Tree T-Pee Net Worth: From $150K to Millions After Shark Tank

Tree T-Pee stands among Shark Tank's most dramatic success stories. The agricultural water conservation device has grown from a $750,000 valuation to an estimated $100 million business—a journey that began with one man's commitment to helping farmers save water.

Johnny Georges walked into the Shark Tank seeking $150,000 for 20% of his company. His product was simple: a cone-shaped device that retailed for $4.50 with production costs of $2.95, leaving just over a dollar in profit per unit. Those razor-thin margins would typically spell disaster for any growing business.

Yet today, Tree T-Pee operates in 80 countries and has built a global agricultural brand focused on water conservation. The turning point came when John Paul DeJoria invested $150,000 for that 20% equity stake, providing not just capital but the credibility needed to scale beyond Florida farms.

What follows is the story of how a father-son invention became a worldwide movement—and how Johnny Georges proved that sometimes the most impactful businesses start with the simplest solutions to pressing problems.

How much is Tree T-Pee worth today?

Tree T-Pee's net worth in 2025 is estimated at $100 million. The numbers tell a compelling story about what happens when agricultural innovation meets strategic business execution.

Tree T-Pee net worth 2025 vs 2013

The contrast is striking. That $750,000 valuation from 2013 has grown into a nine-figure business—a 13,233% increase that few agricultural companies achieve in any timeframe, let alone just over a decade.

What makes this growth particularly impressive? Agricultural businesses typically face structural challenges that limit rapid scaling. Profit margins stay tight, customer acquisition costs remain high, and product adoption cycles stretch longer than consumer goods. Tree T-Pee overcame each of these barriers through strategic decisions that fundamentally changed its business model.

Revenue and valuation growth over the years

The financial milestones reveal a clear pattern of strategic acceleration:

• 2005: Johnny Georges launched Tree T-Pee through GSI Supply, Inc.
• 2013: Secured $150,000 investment from John Paul DeJoria on Shark Tank
• 2013-2017: Immediate demand surge with 56,000 emails within 24 hours
• 2021: Annual revenue reached approximately $5 million
• 2024-2025: Company valuation estimated at $100 million

The most critical turning point came with pricing strategy. Tree T-Pee more than doubled its retail price from $4.50 to $9.95 per unit. Instead of losing customers, demand remained strong—farmers clearly understood the long-term value proposition. This price adjustment created sustainable margins that funded expansion while maintaining accessibility for the core market.

Global expansion accelerated growth beyond domestic markets. Tree T-Pee gained traction across Europe, Australia, and the Middle East, creating multiple revenue streams that supported the dramatic valuation increase.

Why the net worth matters in the agri-tech space

Tree T-Pee's $100 million valuation validates a business model that many agricultural entrepreneurs struggle to achieve. The company proved that sustainable, resource-conserving solutions can command premium pricing while delivering measurable environmental benefits.

This success challenges conventional wisdom about agricultural product pricing. Johnny Georges maintained his commitment to helping farmers while building substantial business value—showing that impact and profit work together rather than in opposition. His approach demonstrates that agricultural products don't need to choose between being affordable and being profitable.

Tree T-Pee's valuation represents more than financial achievement. It validates that sustainability, farmer accessibility, and environmental conservation can drive remarkable business outcomes when executed with the right strategy and market positioning.

The story behind Tree T-Pee's invention

Tree T-Pee didn't start with market research or venture capital. It began with a father who understood farming's harsh realities and a son determined to honor his legacy.

Johnny Georges and his father's legacy

Rick Georges spent his life growing citrus in central Florida, where water conservation isn't just good practice—it's survival. During the 1980s, he watched farmers struggle with irrigation systems that wasted thousands of gallons while still leaving young trees vulnerable to frost damage.

Rick developed an early version of what would become the Tree T-Pee, but like many farmer innovations, it remained a local solution to a local problem. When Rick passed away, Johnny inherited more than just a product concept. He inherited a philosophy: "If you're going to do something, do it right."

That philosophy shaped every decision Johnny made afterward. His father had taught him to "think about others first and yourself second"—a principle that would later define Tree T-Pee's business model, even when investors suggested otherwise.

The problem Tree T-Pee was built to solve

Traditional tree irrigation operates like a broken faucet. Micro-sprinklers spray water in wide circles around young trees, flooding the ground with roughly 25,000 gallons per tree each year. Most of that water never reaches the roots.

Cold weather makes the situation worse. Farmers run water continuously to prevent freezing, consuming massive amounts while trees remain vulnerable to frost damage. For farmers already operating on tight margins, this waste represents both environmental concern and financial strain.

The Tree T-Pee's cone design creates a different approach entirely.

Rather than fighting physics, it works with them:

1. Water flows directly to root zones, reducing usage by up to 93%
2. Ground heat gets trapped, providing natural frost protection
3. Weeds can't establish around the tree base
4. Herbicide applications stay contained, preventing tree damage

Sometimes the most effective solutions aren't the most complex—they're the ones that fundamentally rethink the problem.

Early challenges and local adoption

Farmers don't adopt new technology quickly. Agricultural communities prefer proven methods over promising innovations, and for good reason—crop failures mean financial devastation.

Johnny spent years driving from farm to farm across Florida, demonstrating the Tree T-Pee's benefits personally. This grassroots approach built loyal customers but limited growth potential. Each sale required individual persuasion, making scaling nearly impossible.

His commitment to affordable pricing created another challenge. Keeping units accessible to farmers meant razor-thin margins that barely supported operations, let alone expansion.

The breakthrough came when Johnny realized a fundamental truth: to help more farmers, he needed to build a sustainable business. That meant eventually raising prices while ensuring the product delivered clear value through water savings and improved outcomes.

Word-of-mouth became Tree T-Pee's most powerful marketing tool. Farmers who witnessed firsthand the water conservation benefits began recommending the product throughout their communities. Success bred success, one conversation at a time.

The Shark Tank moment that changed everything

November 2013. Johnny Georges walked into the Shark Tank carrying his father's legacy and a simple plastic cone that would soon become television history. His appearance on Season 5, Episode 17 would not only change his business forever—it helped the show win an Emmy Award for Outstanding Structured Reality Program in 2014.

Johnny's pitch and emotional appeal

Johnny's nervousness showed immediately. Yet he pushed through, explaining how his device cut water usage from 25,000 gallons to just 800 gallons per tree annually. The numbers were impressive, but something deeper resonated in that room.

"It's not about the money to me. It's about doing what's right," Johnny declared.

Kevin O'Leary would later describe the moment: "There wasn't a dry eye in the room". Johnny asked for $150,000 for 20% of his company, valuing Tree T-Pee at $750,000. The ask was straightforward. The emotion behind it was anything but ordinary.

Why John Paul DeJoria invested

Guest Shark John Paul DeJoria saw past the spreadsheets. The co-founder of Paul Mitchell Hair Products and Patron Spirits Company recognized something rare—a purpose-driven entrepreneur who genuinely wanted to help farmers.

"When Johnny said that this Tree-T-Pee saves 3,000 percent on water, you only use one-thirtieth the water, that's when I knew this was good for farmers. It's good for America. I want to be this guy's partner," DeJoria explained.

The offer came without negotiation. Exactly what Johnny requested: $150,000 for 20% equity. This rarely happens on Shark Tank, but DeJoria understood he wasn't just investing in a product—he was backing a mission.

Kevin O'Leary's concerns about margins

Mr. Wonderful saw the harsh business reality. Production costs of $2.95, selling price of $4.50. The margins were impossibly thin.

"There's only one of you! I need like 2,000 Johnnys calling on farmers all across the land. Now who's going to pay them, Johnny?" O'Leary pressed. He suggested $12 per unit to create sustainable growth margins.

Johnny refused to burden farmers with higher costs. His tribute to his late father—"made me who I am"—created what O'Leary called "a particularly powerful moment in Shark Tank, and no one's going to forget it".

That integrity, that unwillingness to compromise his mission even for a deal, sealed his fate as more than just another entrepreneur. Johnny Georges became a symbol of values-driven business.

What happened after Shark Tank

Johnny Georges walked off the Shark Tank stage with a deal, but he had no idea what was coming next. The episode aired in November 2013, and within hours, Tree T-Pee went from a Florida farming product to a national phenomenon that would reshape the company's entire trajectory.

The 56,000 emails and overnight demand

The numbers speak for themselves. Within 24 hours of the episode airing, Johnny's inbox exploded with 56,000 emails from interested customers. This wasn't just casual interest—thousands of Tree T-Pees sold almost immediately, creating an instant revenue surge that validated every risk Johnny had taken.

The emotional connection viewers felt with Johnny's story translated directly into purchasing decisions. Farmers who had never heard of Tree T-Pee were placing orders. Homeowners wanted to try the product in their gardens. The Shark Tank effect had arrived in full force.

Retail partnerships and online sales

That initial demand surge opened doors Johnny couldn't have reached on his own. Tree T-Pee secured a partnership with Home Depot, instantly expanding beyond direct farm sales into mainstream retail. This partnership provided the distribution network needed to serve customers nationwide.

The company also strengthened its online presence, creating digital sales channels that made Tree T-Pee accessible to anyone with internet access. But the expansion didn't stop at U.S. borders. Tree T-Pee began reaching farmers in Europe, Australia, and the Middle East, spreading water conservation technology globally.

Even COVID-19 couldn't derail the momentum. Despite pandemic challenges, Tree T-Pee continued operating and serving farmers worldwide.

Price increase and customer response

Here's where Johnny proved Kevin O'Leary right about pricing strategy. The retail price jumped from $4.50 to $9.95 per unit—more than doubling the original price point. O'Leary had suggested $12 during the pitch, so even at $9.95, Johnny kept the product more affordable than the Sharks recommended.

The price increase could have killed demand. Instead, sales continued growing. Annual revenue reached approximately $5 million by late 2021. Farmers understood the math: spending $9.95 upfront to save thousands of gallons of water annually made perfect economic sense.

This price adjustment proved that Johnny's product wasn't just useful—it was essential enough that customers would pay premium prices for genuine value.

How Tree T-Pee became a global brand

Tree T-Pee's path to global reach required more than just a great product—it demanded a strategic expansion approach that could adapt water conservation technology to diverse agricultural markets worldwide.

Expansion into Europe, Australia, and the Middle East

The international expansion story reveals a methodical approach to market entry. Tree T-Pee now operates across Europe, Australia, and the Middle East, but this global footprint emerged through careful market selection rather than rapid scaling.

A pivotal validation moment came when the Israeli Minister of Agriculture personally called Johnny Georges to praise the significant water usage reductions they achieved. This wasn't just a courtesy call—it represented governmental recognition of Tree T-Pee's measurable impact on agricultural sustainability.

Today, Tree T-Pee products reach farmers in 80 countries. This expansion demonstrates how a solution addressing universal agricultural challenges—water scarcity and conservation—can transcend regional boundaries when the value proposition remains consistent.

Strategic distribution and customer validation

The retail partnership with Home Depot opened Tree T-Pee to mainstream consumers beyond commercial farming operations. Meanwhile, the company's direct-to-consumer platform at TreeTPee.com maintains a 4.7-star customer rating, providing validation that spans both professional agriculturalists and individual users.

This dual-channel approach created sustainability beyond any single distribution method. Retail partnerships provided scale and accessibility, while direct sales maintained higher margins and customer relationships.

The economics of sustainable agriculture

Tree T-Pee's continued growth stems from its compound value creation. Made from 100% recycled plastic, each device reduces water usage by approximately 90% compared to traditional irrigation.

But the benefits extend beyond water savings—farmers also use less electricity for pumping and reduce fertilizer and herbicide applications by concentrating them at the root zone.

This multi-layered value proposition explains sustained demand growth despite the price adjustment to $9.95. Farmers calculate total cost of ownership, not just upfront investment. When a device pays for itself through reduced water and energy costs while improving crop outcomes, price becomes secondary to performance.

Conclusion

Tree T-Pee's journey from a Florida farm to an estimated $100 million valuation offers a masterclass in purpose-driven entrepreneurship. Johnny Georges proved that authentic passion combined with genuine problem-solving can create remarkable business outcomes—even in traditionally low-margin agricultural markets.

The most striking lesson? Kevin O'Leary's initial pricing concerns ultimately became the company's greatest validation. When Tree T-Pee raised its price to $9.95, farmers didn't flee—they recognized real value. Water savings of 25,000 gallons per tree annually made the higher price point an easy decision for growers focused on long-term economics.

John Paul DeJoria's investment decision reflects a broader truth about successful partnerships. He saw beyond spreadsheets to recognize an entrepreneur whose values aligned with sustainable impact. That shared conviction became the foundation for global expansion across 80 countries.

For agricultural entrepreneurs, Tree T-Pee demonstrates that environmental solutions don't require choosing between profit and purpose. The company's growth trajectory shows how addressing fundamental resource challenges—water conservation, cost reduction, operational efficiency—can support both business scaling and mission fulfillment.

The Home Depot partnership illustrates another critical insight: distribution strategy shapes destiny. Tree T-Pee's dual approach of retail partnerships plus direct-to-consumer sales created multiple pathways to market, accelerating growth beyond what either channel could achieve alone.

Perhaps most importantly, Tree T-Pee's story challenges assumptions about agricultural innovation. Simple solutions often outperform complex ones when they address real pain points farmers face daily. The cone-shaped design works because it solves multiple problems simultaneously—water conservation, frost protection, weed prevention, and herbicide containment.

Johnny Georges' commitment to his father's legacy transformed a family invention into a worldwide movement. That emotional authenticity, displayed so memorably on Shark Tank, continues driving the company's mission today. Tree T-Pee stands as proof that businesses built on genuine purpose can achieve both meaningful impact and remarkable financial success.

FAQs

Q1. What is the current estimated net worth of Tree T-Pee?

Tree T-Pee's net worth is estimated to be around $100 million as of 2025, representing significant growth from its initial valuation.

Q2. How did Tree T-Pee's appearance on Shark Tank impact the business?

After appearing on Shark Tank, Tree T-Pee experienced a surge in demand, receiving 56,000 emails within 24 hours and securing a $150,000 investment from John Paul DeJoria for a 20% stake in the company.

Q3. What problem does the Tree T-Pee solve for farmers?

The Tree T-Pee is a water conservation device that reduces a tree's annual water consumption from 25,000 gallons to just 800 gallons, while also providing frost protection and preventing weed growth around the tree base.

Q4. How has Tree T-Pee expanded since its Shark Tank appearance?

Tree T-Pee has grown into a global brand, expanding into Europe, Australia, and the Middle East. It has also secured a partnership with Home Depot and developed a strong online presence, making its products available in 80 countries.

Q5. Did Tree T-Pee increase its price after Shark Tank, and how did this affect sales?

Yes, Tree T-Pee increased its price from $4.50 to $9.95 per unit. Despite this price increase, the company continued to thrive, with farmers recognizing the long-term value and water conservation benefits that outweighed the initial investment.