The exact I Want to Draw a Cat for You net worth in 2026 is not publicly confirmed. Founded by Steve Gadlin, the unusual custom cat-drawing business became widely known after appearing on ABC’s Shark Tank, where Mark Cuban agreed to invest $25,000 for a 33% stake. Although some websites estimate the business or its founder’s net worth at $1 million, there is insufficient publicly verified financial information to establish that figure as fact. The company’s official website continues to display an extensive collection of cat drawings.

Introduction

How much is I Want to Draw a Cat for You worth in 2026? The unusual online business created by entrepreneur Steve Gadlin attracted national attention after its memorable appearance on ABC’s Shark Tank. Its business idea was remarkably simple: customers paid someone to draw a funny, personalized picture of a cat based on their descriptions.

The concept might have sounded unusual to traditional investors, but it caught the attention of billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban. During his appearance on the television show in January 2012, Gadlin secured a $25,000 investment in exchange for 33% equity in his company.

More than a decade later, people continue searching for the company’s net worth, its founder’s earnings, and what happened after the Shark Tank deal.

As of November 2026, I Want to Draw a Cat for You does not have a publicly verified net worth. Some online publications have suggested a valuation of approximately $1 million, but no reliable financial statements or official company disclosures confirm that estimate.

The business remains particularly interesting because it demonstrates how a small creative idea, an entertaining marketing campaign, and national television exposure can turn an unconventional service into a recognizable brand.

What Is I Want to Draw a Cat for You?

Business: I Want to Draw a Cat for You

Founder: Steve Gadlin

Industry: Online art and personalized gifts

Famous investor: Mark Cuban

Shark Tank investment: $25,000 for 33% equity

Business location: Chicago, Illinois, United States

I Want to Draw a Cat for You is a personalized drawing service founded by Steve Gadlin.

The business allows customers to describe the type of cat they want, including its appearance, activities, and surroundings. Gadlin then creates an original illustration based on the customer’s instructions.

Unlike traditional art businesses that focus on expensive commissioned paintings, his concept centered on inexpensive, humorous drawings that customers could purchase as gifts or simply for entertainment.

The idea became popular because it was easy to understand, inexpensive to try, and different from the products commonly featured on online shopping websites.

Gadlin also used humor as an important part of the brand. His promotional video featured an entertaining song and dance routine that helped make the business memorable.

The company eventually attracted customers from different parts of the world, demonstrating that even an unusual creative service could find an audience online.

I Want to Draw a Cat for You Net Worth in 2026

The exact net worth of I Want to Draw a Cat for You remains unknown because the business does not publicly disclose its financial statements, current annual revenue, assets, liabilities, or ownership valuation.

Several websites publish estimates of approximately $1 million for the business. However, these figures should be treated as speculative rather than verified financial information.

It is also important to distinguish between three different financial measurements:

• Business revenue: The money generated from selling custom drawings and related products.
• Business valuation: The estimated market value of the company.
• Founder net worth: Steve Gadlin’s personal wealth, including his business interests and other assets, minus liabilities.

These figures are not interchangeable.

For example, a company generating $100,000 in sales does not necessarily have a $100,000 net worth. Its operating costs, expenses, debts, and other financial obligations must also be considered.

Similarly, Steve Gadlin’s personal net worth cannot be calculated simply by multiplying the original Shark Tank investment by an assumed ownership percentage.

Is the $1 Million Net Worth Estimate Accurate?

Some online business-profile websites have reported that I Want to Draw a Cat for You reached a valuation of approximately $1 million.

However, publicly available evidence does not establish that valuation.

There is no confirmed disclosure showing that the company generated $250,000 in annual revenue or that it was acquired for a million-dollar amount.

Therefore, the most responsible conclusion is that the company’s current net worth is undisclosed.

The business has demonstrated commercial success through its long-running drawing collection, television exposure, and reported customer orders. Nevertheless, those achievements do not provide enough information to establish its present financial value.

How Steve Gadlin Started the Business

Steve Gadlin created I Want to Draw a Cat for You around 2011.

At the time, he was working as a web developer and experimenting with different ways to turn simple ideas into online businesses.

Rather than creating a complicated product, he decided to test whether people would pay for something deliberately unusual: personalized drawings of cats.

The original website was extremely simple. It featured a promotional video and a payment option.

Customers could watch the video, submit their drawing requests, and pay approximately $10 for a custom illustration.

Gadlin would then create the drawing and send it to the customer.

The concept was inexpensive to operate compared with businesses requiring manufacturing facilities, inventory, or complicated distribution networks.

Its biggest selling point was the personal nature of the artwork.

Each customer could request something different, which meant the final illustration was based on an individual idea rather than a mass-produced design.

The Promotional Video That Helped the Business Grow

One of the most important parts of Gadlin’s early success was his promotional video.

Instead of using conventional advertising, he created an entertaining commercial featuring a catchy song and an unusual performance.

The video helped communicate the business idea quickly.

People who watched it could immediately understand what the service offered, and its humorous presentation made it easy to share.

The business also received attention through Groupon and online communities.

In a June 2012 interview with VentureBeat, Gadlin discussed how the Groupon promotion helped generate interest. The original offer expanded beyond its initial limit as customer demand increased.

This exposure helped transform the website from a small personal experiment into a business receiving thousands of drawing requests. VentureBeat

I Want to Draw a Cat for You on Shark Tank

The biggest breakthrough for I Want to Draw a Cat for You came when Steve Gadlin appeared on ABC’s Shark Tank in January 2012.

He entered the show seeking $10,000 in exchange for 25% ownership of his business.

His presentation was unlike many conventional startup pitches. Gadlin used music, humor, and dance to introduce his unusual cat-drawing service.

The Sharks initially had mixed reactions.

Some investors questioned whether the business could grow beyond a small operation because every drawing required creative work and time.

However, Mark Cuban recognized the potential of the concept and made an offer.

Mark Cuban’s $25,000 Investment

Mark Cuban offered Steve Gadlin $25,000 for a 33% stake in I Want to Draw a Cat for You.

Gadlin accepted the offer.

The investment implied a post-money valuation of approximately $75,758, based on the agreed investment amount and equity percentage.

Deal detail	Information
Original investment request	$10,000
Original equity offered	25%
Mark Cuban’s offer	$25,000
Equity offered to Cuban	33%
Implied post-money valuation	Approximately $75,758

The agreement also included an unusual condition: Cuban would personally draw one out of every 1,000 cats.

This added another entertaining element to an already unconventional business.

The investment was important because it provided more than financial support. It also gave Gadlin access to national television exposure and the credibility associated with having a well-known entrepreneur invest in his idea.

VentureBeat reported in June 2012 that Cuban had already recovered most of his investment at that point. This was a statement about the investment’s early progress, not proof of the company’s current valuation. VentureBeat+1

How Much Money Did I Want to Draw a Cat for You Make?

The company generated revenue by selling individual custom drawings.

At the time of its Shark Tank coverage, the service charged approximately $9.95 per drawing.

ABC’s official Shark Tank episode description reported that Gadlin had already made $10,000 before receiving investment from the Sharks.

That early revenue was particularly impressive because the company had a relatively simple operating model.

Customers paid for a drawing, Gadlin created the artwork, and the company fulfilled the order.

Over time, the business also explored additional products and services.

These included:

• Custom cat illustrations.
• Colored drawing options.
• Different shipping formats.
• Cat-themed merchandise.
• T-shirts and novelty products.
• Additional creative offerings.

In its 2012 coverage, VentureBeat reported that the business had sold more than 7,000 drawings and had developed a waiting list of several weeks.

The publication also reported that Cuban was pleased with the investment’s early performance. Shark Tank+1

How Many Cats Has Steve Gadlin Drawn?

The number of drawings completed by Gadlin is one of the most interesting indicators of the project’s longevity.

According to Shark Tank Blog, he had completed 18,794 custom cat drawings during the business’s first four years.

The same publication reported that the business had exceeded 21,000 drawings following its 2021 relaunch.

More recently, the official website has displayed gallery entries reaching Cat #22,528.

This provides evidence that the project continued producing and publishing artwork long after its original television appearance.

However, the gallery number should not automatically be interpreted as the number of paid orders. It is a drawing identifier, not an independently audited sales figure. Shark Tank Season 3+1

What Happened to I Want to Draw a Cat for You After Shark Tank?

The business experienced several important developments after its appearance on television.

1. The Business Received More Attention

The Shark Tank appearance introduced Gadlin’s unusual service to a much larger audience.

The investment from Mark Cuban and national television exposure helped increase awareness of the business.

The company also expanded its product offerings and worked on improving its order fulfillment process.

2. Steve Gadlin Completed Thousands of Drawings

The growing number of orders created a significant workload.

According to Shark Tank Blog’s business update, Gadlin had drawn 18,794 custom cats during the first four years.

The business also employed additional help as demand increased.

The workload eventually caused Gadlin to experience severe writer’s cramp, illustrating one of the challenges of operating a business that depends heavily on an individual’s creative output.

3. The Business Paused Operations in 2015

In January 2015, Gadlin announced that he was stepping away from the cat-drawing business to concentrate on another creative project.

That project was Steve Gadlin’s Star Makers, a television show that explored unusual creative performances.

The announcement raised questions about the future of I Want to Draw a Cat for You.

However, the website and the underlying concept continued to attract interest.

4. The Business Returned in 2021

In June 2021, Gadlin relaunched the cat-drawing service.

The relaunch brought back the original concept, with drawings again being offered for approximately $9.95.

By that time, the project had reportedly passed 21,000 drawings.

The return demonstrated that Gadlin still saw value in the unusual business idea, even after exploring other creative opportunities.

Shark Tank Blog documented the relaunch and subsequent drawing activity in its business update. Shark Tank Season 3

What Does Steve Gadlin Do Today?

Steve Gadlin is the entrepreneur and creative mind behind I Want to Draw a Cat for You.

His work demonstrates an interest in combining entertainment, technology, humor, and business.

Rather than concentrating exclusively on traditional commercial art, he has experimented with unusual products and creative projects.

One example is The Fart Pedal, a guitar pedal project that converts sounds into fart noises.

He introduced the project through Kickstarter in 2021.

His cat-drawing website also remains accessible.

The official website features his personal introduction, a gallery of drawings, and an option to arrange a cat drawing.

The homepage currently displays drawings numbered up to #22,528, providing a useful indication of the project’s continued online presence. iwanttodrawacatforyou.com+1

What Officials and Organizations Have Said About the Business

There is no publicly available official financial statement from I Want to Draw a Cat for You confirming its 2026 net worth.

However, several historical sources provide useful information about its development.

ABC: The television network’s Shark Tank episode description identified Steve Gadlin as the creator of the custom cat-drawing service. It reported that he charged $9.95 per drawing and had generated $10,000 before appearing on the show. Shark Tank

Mark Cuban: In a 2012 interview with VentureBeat, Cuban described his investment as an acquihire, highlighting Gadlin’s creativity, technical abilities, and unusual personality. He also said he was pleased with the investment’s progress. VentureBeat

Steve Gadlin: On his official website, Gadlin introduces himself as the artist behind the project and says he has drawn cats for people around the world. The website continues to display his artwork and provides a way to request a drawing. iwanttodrawacatforyou.com

These sources establish the business’s history and ongoing online presence, but they do not establish its current financial value.

Why I Want to Draw a Cat for You Became a Memorable Shark Tank Business

I Want to Draw a Cat for You stands out because it demonstrates that a business does not always need an elaborate product to attract customers.

Its success can be understood through several important factors.

A Simple Business Model

The service was easy to understand.

Customers described a cat, paid for a drawing, and received personalized artwork.

There was no complicated product explanation or technical learning process.

Unusual Marketing

The promotional video made the business memorable.

Gadlin understood that an entertaining presentation could help an unconventional product attract attention.

Instead of relying entirely on traditional advertisements, he created something people wanted to share.

Personalized Products

Each drawing was based on an individual request.

This made the service different from purchasing an ordinary printed illustration.

Customers could request funny scenes, unusual appearances, or imaginative situations.

Television Exposure

The Shark Tank appearance gave the business national exposure.

Mark Cuban’s investment also helped validate the concept in the eyes of potential customers.

A Recognizable Brand

The business name itself communicated the product.

People did not need a long explanation to understand what they were purchasing.

This combination of simplicity, humor, and personalization helped the company establish a distinctive identity.

What Happens Next for I Want to Draw a Cat for You?

The future financial performance of I Want to Draw a Cat for You remains uncertain.

Its official website provides evidence that the project is still accessible and that Gadlin continues to showcase cat drawings.

However, there is no confirmed announcement establishing a major expansion, acquisition, new investment round, or specific revenue target for 2027.

The most reasonable expectation is that the business will continue to operate according to the founder’s creative interests and availability.

Whether it becomes a larger commercial venture or remains a smaller personalized art project is not publicly established.

For readers following the company’s financial progress, future information about annual revenue, ownership, business expenses, and any new investment would be necessary to determine its actual valuation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is I Want to Draw a Cat for You net worth in 2026?

The exact net worth of I Want to Draw a Cat for You has not been publicly disclosed. Some websites estimate its value at approximately $1 million, but this figure has not been verified through official financial records.

2. Who founded I Want to Draw a Cat for You?

Steve Gadlin founded I Want to Draw a Cat for You around 2011. He created the online service to sell personalized, humorous cat drawings based on customer descriptions.

3. How much did Mark Cuban invest in I Want to Draw a Cat for You?

Mark Cuban offered $25,000 in exchange for 33% equity in the company during its Shark Tank appearance in January 2012. Steve Gadlin accepted the offer.

4. How much was I Want to Draw a Cat for You worth after Shark Tank?

Based on Mark Cuban’s $25,000 investment for 33% ownership, the implied post-money valuation was approximately $75,758. This was the valuation implied by the television deal, not a verified present-day company valuation.

5. Is I Want to Draw a Cat for You still in business?

The official website remains accessible and displays cat drawings and an option to arrange a drawing. This indicates that the project remains online, although its current revenue and operating scale are not publicly confirmed.

6. How many cat drawings has Steve Gadlin completed?

Shark Tank Blog reported that Gadlin had completed more than 21,000 drawings by 2021. His official website now displays gallery entries reaching Cat #22,528. The gallery numbering does not independently confirm the number of paid orders.

7. Why did I Want to Draw a Cat for You stop operating in 2015?

Steve Gadlin announced a pause in the business in January 2015 to concentrate on his television project, Steve Gadlin’s Star Makers. He subsequently relaunched the cat-drawing service in June 2021.

8. What is Steve Gadlin’s personal net worth?

Steve Gadlin’s personal net worth has not been reliably disclosed. Estimates published online should not be treated as confirmed because there is insufficient public information about his personal assets, liabilities, business ownership, and other income sources.