Kevin O’Leary Biography Terrence Thomas Kevin O’Leary born July 9, 1954 is a Canadian entrepreneur, politician, investor, journalist, author, and television personality. He gained widespread recognition from 2004 to 2014 through various Canadian TV appearances, including on business news programs such as SqueezePlay and The Lang and O’Leary Exchange, as well as the Canadian versions of reality shows like Dragons’ Den and Redemption Inc.. In 2008, he featured on the Discovery Channel’s Project Earth. Since 2009, he has been a prominent figure on Shark Tank, the American adaptation of Dragons’ Den. O’Leary co-founded SoftKey Software Products, a technology company that specialized in educational and family-oriented software. Throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, SoftKey grew rapidly, consolidating the global educational software market through aggressive acquisitions, including Compton’s New Media, The Learning Company, and Broderbund.
Kevin O’Leary Biography
Kevin O’Leary is a Canadian entrepreneur, investor, journalist, author, financial commentator, and television personality, best known for his appearances on Shark Tank (2009), Dragons’ Den (2006), and The Lang & O’Leary Exchange (2012). Often regarded as Canada’s business counterpart to Donald Trump, O’Leary has built a prominent reputation as one of the country’s top entrepreneurs, investors, and financial experts. He is the co-founder and chairman of O’Leary Funds and co-founded Softkey Software Products. With a net worth of $400 million, O’Leary has made a significant mark in both business and media.
WhatsApp Channel Join Button
Kevin O’Leary Biography Details
Born
Terrence Thomas Kevin O’Leary
July 9, 1954 (age 70)
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Other names
· Mr. Wonderful
Citizenship
Canada
Ireland
United Arab Emirates
Alma mater
University of Waterloo (BES)
University of Western Ontario (MBA)
Occupation(s)
Businessman, investor, journalist, author, television personality
Born in Montreal on July 9, 1954, O’Leary is the son of Georgette (née Bookalam), a small-business owner and investor of Lebanese descent, and Terry O’Leary, a salesman of Irish descent. O’Leary has a brother, Shane O’Leary, and holds Irish citizenship through his father’s heritage. He has dyslexia, which he has credited for helping shape his business acumen.
Growing up in Mount Royal, Quebec, O’Leary experienced his parents’ divorce due to his father’s alcoholism. His father passed away when O’Leary was just seven years old. His mother later took over the family clothing business, and she remarried economist George Kanawaty, who worked with the UN’s International Labour Organization. O’Leary’s stepfather’s job led to frequent relocations, and he lived in various countries, including Cambodia, Ethiopia, Tunisia, and Cyprus. As a young boy, O’Leary met notable figures such as Haile Selassie of Ethiopia and Pol Pot of Cambodia. He attended Stanstead College and St. George’s School, both in Quebec.
O’Leary’s path to wealth began with a bold idea and little capital. In 1986, he co-founded Softkey Software Products, which launched his career and helped him amass his fortune. Throughout the ’90s, Softkey grew rapidly by acquiring its competitors, using aggressive business strategies that would later become synonymous with O’Leary’s style. In 1999, Softkey sold to Mattel for $4.2 billion, making O’Leary a multimillionaire. He later went on to found additional companies like Storage Now, O’Leary Fine Wines, and O’Leary Ventures, and became a bestselling author with books like Cold Hard Truth on Men, Women & Money.
What companies does Kevin O’Leary own?
O’Leary is the founder of O’Leary Fine Wines, an award-winning wine label, and O’Leary Ventures, a private venture capital firm. He has also made significant investments in various companies.
O’Leary boasts a diverse investment portfolio, which includes companies like Basepaws, a cat DNA testing company, and BenjiLock, a fingerprint-activated padlock. He’s made over 40 deals on Shark Tank across 131 episodes.
How did Kevin O’Leary become Mr. Wonderful?
O’Leary earned his iconic nickname in the first season of Shark Tank. During a pitch involving a music publishing deal, he proposed a tough deal that earned him the sarcastic moniker from Barbara Corcoran. He embraced the nickname, and it stuck.
What is Kevin O’Leary’s best Shark Tank investment?
One of O’Leary’s most profitable investments was in Plated, a meal delivery service. He initially invested in 2014, and when the company was sold to Albertsons for $300 million, O’Leary saw a 1,346% return. He’s also had successes with Wicked Good Cupcakes and Groove book.
What is Kevin O’Leary’s worst Shark Tank investment?
Not all of O’Leary’s deals have paid off. He lost $500,000 on one investment where the entrepreneur asked for a second round of funding after burning through the initial investment. O’Leary learned a valuable lesson: trust your instincts and experience.
What does Kevin O’Leary make per episode of Shark Tank?
While the cast of Shark Tank reportedly made $50,000 per episode in 2016, it’s likely that O’Leary’s salary has increased as the show’s popularity has continued to grow.
While O’Leary is highly successful, he is not the richest investor on Shark Tank. That title belongs to Mark Cuban, whose net worth stands at $5.7 billion.
What is Kevin O’Leary’s net worth?
Kevin O’Leary has an estimated net worth of $400 million.