Hand Mark Cuban $100,000, and he won't be calling his broker or hunting for the next unicorn startup. He'll be pushing a shopping cart down the bulk aisle.

Back in 2010, Forbes asked the billionaire entrepreneur what he'd do with a $100,000 windfall. His answer wasn't particularly glamorous, and it definitely didn't involve cryptocurrency or some complex derivatives play. It involved toothpaste.

Debt First, Bulk Shopping Second

"First I pay off all my credit card debt and evaluate paying off any other debt I have. What I have left I put in the bank," Cuban said. Fair enough. But then came the interesting part.

Cuban explained his strategy for squeezing value out of whatever cash remains: "I try to create as much transactional value as possible from that cash. I look at my annual budgets for everything and anything, and I look to see where I can save the most money on those items. Saving 30% to 50% buying in bulk—replenishable items from toothpaste to soup, or whatever I use a lot of—is the best guaranteed return on investment you can get anywhere."

Read that again. The man is talking about soup and toothpaste as investment vehicles. And honestly, he's not wrong.

The Math Behind The Toothpaste

Cuban isn't suggesting you hoard essentials like it's a pandemic panic. He's pointing out something simpler: if you're going to buy toilet paper, shampoo, and canned goods anyway, why not buy them when they're cheaper? That price difference is your return.

Consider the toilet paper example. A four-pack might run you $6, or $1.50 per roll. But grab a bulk box of 30 rolls on sale for $20, and you're paying about 67 cents per roll. Over a year, that adds up to real money. Apply that logic across your entire grocery list, and suddenly Cuban's "guaranteed ROI" claim makes sense. No stock market volatility, no earnings reports to worry about—just straightforward savings on stuff you were buying regardless.

Let It Earn Nothing

So what about the rest of that $100,000 after you've paid off debt and loaded up on bulk essentials? Cuban's advice might surprise you.

"Whatever I have left I keep in the bank and let it earn nothing," he told Forbes.

Yes, nothing. Zero interest. He's not chasing yield on that cash because he values something else more: flexibility. When an opportunity appears, Cuban wants to be able to move immediately. That means keeping cash liquid, accessible, and ready to deploy. In his view, being positioned for the right opportunity beats earning a modest return on the wrong one.

This philosophy isn't just talk. Cuban built his fortune by spotting opportunities others overlooked, from streaming audio technology in the 1990s to becoming one of the most recognizable investors on "Shark Tank." His seemingly simple advice is actually grounded in decades of disciplined decision-making.

What Kind Of Adviser Does Cuban Trust?

Forbes also asked Cuban what he looks for in an investment adviser. His response cuts through the industry noise: "Someone who I can trust, has an idea every now and then, but most importantly can efficiently research my ideas and make the investments I ask them to make."

Translation: he doesn't want someone selling him products. He wants a partner who listens, does the homework, and executes quickly. Someone who works for him, not the other way around.

The Bigger Picture

Cuban's core message isn't really about toothpaste at all. It's about prioritizing financial fundamentals before chasing returns. Eliminate high-interest debt that's bleeding you dry. Lock in savings where you can find them with certainty. Then maintain cash reserves so you're not caught flat-footed when genuine opportunities emerge.

It's not exciting advice. You won't find it trending on investment Twitter. But it's the kind of boring, sensible approach that actually works for people trying to build wealth without taking unnecessary risks.

And when opportunity does knock—because it will eventually—you'll be ready to answer. Even if your pantry is stocked with enough soup to last through winter.