock bottom like 20 times, but then I bounce back and go somewhere else."

"I don't regret anything," he insists, "because you learn from your mistakes."

Check out Jon's new life below:

SEE ALSO: Before 'The Wire,' Actor Idris Elba Used To Sell Drugs And Work As A Doorman To Make Ends Meet

AND: ‘Duck Dynasty’ Cast Get Huge Salary Bump

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On Friday’s premiere of the fifth season of ABC’s reality pitch show “Shark Tank,” pitches ranged from what Mark Cuban called the worst in the history of the show to one so enticing every Shark wanted a piece of it.  

Sweet Ballz, a packaged food startup by Dallas-based entrepreneurs James McDonald and Cole Egger, swept all five Sharks into a competitive bidding war that ultimately forced the entrepreneurs to choose who they wanted as an investor — a rare yet flattering place to be. However, with so much interest in their company, they may have given up too much too soon.  

The entrepreneurs initially asked for $250,000 in exchange for 10% of their company, which would value the company at $2.5 million. The Sweet Ballz business is selling packaged cake balls that come in packs of four in flavors like red velvet, chocolate, and cookies and cream. It capitalizes on the trend of the cake pop, but the balls come without the stick and a 45-day shelf life. 

“Which one of you is ready to make some sweet, sweet dough with our Sweet Ballz?” McDonald asked. 

The Sharks were clearly intrigued and raved about the taste. They peppered the business owners with questions, and McDonald and Egger didn’t disappoint. The packs retail for $1.99 to $2.49 each, but cost only 86 cents to make. They are already sold at 7-Eleven, one of the largest convenience stores in America, and since 95% of their sales are from 7-Eleven, there’s plenty of room to grow distribution.  

If the Sharks weren’t already hooked, their eyes grew even wider when the business owners said they’d done $700,000 in sales in the past 90 days and had profits of $95,000.  

“Things are going great for you,” said investor Robert Herjavec. “Why are you here?” 

That question alone should have tipped the business owners off that they had something of obvious value to the Sharks. Egger said the investment would go a long way towards growing the business and its distribution points. 

Then the feeding frenzy began. Barbara Corcoran offered $250,000 for a 40% stake, and Kevin O’Leary undercut it with the same offer but for a 30% stake. Lori Greiner jumped in with an offer for a 36% stake, saying it comes with her QVC network. 

Soon the panel of five Sharks, who had devolved into bickering over which one has the best network, divided themselves into two offers: Cuban and Corcoran would go in together at $250,000 for a 25% stake; and O’Leary, Greiner, and Herjavec jointly offered $250,000 for a 30% stake. They asked, Who do you want to work with? 

It was a strong move on the Sharks’ part — one parents use often. Give someone only two options, and you ensure they’ll end up choosing something you’ve sanctioned.  

In this case, the business owners chose Cuban and Corcoran, an investment that values their company at $1 million. When the business owners walked away pumping their fists and celebrating, they seemed to have forgotten that they were initially seeking a valuation of $2.5 million.  

They have a hot business, and it will surely get hotter with a large cash infusion and powerful investors behind them. But they also just gave away a quarter of their business in what seems a fire-sale deal for the Sharks. “I think they made a mistake,” said O’Leary as the credits rolled. 

SEE ALSO: The 10 Worst ‘Shark Tank’ Pitches Of All Time

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This is the “real” world of reality television.

RadarOnline.com has exclusively obtained an unsigned “Real Housewives of New Jersey” contract for the current season that makes for alarming reading for anyone who wants their fifteen minutes of fame on the popular Bravo show.

EXCLUSIVE DOCUMENT: Read The Secret ‘Real Housewives’ Contract

Before the cameras begin to roll, participants must agree to the incredibly thorough contract, which has little to no room for negotiation.

Staggeringly, the UNPAID reality show hopefuls agree — via an “appearance release form” — to allow the scenes they participate in to be spun into any story line of the producers choosing!

EXCLUSIVE DOCUMENT: Read The Secret ‘Real Housewives’ Contract

“The rights granted herein shall also include the right to edit, delete, dub and fictionalize the Footage and Materials, the Program and the Advertisements as Producer sees fit in Producer’s sole discretion,” the opening clause in the contract reads.

What’s more, the document reveals how participants agree, from a legal standpoint, that it’s not the fault of the production company if they’re injured, defamed or have “personal, private, surprising, disparaging and embarrassing” details of their life broadcast — even if those humiliating and “unfavorable” details are not true!

PHOTOS: “Real Housewives”: Best or Bust?

Under the stipulations of the five-page standard contract, participants in “Housewives” — one of the most popular “reality” shows on the air — agree to the 17 terms, including:

• They will not be paid for participating. “I hereby waive any and all rights I may have to any compensation whatsoever.”
• The show may expose them to “public ridicule, humiliation or condemnation” and may portray them in a false light.
• They shall not talk about the show and what goes on behind-the-scenes — ever — keeping “in strictest confidence” both “prior to, during, or after the taping” all “information or materials.”
• They must wear “clothing, costumes, accessories and/or makeup” at the discretion of producers.
• Their appearances on the show are “not a performance and is not (considered) employment.” It adds, “I acknowledge that I am a volunteer.”
• Footage of them may be “exploited throughout the universe at any time, in perpetuity … without any compensation to me whatsoever.”

Participants also “represent and warrant” they’re in good health and have no medical, physical or emotional condition and agree not to take medication or drugs during filming.

They also sign an undertaking that they won’t run for public office for 12 months after their last scene is shot!

PHOTOS: The Real Housewives Attend Bravo’s NYC Upfront Party

The document was authored by Sirens Project 1224, LLC., the Delaware-based production company behind “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” franchise.

It exposes how reality television is REALLY made and proves what critics of reality television have often argued — story lines are fake and don’t reflect what truly happened during filming.

Boldly, the agreement states the participant understands “that I am giving up certain legal rights under this agreement, including without limitation, my right to file a lawsuit.”

It adds, “I agree that I will never sue Producer, Sirens Media, LLC (“Sirens Media”), NBCUniversal Media, LLC, Network or anyone because I do not like the manner in which Producer or its licensees or assignees took or used the Footage and Materials or used the Footage and Materials in the Program.”

And if the wannabe reality star breaches the terms and conditions of the deal, the consequences are severe — a minimum $50,000 fine!

PHOTOS: Ramona Singer Shows Off Her Banging Bikini Body

“Any breach by me of any of the confidentiality provisions of this Agreement would cause Producer and Network irreparable injury and damage that cannot be reasonably or adequately compensated by damages … therefore, I hereby expressly agree that Producer and Network shall be entitled to injunctive and other equitable relief,” the document reads.

“Accordingly, I agree to pay Producer and Network the sum of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000) per breach plus disgorgement of any income that I may receive in connection with my breach as liquidated damages in the event that I breach any of the confidentiality provisions of this Agreement.”

It all raises the question: Why would someone sign away their life for fame or infamy?

According to the contract, participants “acknowledge and agree that a significant element of the consideration I am receiving … is the opportunity for publicity.”

SEE ALSO: All of the science on "The Big Bang Theory" is real

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At first glance, Lynnae's Gourmet Pickles, one of the contending businesses on this week's "Shark Tank" season premiere, looks like a pretty good business. They've seen very impressive growth in their first year.

But according to the Sharks, their pricing and product choices mean the business is set to crash into an inevitable ceiling. 

The very personable Lynnae Schneller and Ali Cullinane, friends from Tacoma, Wash., based the product on a secret family recipe from one of their grandmothers. The business showed potential, with $144,000 in sales in its first year and products available in 26 states. Plus, they had a meeting with Target lined up.

That charm didn't last long, however. When they asked for $125,000 for a 20% stake, the Sharks broke down step-by-step why Lynnae's Gourmet Pickles didn't have the growth potential to be a major player.

Price is the problem.

The pair's gourmet pickles sell for about $6.99 at retail and $4.00 wholesale, they said. In comparison, an average jar of pickles costs $3.00 to $3.50 in supermarkets.

The moment that price differential was revealed, the Sharks started to turn.

"You've just walked into a huge risk," investor Kevin O'Leary said. "Why would Target put a $7.00 jar [on shelves] when the market's at $3.00?"

The pair's defense is that their price is in line with other specialty retailers. But they had a hard time explaining why their product is so different from any other. They also couldn't explain how they'd get past making a product that can be pretty easily imitated or replicated by someone with deeper pockets for cheaper.

"Do you have anything that's so differentiated people are going to say 'wow'?" Mark Cuban asked.

They said they appeal to a "gourmet, high-end audience," but that market simply isn't that big, the Sharks said. And, beyond competitors, anyone with the time and initiative can make pickles on their own at home for a tiny fraction of the price of buying them.

It's a matter of time before they get crushed.

The business fundamentally has a ceiling, Mark Cuban told the pair.

The pair described their strategy as attempting to "explode into the market" and get a lot of distribution quickly. But the Sharks believe they won't be able to get anywhere near challenging a big competitor without getting knocked out.

"You guys hustle, which is great, and you're creative. But the big guys aren't paying attention to you because you're at $144,000 in sales," Cuban said. "You don't matter to them. But as you grow — and you will — they'll start paying attention, and they'll make a decision. Do I buy them? You're not big enough. Do I crush them by just putting out a comparable product? Probably."

You usually can't overcome pitching to the wrong audience.

The pair have a nice and growing business, but not one with the sort of nationwide and rapid growth potential that these investors look for.

"You aren't worth more than $600,000," O'Leary said. "And I don't think you can sell these pickles for $7.00 at Target."

In this case, personal preference also played a major role. Sharks Lori Greiner and Robert Herjavec backed out in part because of business concerns, but also because they simply don't like sweet pickles.

Join the conversation about this story »

The relationship between "Shark Tank" investors is usually contentious; they get into bidding wars, snipe at one another, and frequently disagree.

For the first time, the five Sharks on ABC's reality pitch show saw a business that was so exciting they all jumped in together and invested $1 million in Breathometer, a startup that makes a breathalyzer that plugs into a smartphone.

The intriguing product reads your blood alcohol level in seconds, tells you how long it will take to sober up, and lets you call a cab with the push of a button. 

Founder and CEO Charles Michael Yim had already raised $1 million for the business and wanted to raise another million, starting with $250,000 from the Sharks for a 10% equity stake. He brilliantly leveraged the Sharks' interest to get all of the funding in 20 minutes instead of over two months. Yim also got a massive publicity boost from getting all of the Sharks on board and the combined expertise of five multi-millionaires.  

Yim had sold a company before, experience that was immediately evident in his confident pitch. He let the product and idea speak for itself, knew his numbers cold, and made it clear that it was succeeding in its own right. Breathometer had launched on the crowdfunding platform Indiegogo and done more than $100,000 in sales within a month, he said.

Yim fluently answered the Sharks' questions and eased their concerns about the potential legal liabilities involved in a breathalyzer that would influence users' behavior. And the fact that he already had venture backing didn't hurt.

The pitch was so compelling that investor and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban almost immediately made an offer of $500,000 for 20% equity, double Yim's initial ask. Cuban said he already had experience in the sensor world with his company MotionLoft and that he thinks it's "the future of technology." 

Investor Lori Greiner asked if she could join in and do the retail side. 

Cuban's response? "No."

"I'm not worried about the retail," Cuban said. "That's just like a smidgen vs. the long-term benefit."

Then Kevin O'Leary counter-offered with $250,000 for 15%, trying to persuade Yim that giving up less equity was to his benefit. 

That's where Yim got clever. Instead of sparking a bidding war, like the one that divided the Sharks in the season's first episode, he encouraged everyone to join in. 

"My idea within the next 60 days is to close a full $1 million round from angels," Yim said. "I'm more than willing to open it up to more than one Shark."

The idea for the Sharks to do the whole round was immediately floated, only for Cuban to respond that he didn't want to work with anybody else. But after the other investors showed they were willing to pitch in together, and that a bidding war would be far more expensive than working together, Cuban eventually agreed to a deal where he would put down $500,000 for 15% equity, and the other Sharks the remaining $500,000 for another 15%.

After talking through some concerns with his CFO, Yim accepted the deal, finding the combination of cash, expertise, and publicity too good to pass up.

SEE ALSO: The 10 Worst ‘Shark Tank’ Pitches Of All Time

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The word "no" doesn't mean no forever. It doesn't even mean no for 20 minutes on "Shark Tank."

In the latest episode of ABC's reality pitch show, billionaire investor Mark Cuban called entrepreneur Chris Johnson "a fool," yet later decided to invest $300,000 in his business.

Johnson was after an investment of $300,000 for a 10% equity stake in his company, Rapid Ramen Cooker, which produces square-shaped bowls that give ramen noodles stove-top taste despite being cooked in the microwave.

Johnson said he would use the money to manufacture his cookers, which cost $0.75 each to make and sell for $5.99. 

From the beginning, Cuban questioned the need for an actual cooker to make ramen noodles. "You're drunk [when eating them] — it doesn't matter," the investor argued.

In three months, Johnson was able to get his cooker in over 2,500 stores, including Safeway, H-E-B, Winco, and Raley's, and brought in over $164,000 in sales. He predicted sales would hit $2 million in the next year.

When Johnson said that he's so confident in the projected growth of his company that he wouldn't sell it for $3 million today, Cuban said what no business owner wants to hear: "You're a fool. I'm out."

Sharks Kevin O'Leary and Robert Herjavec decided to team up, offering the funding for a 25% stake plus $0.75 every time a Rapid Ramen is sold until the investment is repaid. The royalty would then drop to $0.25 per unit. 

At this point, Cuban jumped in and said he would provide Johnson with the $300,000 for 20% equity, but $150,000 of it would be in the form of a loan.

Johnson counter-offered with 15% equity to a hesitant Cuban.

"You know I'm going to be the one grinding," Johnson said. "I'm going to be the one making it happen. I will outwork every single one of your entrepreneurs."

This was exactly what Cuban needed to hear. He accepted the offer.

The lesson here is to believe in your product, don't be afraid to negotiate, and even when someone says "no" to you, it doesn't mean you can't turn that "no" into a "yes."

SEE ALSO: The 10 Best 'Shark Tank' Pitches Of All Time

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In many ways, ABC's reality pitch show "Shark Tank" can be a highly positive experience for the business owners who go on. Even the ones who don't get a deal get a national platform to show off their business. The ones who do make a deal get funding and an extremely valuable advisor.

But these are highly experienced investors negotiating on camera with people who have likely never been on TV before. There's a power mismatch and an intimidation factor, and since the Sharks are out to make money themselves, they can and do take advantage.

On this week's episode, a husband and wife team came in asking for $600,000 in cash for a 7% stake in their company. They ended up giving up 9% of their company for a $600,000 loan from Lori Greiner they'll have to pay back over the next two years, instead of getting the cash investment that's standard on the show.

After hearing a slightly different version of the offer, for 10% of the company, Mark Cuban sounded off.

"Lori, that's the worst deal you've ever offered," Cuban said. "I'm just telling you the facts."

"When they wake up, they'll realize they messed up," Cuban added when they took the final deal.

The business was "RuffleButts," a children's fashion line. The owners, husband and wife team Mark and Amber Schaub, did ask for a relatively large investment. But they had the numbers to back it up. They had $3.7 million in sales last year and said they're on track to do between $4.5 and $5 million this year.

"We were profitable in year one, and we've grown every year since," Amber said. They also have no debt at all, which seriously impressed the investors.

Their pitch was excellent, though the combination of an excessively large inventory of items they offer (over 2,000) and a lack of retail and apparel experience scared off three of the investors.

The pair's fundamental mistake was revealing that they didn't really need cash. What they asked for was less than they'd be generating in revenue, so why did they need the investment?

It was partially about ramping up inventory, Mark said, but mostly about getting an advisor and partner.

That took the focus away from how well the business was doing and the company's strong financial position — their main sources of leverage — and made it clear how much the pair wanted an investment.

The Sharks clearly recognized this, and when the offers came, they weren't all cash. Barbara Corcoran offered a $300,000 investment and a $300,000 credit line. And then there was the two-year loan offer from Greiner. Because the business was generating so much cash and simply wanted a Shark on board for their expertise, the Sharks asked for their money back, which is unusual for the show.

After Corcoran highlighted that the competing offer was entirely a loan, Greiner said that "it's more than a loan, it's a lifetime of experience," playing on what the pair had said earlier about wanting a partner.

The second mistake? When negotiating, the pair pushed to reduce the equity stake and the valuation, never asking if either would be willing to make a full cash investment instead of a loan. When Greiner slightly dropped the amount of equity she was willing to take, without changing the terms of the loan, the pair took it very quickly.

The Sharks seemed genuinely surprised that Greiner got away with such a lopsided deal.

"I can't believe she took that," Corcoran said after it closed. "Well, Lori did a great deal." 

Having one of the Sharks on board is valuable, but the Schaubs gave up too much and got too little for it. They basically got an extremely expensive loan, rather than a real investment. And since Greiner will be getting all of her money back, she's taken on virtually zero risk. So in giving up a lot to get her on board, they might have made her less motivated.

"Shark Tank" isn't a charity. The investors are putting in their own money, so they have every incentive to push to get the best deal possible for themselves. Greiner certainly did this time.

SEE ALSO: The 10 Best 'Shark Tank' Pitches Of All Time

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Entrepreneur Melissa Carbone got some laughs when she strolled into the room trailed by a growling zombie on the latest episode of "Shark Tank." But the chuckles stopped when she asked for a $2 million investment.

Carbone's proposal — $2 million in exchange for a 10% equity stake — meant she valued her entertainment company, Ten Thirty One Productions, at a massive $20 million. To the potential investors on ABC's reality pitch show, it seemed a big ask for a company that specializes in creating and producing live horror attractions.

Backed by a cast of zombies and other ghoulish creatures, Carbone walked the Sharks through her company's most popular attraction, the Los Angeles Haunted Hayride. But the hayride through the "pitch black woods" didn't scare her audience nearly as much as her valuation. That is, until Carbone began to run through her numbers.

"We do attractions all year long. We have the Los Angeles Haunted Hayride, which is our seasonal attraction here in LA," she explained. "Seventeen nights we sell out every single night. We do about $1.8 million right now per October."

That got a collective "whoa" from the Sharks.

What's more, with the production costs for the haunted hayride at $1.2 million, Carbone said her company is able to walk away with $600,000 in cash at the end of the 17 days.

"You sell out every night for 17 days?" investor Kevin O'Leary echoed, in disbelief.

"Every night," Carbone said.

Of the Sharks, O'Leary, Robert Herjavec, and Lori Greiner weren't buying it, but Daymond John jumped in with a big offer: $2 million for a 40% stake.

"Two million for 20%," Carbone countered.

"Done!" Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban yelled, sealing the largest deal in "Shark Tank" history.

SEE ALSO: The 10 Worst ‘Shark Tank’ Pitches Of All Time

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Since 2011, restaurateur Jon Taffer has attempted to turn around 53 failing businesses across America as the host and executive producer of “Bar Rescue” on Spike TV. He’s seen roaches in liquor bottles, unpaid staff, extremely high debt levels, and owners who are figuratively — and literally — drunk on the job. 

While each of these owners said on air the business could survive for only another three months, Taffer says only five have since closed, giving the show an impressive success rate of about 90%. To him, that proves his business principles work. “It’s real,” he says. “Don’t just read this. Do it.” 

The former business owner, who at one point owned 17 restaurants at once, has consulted on 800 businesses in his career and is the author of new business book "Raise the Bar." In an interview with Business Insider, Taffer shared the most common mistakes small-business owners make and how to avoid them.  

Getting into the business for the wrong reasons.
“Restaurants to me are not like children; they are businesses,” says Taffer. In the bar business, he sees too many people open a venue because they love hanging out in bars or, worse, love drinking, and not because they have the vision and experience to build a successful business. “If the motivation is to drink and hang out, you’re going to fail,” he says. “You’d save a lot of money if you just built a bar in in your basement and invited your friends over.” 

Not taking responsibility for failures. 
Taffer says the common denominator in every failing business on “Bar Rescue” is an excuse. Business owners will blame the recession, the government, a new competitor, and even construction on their street before they will own up to their mistakes, he says. “Every morning you’ve got someone else to blame, but all of those excuses are bull. We only fail because of ourselves. The minute you take responsibility, everything changes,” he says. 

Not understanding the three essentials of marketing.
Business owners think too generically about marketing, Taffer says, when they should be implementing three specific marketing initiatives: new customer, frequency, and spending programs. A new customer program is one that creates first-time business and typically includes neighborhood and local business outreach. Frequency programs are special promotions designed to persuade existing customers to return more often. They are advertised in-store, through email blasts, and on social media. And spending programs aim to increase the amount of money spent each time the customer does business with you by teaching employees to upsell, special deals, and the like. “If you don’t have those three things, you’re not marketing anything,” he says. 

Not staying on top of the numbers.
“There’s nothing more important than staying on top of the numbers,” says Taffer. “What infuriates me when people don’t is the fact that there are POS systems that will do all of this for you.” In the restaurant business, he says managing expenses is a science and must be done minute-by-minute. Labor typically eats up between 25% and 32% of all revenue, food costs should never exceed 30% of food sales, and beverage costs should be at or below 21% of beverage sales, he says. Add occupancy costs like rent and insurance, and making a mistake with any of those numbers will seriously hurt your chances of profitability.  

Not having the necessary experience or help.
Restaurants have an extremely high failure rate for first-time owners. Only one out of 12 rookies succeed, says Taffer, compared to a success rate of one-in-three for second timers. That’s why he tells entrepreneurs in every industry: “You’ve got to have experience. Either work for someone else first or have a partner with experience.” He also recommends that business owners reach out to the nonprofit group SCORE, which has 13,000 members dedicated to helping small businesses succeed through education and mentorship. Free of charge, these mentors will help you secure loans, write a business plan, structure the company, and understand a balance sheet.

SEE ALSO: The 10 Worst ‘Shark Tank’ Pitches Of All Time

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What does billionaire investor Mark Cuban hate more than anything else?

On ABC's reality pitch show "Shark Tank," nothing infuriates Cuban more than what he calls "want-repreneurs"— adventurous spirits who like to come up with ideas but don't understand anything about business.

This is exactly who the Sharks came face-to-face with when hopeful Jason Woods and his fiancee Elise came on this week's show seeking $250,000 for a 20% stake in Woods' company, Kymera.

While Woods told the investors about his jet-propelled electric body board Kymera, which combines the light weight of a paddle board with the speed of a jet ski, Elise demonstrated how to use it.

Woods had the Sharks' attention until Cuban realized that he'd said nothing about Kymera's business model.

"That's a nice little sales pitch, but you didn't tell us anything about the business," said Cuban.

Once Woods started pitching the business side, things went downhill quickly. Some of the issues:

• Kymera has not been granted a patent.

• The mold needed to make Kymera boards costs $40,000 to $50,000.

• Woods has never sold a single Kymera board.

• Woods gave his company a $1 million valuation despite having zero sales. 

• Woods has put $130,000 of his own money into the company in the last 10 years.

Things got even worse when Woods started blaming Kickstarter for his problems and said he didn't want to sell products out of his garage, but wanted large-scale production.

Then Cuban lost it: "Jason, you're so full of crap ... You had so many opportunities over 10 years!"

Investor Daymond John called Woods' pitch "the worst [he's] ever seen."

Not surprisingly, Woods walked away with no deal, saying, "I'm pissed. All they cared about was the dollar amount."

SEE ALSO: The 10 Worst ‘Shark Tank’ Pitches Of All Time

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Want to know some of the mistruths behind "Duck Dynasty"? 

1. Though the Robertson family insist that they are still down-to-earth after becoming reality TV superstars, they skipped out on an autograph-signing event in April and left fans furious, as Radar reported.

2. The "Duck Dynasty" men did not have their trademark beards years ago, before unruly facial hair became part of their brand.

3. Patriarch Phil Robertson is now a man of God, but he admits that he was “ripped for eight years” on drugs and alcohol during his troubled 20s.

4. Now they’re a picture-perfect couple, but Phil and Miss Kay actually separated for three months in their early marriage, only getting back together when Phil found God.

5. Phil only harms animals today, but years ago he assaulted a couple during a bar fight. They were injured so badly, they had to be hospitalized, and he fled the state.

6. The family doesn’t discuss Si and Phil’s mother much on the show. She suffered a mental breakdown and was diagnosed as manic-depressive when the boys were young, Si writes in his book, Si-cology.

7. Iced tea fiend Si has admitted to struggling with alcohol for years before giving it up for good.

8. Si’s son, Scott, “was suicidal from the time he was about five years old,” Si has said. He was later diagnosed with Asperger’s.

9. Phil has admitted how TV editors inserted “fake beeps like somebody had used profanity, but no one had used profanity.”

10. Phil has also said that a TV team in L.A. are the ones who “arrange the scenes” for the show, not the Robertsons themselves.

11. TV editors even edit the family’s prayers, Phil has claimed. “When we prayed we said ‘In Jesus’ name, Amen,’” he’s said. “…And they would just have me say ‘Thank you Lord for the food. Thank you for loving us. Amen.’ So I said, ‘Why would you cut out ‘In Jesus’ name’? … they don’t want to maybe offend some of the Muslims or something.”

12. The Robertsons happily shill for their network, A&E, posing for press photos and doing promotion, but behind the scenes, Phil says, “It’s spiritual warfare … A lot of depravity and a lot of heathens and a lot of the evil one.”

13. Though most of the Robertsons are college-educated, Si dropped out of Louisiana Tech after partying too much. He insists, “College is crap!”

14. What’s the secret behind Si’s Tupperware cup? His mom sent it to him in a care package when he was serving in Vietnam.

15. During Si’s time in Vietnam, he has admitted, he once came close to killing a local boy and a local woman for no reason at all other than his own bloodlust.

16. The Robertson’s look like one big happy family on-screen, but behind the scenes, In Touch claims, Willie’s desire for fame has started serious tensions with the rest of his family.

17. According to In Touch, Jep and Jessica are beginning to fear that the show will torpedo their marriage.

18. Adoption advocates Willie and Korie recently revealed that when they adopted their son, Will, they didn’t have enough money to pay the fees. Willie says they’ve since settled that debt, and they’re planning to adopt again.

19. Phil told Men’s Health that there’s “not a lot of hygiene going on in their family,” and that they only brush their teeth once a day, never comb their hair, do not floss their teeth, rarely shower or wash their face, and do not use deodorant.

20. According to that same article, a group of women from New Jersey recently propositioned Jase, but he declined.

21. Phil says women have asked him to sign “itty bitty bikini underwear,” but he’s never tempted to stray. He explains, “as I move forward on my travels, I make sure I take two things with me: my Bible and my woman, Miss Kay.”

22. Phil even claims that Si has received “hundreds, if not thousands” of marriage proposals since the show hit big.

23. The ‘Duck Dynasty’ men claim to be clean and sober, but they all have a serious snuff habit that is never shown on screen, according to a recent feature in Men’s Health.

24. Phil calls hunting “good, clean, and honorable,” but PETA told Radar that introducing kids to hunting breeds future violence.

25. In one episode of their pre-A&E Youtube series, “Duck Men,” a member of the family is shown killing a duck by biting down on its head. ‘Duck Dynasty,’ meanwhile, generally shies away from such graphic treatment of animals.

SEE ALSO: Star Of 'Duck Dynasty' Was Once A College Football Quarterback

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Mark Cuban has seen all types of aspiring entrepreneurs in the past five seasons of ABC's reality pitch show "Shark Tank." He's seen idea people, sales people, and numbers people. But the only thing that actually gets his attention, and keeps it, is hard work and measurable business results.

The billionaire investor and owner of the Dallas Mavericks, who himself has built several successful companies, recently talked with Business Insider about the best and worst pitches on the show, the fastest way to lose his interest, and the best advice he ever got.

Below is a transcript of that conversation, edited for clarity.

Business Insider: What do you consider the all-time worst pitch on “Shark Tank?”

Mark Cuban: The worst was easily the two doctors that came on this season. They kept on throwing out buzzwords about social media as if that would wow us. They had no company. No business. No clue.

BI: What was the best? 

MC: I actually liked the Plate Topper guy [in season four]. He was the longest deal we have ever had. It went on for two and a half hours. The entrepreneur was a J.D., Ph.D., and MBA, I believe. He knew every answer to every question. But he thought he was smarter than all five of us. Every time he thought he had an advantage one of us would tell him where he was wrong. 

What I loved about him is that he never quit and kept coming back at us with confidence and eventually got a deal.

BI: What could a hopeful entrepreneur do to immediately get your attention? 

MC: Have a real, operating company that has started to get real traction in a new industry that has a ton of upside.

BI: And what do they often do to lose it?

MC: The worst thing you can do is give a long backstory. It's not the time to talk about your struggles and hard work. Every entrepreneur has a similar story. You have to get right into the meat of the business. 

BI: What is the worst investment you’ve made so far on “Shark Tank?”

MC: The worst is Toygaroo, [a subscription service for toys]. They went out of business. 

BI: The best?

MC: I have a lot of best companies. I can’t pick one. That wouldn't be fair.

BI: It seems like you and the other Sharks bicker a lot onscreen. What’s your relationship like off-screen?

MC: We get along and will hang out all the time, but that doesn't reduce our competitiveness with each other. I can deal with losing, but I don't like it.

BI: Which deal are you most bitter about losing to another Shark?

MC: I don't recall ever losing a deal I really wanted.

BI: What’s your best advice for up-and-coming entrepreneurs? And what’s the best advice you ever got?

MC: They are the same. Do the work. Out-work. Out-think. Out-sell your expectations. There are no shortcuts. My dad [told me that] when I was in high school. My dad did upholstery on cars, and he was always very encouraging but also realistic.

BI: What are three books that you believe are required reading for an entrepreneur, and why?

MC:“The Fountainhead,” “The Innovator’s Dilemma,” and “How To Win At The Sport Of Business.” 

They motivate me and force me to be self-critical. One of the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make is that we lie to ourselves. We don't step back and look at ourselves like a competitor would. These books helped me take those steps.

SEE ALSO: The 10 Worst ‘Shark Tank’ Pitches Of All Time

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Reality pitch show "Shark Tank," perhaps unusual for its focus on businesses seeking investment rather than on the drama or personal lives of cast members, has something of a cult following in the United States.

But it didn't get its start there. In fact, the U.S. was actually rather late to the game. The original version of the show aired more than a decade ago in Japan. It was then licensed by a production company in the United Kingdom and turned into a popular British version called "Dragon's Den."

Now, there are versions all over the world, and the look and feel of the show varies dramatically by location and country, as does what the investors expect when they put money into a company. 

Here's a brief look at "Shark Tank" around the world. 

Canada: "Dragon's Den"

This is the second-longest-running spinoff, having lasted eight seasons. Current U.S. Shark Kevin O'Leary was on board from the first season in 2006, and continues to do double duty on both shows. Robert Herjavec was also one of the Dragons on the first six seasons. There's also a separate, French Canadian version in Quebec called "Dans L'oeuil Du Dragon" ("In The Dragon's Eye").

Czech Republic: "Den D"

The Czech version, whose name is a reference to "Dragon's Den," is relatively long-tenured. It started in 2009 and is on its fourth season.

The set takes the "dragon's den" theme pretty seriously. In what appears to be an unused factory, it looks like a haunted house, complete with cobwebs. 

And although you see offbeat pitches in the U.S. version, nothing quite matches "Humanic Houses," a company that appeared on an episode in 2012 that intends to build full-scale residences that resemble human faces.

England: "Dragon's Den"

This is the first and longest-running spinoff of the show. There have been 11 seasons since 2005. The investors on the show have invested millions of pounds in more than 100 businesses over the run of the show. It's largely responsible for the look and feel of the many other versions that have followed it, down to the stacks of money sitting next to the investors. 

Finland: "Leijonan Kita"/"Leijonan Luola" ("The Lion's Jaws/Den")

The first time Finland tried a version of the show, it was titled the "The Lion's Jaws," but it only lasted one season back in 2007. A new version called "The Lion's Den," started this year with an entirely new set of investors and a new host.

The format and feel of the show are pretty similar to others around the world. In one episode, the Lions went in for 35% of a Finnish grandmother's cupcake business. 

Japan: "マネーの虎" ("Money Tigers")

This is the original version, which ran from 2001 to 2004. Its tagline translates roughly to "no challenge, no success," according to the Japanese Wikipedia page. 

The hallmarks of later shows are there, like the row of seated investors being pitched to.

However, the production value leaves something to be desired. The majority of the show consists of extreme closesups of people's faces, ofen with large and intrusive white text: 

Poland: "Dragon's Den — Jak zostać milionerem" ("Dragon's Den – How to be a millionaire" )

The Polish version has the same look as the other European ones: a dark, intimidating room, a "dragon's den" theme, and money on the table.

In the U.S. and British versions, the investors are almost always the minority partner, but in the Polish version, the Dragons almost always end up with well over 50% ownership when they invest.

Spain: "Tu Oportunidad" ("Your Chance")

This is the newest version of the show, which began airing in late October. The show tends to follow the format of the U.S. and British versions, with lower investor stakes and without the campier aspects of some of the Eastern European versions.

Ukraine: "Акули бізнесу" ("Business Sharks")

The Ukranian version has a somewhat more industrial feel than some other Eastern European counterparts. One of the Sharks, Serhiy Tihipko, was a former candidate for Ukraine's presidency and is currently Vice Prime Minister. 

U.S.: "Shark Tank"

Now in its fifth season, the U.S. version most resembles the Canadian show, both in the personalities and in the way it looks. What sets the show apart is the wealth of the investors, billionaire Mark Cuban being a notable example, and the size of the deals. 

You rarely see other deals even approach the $2 million that Cuban recently invested.

SEE ALSO: This Is One Of The Worst Deals We've Seen Made On 'Shark Tank'

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