Hillbilly Brand
DealMen and Women's Apparel
Best known from its Shark Tank appearance, Hillbilly Brand is a men and women's apparel in Season 2, and convinced Robert Herjavec and Daymond John to invest.
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From the show
The Shark Tank pitch
- $50K
- Asked for
- 25%
- Offered equity
- $200K
- Sought valuation
- $75K
- Deal amount
- 25%
- Deal equity
- $300K
- Deal valuation
Mike Abbaticchio & Shon Lees walked into the Tank in Season 2, Episode 4 in the episode that aired April 8, 2011, bringing their Parkland, FL business with them. Hillbilly Brand, the men and women's apparel, pitched in the Fashion & Beauty category, one of 239 fashion & beauty businesses to brave the Tank across all 17 seasons.
On the carpet, the number was $50,000 for a 25% stake, which valued the company at $200K.
Robert Herjavec and Daymond John teamed up at $75,000 for 25% equity. The deal valued the company at $300K. The structure included a royalty component.
Hillbilly Brand was one of 36 businesses to pitch in Season 2, where 19 deals got done. In the Fashion & Beauty category overall, roughly 58% of pitches have landed a shark across the show's history.
The full story
Everything to know about Hillbilly Brand
Hillbilly Brand is a country-lifestyle apparel label built around trucker hats, t-shirts, and casual gear that plays up Southern, outdoorsy identity. Founders Mike Abbaticchio and Shon Lees, working out of Florida, set out to turn a regional attitude into a clothing line with broad appeal, betting that the hillbilly label could be worn as a badge of pride rather than an insult.
The pair entered the Season 2 tank asking for 50,000 dollars in exchange for 25 percent of the company. The negotiation drew interest from multiple sharks, and the offer that came together involved a larger cash figure paired with terms around ownership and a royalty. The founders accepted on air, but the details of what full ownership transfer would mean became a problem once the show ended.
The pitch stood out because the brand was as much about a feeling as a product. Apparel companies are notoriously hard to fund on Shark Tank, so getting sharks to engage at all was a win, and the founders' clear sense of their customer, country buyers who wanted gear that spoke their language, gave the line a defined identity.
Where Hillbilly Brand is now
The on-air handshake did not close once post-show terms made the ownership picture clearer than the founders wanted, and they chose to keep building the brand themselves. Rather than stall the business, the decision let Abbaticchio and Lees keep control and expand the product range on their own terms while maintaining a relationship with one of the sharks.
As of 2026 Hillbilly Brand is still operating and selling through its official site, hillbillybrand.com. The catalog has grown beyond hats and tees to include womens items and the brand's own line of lemonade-style drinks, showing the founders pushed the label into new categories rather than staying a single-product apparel shop.
Where to buy Hillbilly Brand
You can buy Hillbilly Brand directly at hillbillybrand.com, which carries trucker hats, t-shirts for men and women, and the brand's bottled lemonade-style drinks. Hats run in the 20-dollar range and shirts in the mid-20s, with drink multipacks priced higher. For shoppers who want country-themed casual wear with a clear identity, it is a real, operating brand rather than a dormant one, and the expanded lineup gives more reasons to visit than the early days did.
Is Hillbilly Brand still in business?
Read our 2026 update on where the company is now.
Sold on Hillbilly Brand?
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Frequently asked questions
Where can I buy Hillbilly Brand?
Check current price and availability on Amazon. Note that some Shark Tank products are discontinued or sold under a new name. The company's official website is another option.
Did Hillbilly Brand get a deal on Shark Tank?
Yes. Hillbilly Brand closed a deal for $75,000 in exchange for 25% equity, with Robert Herjavec and Daymond John.
Which shark invested in Hillbilly Brand?
Robert Herjavec and Daymond John invested in Hillbilly Brand ($75,000 total as aired).
What season of Shark Tank was Hillbilly Brand on?
Hillbilly Brand appeared in Season 2, Episode 4, which aired April 8, 2011.
How much was Hillbilly Brand asking for on Shark Tank?
The founders asked for $50,000 for 25% of the company, a $200K valuation.
Is Hillbilly Brand still in business?
Yes. As of 2026 Hillbilly Brand is still operating and selling through its official website, with a lineup that now includes apparel for men and women plus its own drink line.
Did Hillbilly Brand close its Shark Tank deal?
No. The founders accepted an offer on air, but the terms around ownership did not work for them in post-show negotiations, so the deal did not close. They kept and grew the brand independently.
What does Hillbilly Brand sell now?
The brand sells trucker hats, t-shirts for men and women, and lemonade-style bottled drinks through its official site, having expanded well beyond its original hat-and-tee roots.
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