An increase in ham prices forced the deli to ___ sandwiches higher

MARK CUBAN

Think of a billionaire known for his business savvy and TV appearances who might also be associated with raising prices—or in this case, a play on words involving a deli item.

This clue plays on the phrase "mark up," meaning to raise prices, but splits it into "mark" and hides it in a pun. The surface reading suggests the deli had to increase sandwich prices ("mark up"), but the answer twists it by inserting "Cuban" (a type of sandwich) between "mark" and "up." The result is "Mark Cuban," the name of the billionaire entrepreneur, turning a simple pricing term into a clever wordplay answer.