Shark Tank Star Daymond John Sues Former Partners for $30 Million

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Daymond John, the well-known entrepreneur and star of Shark Tank, has filed a $30 million lawsuit against his former business partners Lisa Kornman Avila and Rashmi Budhram. John accuses the duo of embezzling millions of dollars in commissions that were owed to him for their work on a PPE supply deal during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Why it matters

This case highlights the complexities of business partnerships and the potential pitfalls when trust is broken. It also raises questions about the lengths some individuals might go to in order to protect their financial interests, even at the expense of a trusted business partner.

The details

According to the lawsuit, John's company The Shark Group secured contracts to supply N95 masks, goggles, and isolation gowns to various state governments, including California, New York, and Michigan. Kornman and Budhram, through their company Buko LLC, were instrumental in obtaining the necessary manufacturing contacts and securing a nearly $150 million deal. The agreement was that John would refer Buko to clients, and in return, Buko would receive a commission. However, John claims that Kornman and Budhram started to distance themselves from him after the initial sale and have not paid him a single cent despite securing multiple orders worth hundreds of millions of dollars. John and The Shark Group are now seeking a substantial judgment and punitive damages, alleging a breach of contract and potential fraud.

• In April 2026, Daymond John filed the $30 million lawsuit against Lisa Kornman Avila and Rashmi Budhram.

What’s next

The outcome of this case will have significant implications for Daymond John and his business interests, as well as for the legal system's approach to such disputes.