2012-02-14 17:53:50 - Just Getting Started Mark Cuban Turned a Losing Franchise Into World Champions - and He's Not Done Yet

Mark Cuban is a billionaire. OK, now that we've addressed the most predictable, obvious and publicized aspect of his well-documented bio, lets peel the onion back a little bit and get to know a simple yet complex personality who began life modestly in Pittsburgh but has morphed into a living legend with a 10-figure fortune and not only the ability — but the mantra — to have as much fun as he possibly can, at all times.

"I get my approach to life from my dad," Cuban explains. "I guess I have two rules: The first is that I don't want to be 95 years old and look back and wonder why I didn't try something that could have been

fun. The second, is to always remember that today is the youngest I will ever be, and I need to live my life like it is."

And when Mark Cuban talks about something he is serious about, it's for real. Know this about Cuban: he takes having fun as seriously as he takes making money — and it's common knowledge that Mark Cuban isn't joking around when it comes to making money, or spending it. Not many people on the planet can pay $235 million dollars for an NBA team like Cuban did when he bought the Dallas Mavericks in 2000. And only one person can be in the Guinness Book of World Records for making the largest online purchase of all time, which Cuban did in 1999, when he bought his Gulfstream V off the Internet.

"Too often people tell themselves that they are too old to be doing something or that it's not age appropriate. Then 20 years later they realize just how young they were and they won't get another chance to try those things again. I don't want to make that mistake," Cuban says.

As spontaneous as he can be, screaming at referees and shooting from the hip as often as possible, there is a method to Cuban's Midas touch magic as it pertains to the formula for fun he's created. In fact, some of his best ideas are often the simplest. Case in point, his early strategy when he first bought the team. Simply put, the Mavs were a joke, on and off the court, and before the team could start winning games they would have to win over the fans. The way Cuban did it? Free booze. Cuban opened up the tab at the bar after games — All drinks were on him.

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