Most interviews with Mark Cuban happen in polished studios or conference rooms. This one did not. In 2023, he sat on the floor of a warehouse with Bobbi Althoff for an episode of The Really Good Podcast.
The conversation swayed in all genres and fonts of all kinds for nearly an hour. Althoff was all about her dry and uncomfortable delivery. It pushed Cuban to speak freely. He touched on his role with the Dallas Mavericks, his experience on Shark Tank, and his views on building wealth.
Then came the moment that caught everyone off guard.
Mark Cuban Reacts to a $5 Million House Request
Althoff casually asked him for five million dollars to help buy a house. Cuban laughed and played along. The exchange captured the tone of the episode. Unpolished, awkward, and strangely honest.
Althoff said, “You could give me a billion dollars right now, and it probably wouldn’t even affect you.” Cuban replied saying, “Fine $5 million, we’ll go small. I could buy a house in Southern California.”
They did manage to bond over a few odd details. Turns out they share the same birthday, and neither of them handles dairy very well. That still was not enough to sway Cuban.
He shut down the idea with a dose of reality. Even with a massive cash boost, he warned her that life in California would still stretch the budget too far. The joke landed, but the message was clear. Money or not, some places stay expensive.
Mark Cuban Says $5M Isn’t Enough to Buy a House in California
Cuban laughed and said it would have been easier to just give her five million dollars outright. Getting tied to a house at that price was another matter. He went on to break down why that purchase would not make sense.
Even if he covered the cost upfront, the long-term reality of owning a house at that level would still cause problems.
California Property Taxes and the True Price of Ownership
California home prices have long been exorbitant. By 2023, prices had reached levels that made buying difficult for many people. Since then, costs have continued to rise. This has unfortunately kept the state at the top of the housing market.
Cuban used that reality to make a practical point about ownership. Affording the upfront payment can feel like the biggest win, but it does not end there. Ongoing costs follow right behind. Repairs, taxes, insurance, and maintenance all demand steady cash. His message was clear. Buying a home means thinking beyond the purchase and planning for what comes after.
The Shark Tank investor made it clear that the real burden comes after the purchase. He pointed to California’s steep property taxes as a cost many people overlook until the bills start showing up.
Recent housing data tells the same story. As of late 2025, a household needs an annual income of over $200,000 just to cover the basic costs of owning a home in the state. It puts into perspective how demanding the math can be, even for buyers who think they are prepared.
What This Mark Cuban Podcast Moment Says About Real Estate Today
The exchange showed how quickly a fun idea can run into real-world limits. Just a quick back-and-forth that pulled the curtain back on how things actually work. Sometimes the clearest reality check comes when no one is trying to deliver one.
