When the billionaire investor and entrepreneur Mark Cuban was recently asked whether he could end world hunger without affecting his net worth, he gave an honest response.
Instead of quickly dismissing the thought, he said yes. However, he accepted that he did not know how to accomplish such a goal, and pivoted to something he could make progress on. It was fixing the broken United States healthcare system.
Mark’s answer underscores a theme at the intersection of public policy, social responsibility, and entrepreneurship, further giving the lesson about passion vs. practical impact.
In fact, he pointed out that to end world hunger, it requires global cooperation, will, and process changes. An individual can’t do so, no matter how wealthy. However, the U.S. healthcare system can be fixed with new reforms, experimentation, and market innovation.
Cuban’s Humble Starting Point: Recognizing Limits and Priorities
Mark Cuban’s initial response to the question was strikingly rare: rather than putting the notion aside, he asked, “Tell me how.” But when he was pressed on the idea, he admitted he couldn’t figure out how to end world hunger.
At that moment, two significant things about Mark were revealed. One that he can distinguish between the problems that he can realistically tackle, apart from those that require global cooperation. Another, he understands the problem of global hunger, and that it requires socio-economic and geopolitical variables.
Mark’s honesty is noteworthy, particularly in a world where billionaires are mostly pressured to give utopian solutions. Thus, rather than promising anything on the issue, he shifted to an area where he could make a difference and where progress was possible: U.S. healthcare.
Medical Innovation, Burdened by Costs: A Broken System
Since 2022, when he commenced his company, Cost Plus Drugs, Mark has been very vocal regarding the drawbacks of American healthcare. As can be seen, his mission is to make healthcare affordable and accessible to everyone. Yet he does not view healthcare as something that can easily be flipped.
America largely operates with expensive modern medical technology, intermediaries, and private insurance.
He also noted that, in the United States, the solution is not straightforward because of the vastly higher costs of drugs and treatment compared to other countries.
Additionally, he has mentioned on his X account that successful universal healthcare is generally established in other nations before high-tech medical facilities. This makes the American transition more complex.
In short, Cuban is not against universal healthcare; rather, he supports that mission. Nevertheless, his concern lies in the problem of how such a system can be established without demoralizing doctors or patients.
Someone Told Mark Cuban He Could ‘Literally End World Hunger’ Without Affecting His Net Worth. Here’s What He Answered#MarkCuban #EndWorldHungerhttps://t.co/L4bMg4KfRw
— Julio C. Caceres (@JulioCaceres11) December 17, 2025
Cost Plus Drugs: A Concrete Step Toward Change
Mark’s vision of fixing the American healthcare system is reflected in his investment in Cost Plus Drugs (CPD). It is an online pharmacy company he established with a vision to lower prescription drug prices by cutting out the middlemen.
The business model of his company is radical because of its transparent pricing. Due to that, patients can see the exact cost of a drug, with no hidden fees or rebates.
CPD also has a fixed markup of 15%, which includes shipping and pharmacy costs, thereby further lowering prices relative to traditional pharmacy costs. Patients can purchase direct medications, bypassing intermediaries like pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs).
Cuban argues that pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) have become increasingly profit-driven through the acquisition of insurance companies and pharmacies. He criticizes them for not lowering drug prices, rather than fueling price inflation.
By addressing the problem of medical costs, a significant component of healthcare, Cuban is targeting a system that can be transformed through innovation and transparency.
A Realistic Path Forward: Transparency and Gradual Reform
Mark embraces the philosophy of offering practical solutions and making incremental progress. His approach includes several components to tackle healthcare issues.
1. Focus on Transparency
One of the biggest challenges in U.S. healthcare is the absence of price visibility. Patients have absolutely no way of knowing what they are being charged, as prices vary widely across intermediaries.
Henceforth, Mark’s idea of expanding cash pay options, along with published prices, is aimed at providing clarity into an opaque process.
2. Reducing Insurance Dependence
Cuban has circulated the idea of reducing insurers’ role in the day-to-day healthcare system. In addition, he argues that patients should be able to understand the prices. Also, they should pay for services directly, with subsidies provided only when required.
3. Protecting Providers
Mark Cuban’s biggest concern is that universal healthcare must be implemented in a manner that does not bankrupt doctors and hospitals. Hence, it requires careful thinking and financial engineering to move to an entirely new public system. Without that, it could affect the central components of medicine delivery.
4. Incremental Rather Than Sweeping Change
Instead of offering a solution that changes the system overnight, Mark believes in scaling practical solutions. While debates around universal healthcare continue, a clear pricing process, improved patient choices, and lower drug prices can have a measurable impact.
The Bigger Message: Focus on What You Can Change
Mark’s answer provides a wider philosophy for anyone trying to solve big problems. To solve a realistic problem, you must identify the areas in which you have leverage and expertise.
Indeed, for Cuban, his expertise lies in business systems and not in the global food distribution system. Moreover, begin with incremental progress, along with lowering drug prices and making care more transparent.
From his statement, we can infer that he was careful not to overstate what he can do; instead, he mentioned only what he plans to do. He has offered a practical alternative by transforming healthcare through payment incentives and transparency.
