Derulo's camp hasn't publicly addressed the backlash, but insiders suggest the installation involved professional aquarium specialists who visit every two days to maintain water quality and tank cleanliness. The setup is legal under California law for certain non-endangered species.
Sources close to Derulo say he's been fascinated with sharks since childhood and sees the tank as both a passion project and architectural showpiece. But animal welfare advocates argue celebrity influence amplifies demand for exotic marine animals in private collections — exactly what fuels illegal trafficking networks.
Derulo revealed the $1 million tank during an April 2026 YouTube tour with creator N3on at his $15 million Tarzana, California property. IFAW's Christian Plowman specifically called out Derulo in a statement: 'Right now, he is setting a bad example.' In 2023, Derulo spent approximately $30,000 on a shark-themed birthday party for his son Jason King.
When you have that much money, the sky's the limit — but maybe some limits should exist. Derulo could use his massive platform to educate millions about marine conservation, yet he's chosen to build an underground aquarium instead.
Jason Derulo is learning that having sharks in your living room comes with serious teeth. The 36-year-old singer found himself at the center of a growing controversy this week after the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) publicly condemned his $1 million shark-and-stingray tank installed beneath the glass floor of his Tarzana, California estate. Derulo showed off the jaw-dropping feature during an April 2026 YouTube tour with content creator N3on at his $15 million property — a custom circular aquarium embedded under the living room that allows guests to literally walk above swimming sharks and stingrays.
'Basically, I got someone who makes pools to do the shell of it, and then I had the aquarium people put it all together,' Derulo explained during the tour. He also revealed he had to replace an earlier floor because 'it didn't show the sharks well enough' — swapping for a white background to maximize visibility. A professional aquarium team visits his home every two days for maintenance.
Christian Plowman, Program Manager of Wildlife Cybercrime at IFAW, didn't hold back in a scathing statement: 'When celebrities and influencers with millions of followers treat wild animals as interior design features, the consequences reach far beyond their living rooms.' He pointed to recent seizures of over 700 trafficked marine animals in Argentina as evidence that the illegal exotic pet trade extends well beyond land-dwelling species. 'Sharks are facing severe pressures — threatened by overfishing, pollution and habitat destruction, with many species now considered endangered,' Plowman said.
Social media users piled on as clips from Derulo's tour spread across TikTok, with comments ranging from 'That's cruel' to the more existential 'Yeah, being rich is depressing.' One commenter simply wrote: 'The fish deserve better.' While keeping certain smaller, non-endangered shark species in home aquariums remains legal in California, animal welfare organizations have long opposed the practice — and Derulo's celebrity status has amplified their message. This isn't Derulo's first rodeo with marine obsession.
In 2023, he splurged roughly $30,000 on a shark-themed second birthday party for his son Jason King Jr., complete with a 'Baby Shark' cake and sparklers. Clearly, the fascination runs deep — but IFAW wants him to channel that passion differently. 'If Derulo genuinely cares about these animals, he could use his platform as a powerful force for good,' Plowman said. 'Help turn the tide on a trade that is pushing some of the world's most remarkable marine species closer to extinction.' The message was clear: sharks aren't accessories, floor displays, or status symbols — they're apex predators being pushed toward extinction while someone walks over them in flip-flops.
