Terrence Thomas Kevin O’Leary, also known as Mr. Wonderful or Maple Man, is a Canadian businessman, investor, journalist, and TV personality. He co-founded SoftKey Software Products, which sold educational software and acquired several companies before being sold to Mattel in 1999.
O’Leary became a multimillionaire from this sale but was later fired due to significant losses. He appeared on Canadian TV shows like Dragons’ Den and Redemption Inc. and has been on Shark Tank since 2009. In 2017, he ran for the Conservative Party of Canada leadership but withdrew before the election.
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Kevin O’Leary Net Worth
Kevin O’Leary, with a net worth of $400 million, was initially skeptical of cryptocurrency but changed his stance in August 2021 by partnering with FTX. After FTX’s collapse in November 2022, he faced criticism for promoting the company.
In December 2022, O’Leary admitted on CNBC that the $15 million he received for the partnership had lost all value. He initially praised FTX’s compliance focus.
Early life
Terence Thomas Kevin O’Leary was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. His mother was of Lebanese descent, and his father was of Irish descent, granting him Irish citizenship and an Irish passport. After his parents’ divorce and his father’s death,
O’Leary’s mother remarried economist Gorge Kanawaty. Due to Kanawaty’s work with the UN’s International Labour Organization, O’Leary lived in various countries, including Cambodia, Tunisia, and Cyprus. His mother, a skilled investor, taught him valuable financial lessons, such as saving one-third of his money.
Initially aspiring to be a photographer, O’Leary followed his stepfather’s advice and attended university, where his interest in business and investing grew. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Waterloo in 1977 and an MBA from the Ivey Business School at the University of Western Ontario in 1980.
Career
While studying for his MBA, O’Leary interned at Nabisco, where he honed skills that contributed to his later success. He co-founded the TV production company Special Event Television (SET), selling his share for $25,000. In 1986, he used this money and a loan from his mother to start SoftKey, a software company.
SoftKey grew rapidly, acquiring companies like WordStar and Spinnaker Software, and rebranded as The Learning Company (TLC) in 1995. Mattel bought TLC for $4.2 billion in 1999. In 2003, O’Leary co-invested in Storage Now, which was sold for $110 million in 2007.
Personal life
Kevin O’Leary has been married to his wife, Linda, since 1990, with a brief separation in 2011. Linda is the VP of Marketing for O’Leary Wines. The couple has two children.
O’Leary primarily resides in Toronto but also owns a cottage in Muskoka, Ontario, and properties in Boston and Geneva, Switzerland. He obtained UAE citizenship to partner with Emiratis on investments.
What companies does Kevin O’Leary own?
Beyond his early ventures, Kevin O’Leary presides over a vast business empire, including O’Shares Investments, an ETF company, and O’Leary Ventures, a private equity firm. He’s also delved into the world of wine with O’Leary Fine Wines and holds a membership in Boston’s venerable Hamilton Trust.
Conclusion
Kevin O’Leary, with his unmistakable personality and business ventures, has firmly established himself as a force to be reckoned with in the global business arena. With a net worth that’s the envy of many, “Mr. Wonderful” is a testament to what can be achieved with a mix of determination, education, and a keen sense for business opportunities.
FAQs about Kevin O’Leary Net Worth
- Who is Kevin O’Leary?
- Kevin O’Leary is a Canadian businessman, television personality, and investor known for his appearances on “Shark Tank” and “Dragons’ Den”.
- What companies does Kevin O’Leary own?
- O’Leary owns O’Shares Investments, O’Leary Ventures, and O’Leary Fine Wines among others.
- How did Kevin O’Leary achieve his wealth?
- His primary wealth comes from the sale of his software company, The Learning Company, to Mattel.
- How much is Kevin O’Leary’s net worth?
- Kevin O’Leary’s current net worth stands at $400 million.
- Where did Kevin O’Leary study?
- He attended the University of Waterloo and later the Ivey Business School at the University of Western Ontario.
