A Profile of Kevin O’Leary:
Full Name: Terence Thomas Kevin O’Leary
Date of Birth: July 9, 1954
Place of Birth: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Nationality: Canadian
Kevin O’Leary Early Life and Education
Kevin O’Leary was born in Montreal to a middle-class family. His mother, Georgette, was a small-business owner and investor, while his father, Terry, was a salesman. His parents divorced when he was young, and his mother subsequently married George Kanawaty, an economist with the United Nations’ International Labour Organization.
O’Leary attended Stanstead College and St. George’s School. He later earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies and psychology from the University of Waterloo in 1977 and an MBA from the Ivey Business School at the University of Western Ontario in 1980.
Kevin O’Leary Business Career
Softkey Software Products Kevin O’Leary’s first major business venture was Softkey, a company he co-founded in 1986. Softkey focused on educational software and grew rapidly through aggressive acquisitions of rival companies.
In 1995, Softkey acquired The Learning Company (TLC) for $606 million and adopted its name. TLC was later sold to Mattel in 1999 for $4.2 billion in stock. However, the acquisition turned out to be a disaster for Mattel, leading to significant financial losses.
O’Leary Funds
After the sale of TLC, O’Leary ventured into investment funds, co-founding O’Leary Funds Inc., a mutual fund company. The firm managed various funds and grew substantially, though it faced criticism for high management fees and lower-than-expected returns.
O’Leary Ventures
Kevin O’Leary also established O’Leary Ventures, a private early-stage venture capital investment company. Through this venture, he invested in various industries, including technology, consumer goods, and entertainment.
Kevin O’Leary Media Career
Dragons’ Den and Shark Tank Kevin O’Leary’s media career began with his role on the Canadian television show “Dragons’ Den,” where he became known for his blunt and often abrasive style.
This success led to his participation in the American version, “Shark Tank,” where he gained widespread fame as “Mr. Wonderful.” His direct, no-nonsense approach and memorable catchphrases made him one of the show’s standout personalities.
Kevin O’Leary has made a total of 40 deals across 131 episodes of Shark Tank, investing an average of $213,575 and taking an average equity stake of 17%. Some of his notable investments include Talbott Teas, GrooveBook, and Zipz.
O’Leary is known for preferring deals where he loans entrepreneurs money in exchange for a percentage of future revenue, rather than taking an equity stake. He has also partnered with other Sharks on 26 of his 40 deals.
The worst deal O’Leary ever made on Shark Tank was a $500,000 investment in a telecommunications startup, where he ignored his gut instinct and ended up losing the entire investment. He advises that listening to your gut is crucial when making investments, as you can’t always forecast the outcome.
On the other hand, one of O’Leary’s most lucrative deals was his investment in Plated, a meal-kit company, where his 2.5% stake netted him $3.5 million when the company was acquired for $300 million.
Here is a list of some companies that Kevin O’Leary invested in during “Shark Tank” USA Season 11, along with details about each pitch:
First Saturday Lime
- Product: Eco-friendly, lime and citric acid-based insect repellent
- Episode: Season 11
- Deal: $100,000 for 25% equity + funding of all purchase orders
Critter Pricker
- Product: Humane raccoon deterring spikes
- Episode: Season 11
- Deal: $115,000 for 15% equity + $2.50 per unit royalty in perpetuity
Goumi
- Product: Cute, functional, scratch-protection line of organic cotton baby essentials
- Episode: Season 11
- Deal: $1 million line of credit at 9% interest for 10% equity
Bohana
- Product: Popped water lily seed snack (popcorn alternative)
- Episode: Season 11
- Deal: $200,000 loan at 9% interest for 8% equity
Bertello
- Product: Portable wood fire and gas outdoor pizza oven
- Episode: Season 11
- Deal: $120,000 for 25% equity
Kreyòl Essence
- Product: Haitian black castor oil hair and skin care products
- Episode: Season 11
- Deal: $400,000 for 5% equity + $0.25 per unit royalty in perpetuity
Beardaments
- Product: Funky beard ornaments
- Episode: Season 11
- Deal: $150,000 for 25% equity
EZC Pak
- Product: Echinacea, zinc, and vitamin C immune support pack
- Episode: Season 11
- Deal: $125,000 for 5% equity + $1 royalty per unit until $450,000 is repaid
The Measuring Shovel
- Product: Shovel with a built-in ruler
- Episode: Season 11
- Deal: $40,000 for 30% equity
Aira
- Product: Tesla coil-based wireless charging
- Episode: Season 11
- Deal: $500,000 for 15% equity
Boost Oxygen
- Product: Canned oxygen
- Episode: Season 11
- Deal: $1,000,000 loan at 7.5% interest + 6.25% equity
Blueland
- Product: Eco-friendly subscription service for cleaning tablets and supplies
- Episode: Season 11
- Deal: $270,000 for 3% equity + $0.5 per kit royalty until he recoups his money
Other Media Engagements
O’Leary has appeared on various business news programs, including “The Lang & O’Leary Exchange” on CBC and has been a regular contributor to CNBC.
He has also authored several books on finance, investing, and business advice, including “Cold Hard Truth: On Business, Money & Life,” “Cold Hard Truth on Men, Women, and Money,” and “Cold Hard Truth on Family, Kids, and Money.”
Kevin O’Leary Personal Life
Kevin O’Leary is married to Linda O’Leary, and they have two children. The family resides in Toronto, Canada. O’Leary is also known for his love of wine and photography, and he has been involved in several philanthropic activities, particularly in education and entrepreneurship.
Kevin O’Leary Net Worth
As of 2024, Kevin O’Leary’s estimated net worth is around $400 million, derived from his various business ventures, investments, and media roles.