Ashton Kutcher played a billionaire on Two and a Half Men . Although Kutcher has yet to model after his character and sell a tech company to Microsoft, he’s nonetheless a savvy entrepreneur. Kutcher co-founded a venture capital firm and has put money in some well-known tech brands. That’s why it’s not surprising he’s set to act as a guest panelist on Shark Tank .
ABC did not confirm Kutcher’s participation, but TV Line reports his episode was taped last Friday. If true, Kutcher will join the ranks of comedian Jeff Foxworthy, John Paul DeJoria of Paul Mitchell hair products, New York Giants V.P. Steve Tisch, and Nick Woodman, the founder of GoPro cameras, who all have been guest sharks over the show’s past six seasons.
According to the Wrap , Kutcher co-founded A-Grade investments with Ron Burkle and Guy Oseary. He’s also invested in Skype, AirBnb, Foursquare, Spotify, and Fab.com. In 2013, Kutcher told CNBC what he looks for in investable properties. He singled out investors that have passion and perseverance.
“Do they have passion for the problem they’re trying to solve? Do they have the kind of will power that’s going to take them through the challenges? Because, like Steve Jobs, they’re going to face great challenges along the way and they’ll face adversity and they’ll face people who tell them they can’t do it.”
At Colgate University’s entrepreneur weekend in April 2014, Kutcher played down academic credentials as a path to success in business. He used his own story as an example.
“Hey, listen. I was a college dropout. Then I became a male model. Then an actor, and a film producer and TV producer. Then an entrepreneur. I didn’t know what the f— I was doing!”
His comments seem similar to those of regular shark Barbara Corcoran, who famously says she was a “straight-D” student. Corcoran also questions the necessity of an MBA for entrepreneurs, although qualifies that an MBA may be useful for climbing the corporate ladder.
Shark Tank season 7 is currently being taped. There is no word yet as to which shark Kutcher will replace if he is on the program. There are six regular sharks; however, each episode features only five. Most episodes star Mark Cuban and Kevin O’Leary, while Daymond John, Barbara Corcoran, and Lori Grenier rotate. Past guest sharks, such as Woodman, Tisch, and DeJoria, filled in for Robert Herjavec.
Shark Tank season 7 debuts on September 25 on ABC.
[Image: Mila Kunis, Ashton Kutcher, Mark Cuban in Austin, Texas, March 14, 2015. Photo by Anna Webber / Getty Images Entertainment]
