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The $16 Million Nightmare: What Happened To Bubba's-Q Deboned Ribs After Shark Tank?

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The story of Bubba's-Q Boneless Ribs is one of the most dramatic and controversial in Shark Tank history, shifting from a celebrated $16 million success story to a public legal battle. As of late December 2025, the product—a revolutionary deboned baby back rib steak—is still available for purchase, but the relationship between the former NFL star founder and his celebrity investor has completely fractured, culminating in a permanent restraining order.

The journey of Al "Bubba" Baker's company, pitched alongside his daughter, Brittani Bo Baker, is a powerful cautionary tale about the complexities of scaling a food business and the high stakes of a major deal with a Shark. While the product itself was a genuine hit with consumers, the business partnership that followed the handshake deal became a source of significant public dispute.

Al "Bubba" Baker: NFL Career and Entrepreneurial Profile

  • Full Name: Al Baker
  • Nickname: "Bubba"
  • Born: December 14, 1956 (Age 69 as of late 2025)
  • Hometown: Tifton, Georgia
  • NFL Career: Defensive End
  • NFL Teams: Detroit Lions (1978–1982), St. Louis Cardinals (1983–1987), Cleveland Browns (1988), Minnesota Vikings (1989)
  • NFL Achievements: 3x Pro Bowl, 1978 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. He holds the official NFL record for most sacks in a rookie season (23).
  • Business: Founder of Bubba's-Q Boneless Ribs (formerly Bubba's Q restaurant)
  • Shark Tank Appearance: Season 5, Episode 11 (Aired January 10, 2014)
  • Co-Pitcher: Daughter, Brittani Bo Baker
  • The Product: De-Boned Baby Back Rib Steak (a fully-cooked, boneless baby back rib that can be microwaved)

The Perfect Pitch: From Football Field to Food Empire

Al "Bubba" Baker and his daughter, Brittani Bo Baker, walked into the Tank seeking $300,000 for a 15% equity stake in their company, Bubba's-Q Boneless Ribs. The concept was simple yet brilliant: a fully cooked, deboned baby back rib that could be prepared in minutes, eliminating the mess and time associated with traditional barbecue.

The Sharks were immediately impressed. Bubba, a former NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, had already proven his entrepreneurial drive, having launched the business after his wife suggested the boneless rib meat could be eaten with a knife and fork.

The Negotiation and the Final Deal

The Sharks were initially skeptical of the valuation, but the taste test quickly won them over. The ribs were described as tender and flavorful, and the fact that the product was patented was a huge plus for the investors.

The negotiation saw multiple Sharks express interest, but ultimately, it came down to Daymond John and Kevin O'Leary. Daymond John, the "Godfather of Urban Fashion," saw the potential for licensing and mass distribution. The final deal struck on the show was with Daymond John for $300,000 in exchange for a 30% equity stake in the company, bringing in Rastelli Foods Group as a strategic partner.

This deal would go on to be celebrated as one of Daymond John's most successful investments on the show.

The Peak of Success: $16 Million in Sales and National Distribution

The post-Shark Tank growth for Bubba's-Q was explosive. The "Shark Tank Effect" propelled the company to massive new heights, securing major distribution and licensing deals that put the deboned ribs in front of millions of customers.

  • Sales Explosion: The company's sales skyrocketed from a modest $154,000 pre-show to an astonishing peak of over $16 million in the years following the deal.
  • Major Food Partnership: Bubba's-Q secured a landmark deal with fast-food giants Carl's Jr. and Hardee's. This partnership led to the launch of the famous Baby Back Rib Burger, featuring the deboned rib meat, in approximately 3,000 franchises nationwide. This single deal was reportedly worth $5.8 million.
  • Retail Presence: The product achieved widespread availability in major grocery stores and continues to be sold through online platforms like QVC, DoorDash, and various regional supermarkets as of late 2025.
  • Continued Revenue: Despite the subsequent controversies, the company remains operational and revenue-generating, with reports citing annual revenues of $5 million as recently as August 2022.

For years, Bubba's-Q was held up as a shining example of a successful Shark Tank investment, demonstrating how a simple, patented food idea could be scaled into a national brand with the right partner.

The Shocking Controversy: Legal Battle and Restraining Order (2023-2025 Update)

In a dramatic and unexpected turn of events, the partnership between Daymond John and Al Baker fell apart, leading to a major public and legal dispute that continues to define the company's narrative. This is the most current and critical update regarding the deboned ribs business.

In 2023, the conflict became public when Daymond John filed for and was granted a permanent restraining order against Al Baker, Brittani Bo Baker, and a partner. The restraining order was a response to the Bakers' public allegations that they were being unfairly treated and that the deal had become a "nightmare" that cost Bubba his home.

The key points of the controversy include:

  • The Bakers' Allegations: Al and Brittani Baker publicly claimed that the deal with Daymond John and Rastelli Foods Group was predatory, asserting that they had been excluded from the business and that the partnership had ultimately led to financial ruin, including the loss of their home.
  • Daymond John's Response: Daymond John vehemently denied the accusations, calling the Bakers' narrative a "false narrative." His legal team stated that the restraining order was necessary to stop the Bakers from making defamatory and threatening statements.
  • Partner Involvement: Rastelli Foods Group, the strategic partner brought in to handle distribution and manufacturing, also alleged that the Bakers had made false claims against them.
  • Restaurant Closure: Amid the rising tensions, Bubba Baker closed his original Bubba's Q restaurant in 2019 after 13 years, though the boneless ribs product line remained operational.

Despite the high-profile legal battle and the dramatic collapse of the partnership, the Bubba's-Q Boneless Ribs product remains a sought-after item. The product's inherent quality and the initial momentum from the Shark Tank exposure have allowed it to survive the internal turmoil. The company is now a complex case study in business, legal, and public relations, demonstrating that even the most successful Shark Tank deals can have a tumultuous life after the cameras stop rolling.

The $16 Million Nightmare: What Happened to Bubba's-Q Deboned Ribs After Shark Tank?
deboned ribs on shark tank
deboned ribs on shark tank

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