The Little Burros Net Worth Shark Tank Update 2025

Gardening is supposed to be a relaxing and enjoyable activity, but for many people, it can quickly turn frustrating. Anyone who has spent time working in the yard knows the struggle of losing tools in the grass, misplacing gloves, or spilling drinks while moving around. Gardeners often have to stop what they are doing, go searching for a tool, or even buy replacements because something went missing.

This disrupts the flow of gardening and makes it feel like more of a chore than a hobby. Many people wish there were a way to keep everything organized and within reach. This problem is especially clear when using a wheelbarrow, which can carry soil and plants but doesn’t provide space for tools or personal items. That’s where Bob and Mollie Thorsen saw an opportunity to make gardening easier, more fun, and less stressful.

Their solution was The Little Burros, a tray that snaps securely onto the top of any classic wheelbarrow. This tray provides organized spaces for short-handle tools, long-handle tools, drinks, and even personal items like your phone or keys. By creating this tray, the Thorsens gave gardeners a way to keep everything they need right in front of them, neatly organized and easy to access. 

When Bob and Mollie appeared on Shark Tank Season 11, they presented The Little Burros tray to the Sharks, hoping to get an investment of $250,000 for 10% equity. During the episode, they explained how their family-run business took an idea born out of frustration and turned it into a patented product already sold in big retail stores.

They shared sales numbers and their vision of expanding their brand into a full line of gardening products. The episode was filled with excitement, tough negotiations, and surprising moments as the Sharks responded to their pitch with both praise and caution.

The Little Burros Net Worth Shark Tank Update 2025

Bob and Mollie were looking for an investment of $250k in exchange for 10% equity in the company. At the time of the episode, they valued their company at $2.5 million. Bob and Mollie did not secure a deal with any of the Sharks and walked away without an investment. Since no deal was made, the company’s net worth remained at around $2.5 million. After the show was aired, The Little Burros experienced a good boost in exposure. As per my rough estimate, the current net worth of The Little Burros is around $3.5 million.

Shark(s) name	Offer & Demand	Counteroffer	Accepted?
Kevin O’Leary	$250,000 plus $7/unit royalty until he made $500,000 + 7% equity	N/A	No
Lori Greiner	$250,000 as a loan with $5/unit royalty until repaid + 3% equity and 6% interest	N/A	No
Barbara Corcoran	Out	N/A	N/A
Mark Cuban	Out	N/A	N/A
Daymond John	Out	N/A	N/A

Bob and Mollie Backstory + Their Initial Pitch

The story of The Little Burros started with a simple problem at home. Bob Thorsen’s wife loved to spend her free time gardening. But every time she worked in the yard, she struggled to keep track of her tools, drinks, and gloves. She would set things down and forget where they were, or have to make multiple trips back and forth to get what she needed. Bob, who has a background in construction and engineering, decided there had to be a better way.

He went into his workshop and created a simple tray that could fit over a wheelbarrow and hold everything his wife needed. When she used the tray, it completely changed how she gardened. She stayed focused, organized, and even enjoyed her time more.

Bob’s daughter, Mollie, loved the tray too. She saw how useful it was and realized that millions of other gardeners probably had the same problem. Together, Bob and Mollie decided to turn the tray into a product they could sell to other families. They started their family business, The Little Burros, and worked hard to bring their tray to market.

They invested $1 million of their own money to develop the product, get it patented, and produce it in the United States. They called their main tray The Burro Buddy, and soon, they were selling in popular stores like Target, Ace Hardware, Menards, and True Value. When Bob and Mollie appeared on Shark Tank, they shared their impressive sales numbers, explaining that they were selling about 2,500 units a month, which had brought in around $400,000 in sales so far that year.

During their pitch, Bob and Mollie showed the tray to the Sharks and explained how each compartment was designed to hold different types of tools or drinks. They emphasized that the Little Burros were built to last and made in America, which they knew many gardeners appreciated. They told the Sharks that they already had utility and design patents in place, protecting their idea from being copied.

The father-daughter team also shared their dream of expanding into a complete line of gardening tools, which they hoped to do with the help of a Shark partner. They believed the Sharks’ guidance and investment could help them reach more customers and make The Little Burros a household name among gardeners.

Queries + Sharks’ Responses, and Final Deal

The Sharks had many questions after hearing the pitch. Barbara Corcoran was the first to speak. She said that although she personally loved gardening, she did not use a wheelbarrow. Because she never used one, she felt she could not relate to the product well enough to help market it. She decided it was best to step out rather than invest in a product she did not think she could fully support.

Barbara was kind and praised their product, but she told Bob and Mollie that it simply wasn’t the right fit for her expertise.

Mark Cuban followed Barbara’s lead. He admitted he did not have an interest in gardening. He explained that he prefers to invest in businesses he understands well and felt he could not add value to The Little Burros. For that reason, he chose to step out as well. He respected their passion but knew he would not be the right partner.

Daymond John was next. He agreed with Mark that he had no experience in the gardening market. He added that he worried about trying to market a niche product outside of his area of expertise. Daymond told the founders that he could not offer what they needed, and also decided to go out.

Kevin O’Leary liked the product and saw potential. However, he also wanted to protect his investment and get a fast return. He offered Bob and Mollie $250,000, but not in exchange for simple equity. Instead, he proposed a deal where he would receive $7 from every unit sold until he had made back $500,000. After that, he would also keep 7% equity in the business.

Kevin explained that this royalty structure would give him a steady income from every sale while still giving the Thorsens the freedom to keep running their business.

Before the father-daughter team could fully consider Kevin’s offer, Lori Greiner made her own proposal. Lori offered $250,000, but structured it as a loan with 6% interest. Additionally, she wanted $5 from every unit sold until the loan was fully repaid, plus 3% equity in the company. Lori explained she liked the product but felt it needed a lot of education for consumers to understand it. Her loan would allow them to get the cash they needed without giving up too much equity upfront.

Bob and Mollie were surprised by both offers. They listened carefully to what Barbara and Mark had to say about being cautious of deals with royalties, which can quickly drain profits. After discussing it privately on stage, they decided not to accept either deal.

They thanked Kevin and Lori for their offers but explained they worried that royalties would eat into their margins and make it difficult for them to grow their business long-term. They chose to leave the Tank without a deal, believing they could keep building the business on their own terms.

What Went Wrong With The Little Burros On Shark Tank?

While Bob and Mollie made a strong case for their product, several challenges kept them from securing a deal. First, three Sharks stepped out because they either did not garden themselves or did not feel comfortable investing in a product outside their expertise. Barbara, Mark, and Daymond all admitted they would not know how to help the business grow or market the product.

This instantly reduced the number of potential investors from five to two, putting more pressure on getting a good deal with the remaining Sharks.

The offers from Kevin and Lori came with royalty agreements that would require the Thorsens to pay money on every sale until the Sharks recouped their investments. These kinds of deals can be risky for entrepreneurs because royalties can drain profits and make it hard to reinvest in the business.

Bob and Mollie felt uncomfortable with the idea of losing cash flow to royalty payments, especially since they already had good retail distribution and sales momentum. They worried these deals could stall their growth instead of helping them expand.

Another challenge was that while The Little Burros was an innovative solution, it served a niche market of gardeners who used wheelbarrows regularly. This limited customer base made some Sharks question whether it could grow into a much larger business. The niche aspect meant that it might not appeal to enough customers to reach the high revenues many Sharks look for in an investment. These combined factors led Bob and Mollie to walk away without a deal.

Product Availability

The Little Burros offers a patented gardening tray that attaches to almost any classic wheelbarrow. The tray is lightweight, durable, and designed with multiple compartments to keep garden tools, drinks, gloves, seeds, and even personal items organized and easily accessible. Each compartment is thoughtfully designed so gardeners can carry both short-handle and long-handle tools.

There’s even a spot for a smartphone or water bottle. The tray snaps securely in place on top of a wheelbarrow and removes easily for cleaning or storage.

One of the best features of The Little Burros is that it’s made entirely in the USA. This appeals to many customers who want to support American manufacturing and enjoy higher-quality products. The company offers two versions of its tray: The Original Little Burro and the smaller Burro Buddy. Both models are designed with the same practical features, but are suited for different wheelbarrow sizes or gardening needs.

Gardeners can purchase The Little Burros products through many well-known retailers, both in-store and online. The tray is sold at Lowe’s, Home Depot, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Ace Hardware, Duluth Trading Company, and Target. Customers who prefer shopping online can find it on Amazon, where it has consistently high ratings and thousands of positive reviews.

The Little Burros website also offers direct sales, giving shoppers the chance to buy directly from the company and learn more about the product. Prices vary depending on the retailer, but trays typically retail for around $39.95, offering a good balance of quality and affordability.

What Happened To The Little Burros After Shark Tank?

Even though Bob and Mollie did not secure a deal on Shark Tank, their company has continued to thrive. The exposure from appearing on national television gave them a huge boost in visibility. Many viewers who watched the episode went online to learn more about The Little Burros, and sales increased shortly afterward.

The timing of the episode airing during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic worked in their favor as more people stayed home and turned to gardening as a relaxing hobby.

After Shark Tank, the company secured new partnerships with retailers, including Lowe’s, which brought their products to over 1,200 locations nationwide. Sales continued to grow, and by 2020, the business had reached around $1 million in annual revenue. The Little Burros also made it onto the Amazon Best Seller list in 2018, showing strong demand and popularity even before their Shark Tank appearance.

As of today, The Little Burros remains in business and continues to sell its products through many big box retailers and its own website. The trays still maintain a high customer rating on Amazon, averaging 4.4 out of 5 stars, a sign of ongoing customer satisfaction.

Conclusion

The Little Burros entered the Shark Tank hoping to secure an investment of $250,000 for 10% equity, but walked away without a deal after declining royalty-heavy offers from Kevin O’Leary and Lori Greiner. Despite this, Bob and Mollie Thorsen proved they didn’t need a Shark to find success. The national exposure helped them grow their brand, expand retail partnerships, and increase sales.

Today, The Little Burros products are available in stores like Lowe’s, Home Depot, and Sam’s Club, as well as online on Amazon and their website. The company continues to help gardeners stay organized, proving that a great idea and dedication can succeed even without a Shark deal.