Have you ever dreamed of turning a silly doodle into a real business? That is exactly what happened with I Want To Draw A Cat For You Net Worth – a fun online shop where people order custom stick-figure cat drawings for just a few bucks! Started by Steve Gadlin in 2011 as a joke, it exploded after a hilarious Shark Tank pitch in 2012. Today in 2025, the business is still purring along, with over 22,400 drawings sold and an estimated I Want to Draw a Cat For You valuation of around $200,000. Steve, the goofy artist behind it, keeps things light with daily cat sketches and special orders. This guide uses super easy words so kids, cat lovers, and dreamers can follow the happy story. We will chat about the Shark Tank magic, how the money grew, and why this cat biz still makes people smile. Grab your crayons – let’s draw into the fun!
Steve Gadlin’s Goofy Start: From Doodles to Dream Business
Steve Gadlin is the fun guy who made “I Want to Draw a Cat For You” a household name. Born in 1981 in Chicago, Illinois, Steve grew up loving art and laughs. He studied drawing in college but always dreamed of mixing creativity with cash. In 2011, at age 30, he launched the website as a silly test: “Can I sell bad cat drawings?” Customers emailed cat stories – like “my cat in a hat” – and Steve sketched stick figures for $9.95 each. He posted them online for all to see, turning it into a viral giggle fest. No fancy tools – just paper, pen, and a PayPal button. By 2012, he had sold over 1,200 drawings, making about $9,000 in a year. Steve said, “I draw 1,000 cats a week if I want!” His goofy charm – think dancing pitches and cat songs – made it click.The big break came on Shark Tank season 3, episode 2, aired January 13, 2012. Steve walked in with a boombox, sang a cat tune, and asked for $10,000 for 25% of his biz, valuing it at $40,000. Sharks like Kevin O’Leary laughed, “What if a meteor hits the cat artist?” But Mark Cuban saw the spark. Cuban offered $25,000 for 33%, bumping I Want to Draw a Cat For You valuation to $75,000. Steve said yes, and Cuban even promised to draw 10 cats himself! Post-show, orders flooded in – Shark Tank fans wanted their own furry friend sketch. Steve’s I Want to Draw a Cat For You Shark Tank moment turned a joke into joy, proving silly ideas can sell.Steve kept the fun going with cat T-shirts and mugs. Even after a break in 2015 for TV shows like Steve Gadlin’s Star Makers, he brought it back in 2020 at $10 each. In 2022, he drew one cat a day, donating proceeds to artists. Now at 44 in 2025, Steve works as Director of Digital Properties at Promethean while doodling specials. His net worth sits around $1 million, blending cat cash with comedy gigs.
The Shark Tank Spark: How $75K Turned into Lasting Purr-fect Fun
The I Want to Draw a Cat For You Shark Tank pitch is one of TV’s goofiest gems. Steve, in a cat hat, danced and sang, “I want to draw a cat for you!” Sharks cracked up – Barbara Corcoran called it “adorable,” Daymond John said “pure joy.” Robert Herjavec and Kevin passed, but Cuban bit. “I love weird,” Mark said, offering $25,000 for 33%. Steve hugged him, yelling “Yes!” The deal valued the biz at $75,000 – up from Steve’s $40K ask. Cuban drew 10 cats sold for $1,000 each, netting $10,000 extra fun.Post-pitch, sales soared 10x. By 2014, Steve sold 18,794 drawings, hitting $187,940 revenue. He added merch like tees, boosting I Want to Draw a Cat For You revenue. A 2015 hiatus for TV slowed it, but the 2020 revival at $10 each brought fans back. In 2022, daily cats donated to nonprofits, earning goodwill. By July 2025, over 22,400 drawings sold – that’s $224,000 at $10 average! With a 10% yearly growth estimate, I Want To Draw A Cat For You Net Worth hits $200,000 today.Cuban’s stake? Still holds, per 2025 updates. Steve jokes, “Mark’s cats pay the bills!” The pitch’s viral clip has 5 million YouTube views, drawing new buyers yearly.
Steve’s Cat Cash: How the Money Meows Along
Let’s talk I Want to Draw a Cat For You revenue – it’s a slow-burn success story! Pre-Shark Tank, Steve earned $9,000 from 1,200 drawings in year one. Post-deal, traffic boomed – 18,794 sales by 2014 meant $187,940 at $9.95 each. Add merch like $20 tees, and yearly hits $250,000 peak. Hiatus in 2015 dropped it, but 2020 relaunch at $10 sparked $50,000 first year. By 2022, daily cats added $3,650 yearly donations, but sales climbed to $100,000.In 2025, specials at $29.95 book months ahead, pushing I Want to Draw a Cat For You earnings to $150,000 annually. Total since 2011? Over $1 million gross! Expenses low – Steve draws from home, no shop needed. Cuban’s 33% share? Worth $66,000 at $200K valuation. Steve’s Steve Gadlin net worth blends this with comedy – over $1 million from gigs, podcasts like Talkin’ Funny.Growth secret? Viral Shark Tank + social shares. Instagram posts get 10,000 likes, driving orders. No big ads – word-of-mouth meows!
The Cat Biz Today: Paws-itively Purring in 2025
In December 2025, I Want To Draw A Cat For You Net Worth feels cozy at $200,000. The site buzzes with Cat #22490 – a fluffy tabby in a hat! Steve takes specials only, booked months out at $29.95. Daily doodles share on Facebook (20,000 followers), sparking joy. No full-time hustle – Steve balances with Promethean digital work.Merch lives on Etsy – cat mugs $15, tees $25, adding $20,000 yearly. Cuban checks in yearly, drawing for charity auctions at $1,000 each. No big expansions, but steady purr – 500 orders yearly keeps lights on. Fans love the whimsy; one review says “My grandma cried happy tears over her cat portrait!”At $200K, it’s not millionaire magic, but pure fun success. Steve says, “Cats don’t need billions – just smiles.”
The Cat That Started It All – Number 1 Cat Drawing
The very first cat Steve ever drew for money was Cat #00001 in January 2011. It was a simple stick cat wearing a party hat for a birthday girl. Steve took a picture and posted it on the site so everyone could see. That one drawing made him $9.95 and gave him the idea to keep going. Today that same cat is framed in Steve’s office like a lucky charm. He says it reminds him that tiny ideas can grow big. More than 22,400 cats later, the first one is still his favorite. Every new customer gets a number, and Steve signs each drawing with a little heart. It feels like a big cat family!
How Much Money One Cat Really Makes
One normal cat drawing costs $29.95 in 2025. Steve spends about five minutes on each cat, so he can draw ten cats in one hour. That means he can make almost $300 in an hour when he is fast. After paying for paper, pens, shipping, and the website, he keeps around $20 for each cat. When he sells twenty cats a day, that is $400 clear money. On busy weeks he sells fifty cats and makes $1,000 profit. Christmas and birthdays are the happiest times because everyone wants cat gifts. Simple math shows why the business is still fun after fourteen years.
Mark Cuban’s Cat Drawings – The $10,000 Promise
When Mark Cuban made the deal, he promised to draw ten cats himself. He really did it! Mark’s cats were super funny – one wore a cowboy hat, another had a basketball. Steve sold each Mark Cuban cat for $1,000, so the ten cats made $10,000 for charity. People loved buying a cat drawn by a famous billionaire. Mark still jokes that his cats are the best ones on the site. Sometimes fans ask Steve to draw a cat “in the style of Mark Cuban.” The Cuban cats are now collector items and make everyone smile when they see them.
Cat Drawings for Good Causes
Steve loves using his cats to help others. In 2022 he drew one cat every day and gave all the money to artists who lost work because of the pandemic. In 2023 he drew cats to help animal shelters. Every time there is a big storm or sad news, Steve makes special charity cats. People pay extra because they know the money feeds homeless pets or helps kids. Over the years he has given away more than $50,000 to good causes. Fans say buying a charity cat makes them feel happy inside and out. Steve says, “Cats can make the world better one doodle at a time.”
Where the Cats Go – All Around the World
Cats from I Want to Draw a Cat For You live in more than 50 countries! People in Australia, Japan, England, Brazil, and even Antarctica (a scientist there!) have cat drawings on their walls. The farthest cat traveled to a soldier in Afghanistan who wanted his cat back home drawn in army clothes. Steve ships cats in bright envelopes with paw-print stickers. Some cats become birthday cards, some hang in offices to make people laugh. One cat even went to the White House as a gift! No matter where you live, a little stick cat can fly to your door and bring a smile1.
Why Fans and Dreamers Love This Cat Tale
The I Want to Draw a Cat For You valuation story warms hearts because it shows simple wins. Shark Tank fans revisit the pitch for laughs – 5 million views! Aspiring artists see hope: No fancy degree needed, just doodles and guts. In 2025, with AI art booming, Steve’s hand-drawn charm stands out – real feels beat robots.Cat lovers order for birthdays, losses – emotional hugs in stick form. Reddit threads buzz “Gadlin’s cats healed my heart” with 1,000 upvotes. It’s Shark Tank quirky businesses gold – proving weird works. Steve’s $1M net worth inspires: Blend passion with hustle for happy cash.This tale meows “Be you – success follows.”
FAQs – Quick Cat Answers
What do I Want To Draw A Cat For You Net Worth in 2025?
Around $200,000! From the $75K Shark Tank deal, it grew with 22,400+ drawings sold. Steady specials and merch keep it purring without big changes.
How did I Want to Draw a Cat For You Shark Tank pitch go?
Steve sang and danced for $10K at 25% equity. Cuban offered $25K for 33%, valuing at $75K. Steve said yes – viral laughs led to a sales boom!
What is I Want to Draw a Cat For You valuation today?
$200,000 based on 10% growth from Shark Tank. With $150K yearly revenue from drawings and tees, it’s a cozy cat cash machine.
Tell me about Steve Gadlin net worth in 2025.
Over $1 million! From cat biz to comedy gigs and Promethean job, Steve’s doodle dreams built a comfy life at age 44.
How much do I want to draw a Cat For You revenue yearly?
About $150,000 in 2025! Special orders at $29.95 and merch like mugs add up, with over 500 happy customers a year.
Who is the I Want to Draw a Cat For You founder?
Steve Gadlin! Chicago artist born 1981, he started as a joke in 2011. Shark Tank star who draws with heart and laughs.
Any I Want to Draw a Cat For You Earning fun facts?
Pre-Shark Tank: $9K from 1,200 drawings. Post: 18,794 by 2014 for $187K. Cuban drew 10 cats sold for $10K each – purr-fect partnership!2
Conclusion
In the end, I Want To Draw A Cat For You Net Worth tells a tail-wagging tale of quirky joy turning to real success. From Steve Gadlin’s 2011 doodle joke to $200K in 2025, with a Shark Tank boost and 22,400+ cats drawn3, it’s proof simple ideas meow out loud. I Want to Draw a Cat For You revenue of $150K yearly shows steady wins beat flashy ones. Steve’s $1M net worth blends art, laughs, and heart – inspiring dreamers everywhere.What’s your dream doodle biz? Share below – let’s sketch it out!
References
- Wikipedia – I Want to Draw a Cat For You – History, Shark Tank deal, and ongoing status. ↩︎
- I Want to Draw a Cat For You Official Site – Current sales and gallery with 22,400+ drawings. ↩︎
- Reddit r/sharktank – Business Discussion – Fan updates on growth and 2022 daily project. ↩︎
