Before Mark Cuban became a billionaire with an estimated net worth of $6 billion, he was a dedicated penny pincher — and many of those habits stuck.
The real question is: Can you use them in your life?
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Here’s a look at the frugal moves Cuban has credited for helping him build his fortune, and how you can apply them today.
He Drove Cars That Cost Less Than $200
Cuban said he didn’t own a car that cost more than $200 until he was 25, according to Yahoo Finance. One of them, a Fiat X1/9, had a hole in the floorboard.
“It was crazy. But that was my decision. I was determined to save money,” he said.
The goal was simple: Keep fixed costs low so he could focus on building wealth, not maintaining appearances.
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He Lived with Roommates To Cut Housing Costs
At age 24, Cuban lived in a three-bedroom Dallas apartment with five other roommates, according to GOBankingRates.
“I didn’t have my own bedroom,” he said. “I slept on the couch or floor depending on what time I got home.”
Housing is typically the largest expense in any budget, and Cuban’s willingness to sacrifice comfort for savings gave him capital to invest elsewhere.
He Treated Paying Off Debt as an Investment
“The best place to invest is to pay off all your credit cards and burn them. If you’re paying 15% or 20% in interest, if you pay that down, you just earned 15% or 20%,” Cuban told Dave Ramsey, per Yahoo Finance.
The average annual percentage rate on credit cards hit 21.47% in Q3 2024, according to the Federal Reserve — making debt payoff one of the highest guaranteed returns available to everyday consumers.
He Bought Essentials in Bulk
“Saving 15% on $1,000 worth of items you know you will absolutely spend money on is a better return on your money than making 15% in a year on a $1,000 investment, because you don’t pay taxes on it,” Cuban wrote on his blog, according to Yahoo Finance.
When asked how he’d invest $100,000, his first answer was to clear debt — and his second was to stock up on discounted essentials at bulk retailers.
He Shopped for Groceries at Midnight
In an episode of Bill Maher’s podcast “Club Random,” Cuban said he would go grocery shopping at midnight in his twenties because that was the best time to find deals on food, per GOBankingRates.
The habit reflects a broader philosophy Cuban has maintained throughout his career: The best financial wins often come from small, disciplined choices made consistently over time.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 5 Frugal Habits Mark Cuban Swears By
