Who is Kevin O’Leary – aka Mr Wonderful on Shark Tank – and why is the millionaire trying to buy TikTok? Meet the TV personality who wears 3 watches a day

Jun 20 , 2024

Who is millionaire Kevin O’Leary, aka Mr Wonderful on Shark Tank, and why has he been on the news lately? Photo: @kevinolearytv/Instagram

Kevin O’Leary is a businessman, TV personality, author and political commentator – but you may know him best as Mr Wonderful on Shark Tank. The Canadian multi-hyphenate appeared as an investor known for his “harsh demeanour”on the hit TV show, reprised a similar role for the American version of Dragon’s Den, and has been a commentator on issues such as markets, business practices and the economy.

Canadian entrepreneur Kevin O’Leary is known as Mr Wonderful on Shark Tank. Photo: @kevinolearytv/Instagram

Recently, O’Leary made headlines with his attempts to “buy” TikTok, promising to “democratise” the platform and make it an American business.

Here’s what you need to know about O’Leary – from his watch collection to his marriage with his wife Linda.

Why is Kevin O’Leary trying to buy TikTok?

O’Leary, 69, made headlines recently for his proposal to buy TikTok via crowdfunding. In a post on crowdfunding site Start Engine, he wrote that with “US legislation forcing the sale of TikTok, Mr Wonderful is taking steps to purchase the social media platform.”

The future of TikTok in the US is uncertain after US President Joe Biden signed into law a bill that requires TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to sell the app to a non-Chinese company. This is because of fears over US citizens’ data being held by the company and its links to the Chinese government, per BBC. TikTok, meanwhile, has called the move “unconstitutional” and has committed to fighting the decision.

In March, O’Leary told Fox News he would either buy TikTok or join a syndicate that was planning on buying it, explaining that he would make it an “American company”.

Kevin O’Leary’s stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict

Pro-Palestine protesters in June 2024; Kevin O’Leary said he would not hire them if they were fighting the police in the protests. Photo: Getty Images

The business mogul came under fire after he publicly warned students involved in pro-Palestinian protests across universities in the US that their actions would impact their careers.

O’Leary told CNN he believed students caught on camera “burning down something” or “taking a flag down” were “trashing their personal brand”. He claimed searches through the dark web would allow companies to identify those involved in the protests. He explained that while he is not against protesting, these student protesters had “killed their career”, adding that “I feel sad for them”.

His comments have been widely lambasted, with The Hill writing, “O’Leary has a new favourite hobby: threatening college students with their livelihoods forever.”

In an interview with Vin News, O’Leary described himself as having a connection to Judaism and Jewish people, explaining that he grew up “enmeshed in a Jewish environment” and that he appreciates “the Jewish values that haven’t changed over the course of thousands of years”.

What is Kevin O’Leary’s net worth?

Kevin O’Leary has an estimated net worth of US$400 million. Photo: @kevinolearytv/Instagram

O’Leary has an estimated net worth of US$400 million, per Celebrity Net Worth. The mogul sold The Learning Company to the Mattel Toy Company for a landmark US$3.7 billion in 1999, per ABC. According to the publication, O’Leary launched his first company from his basement and soon had enough funds to buy out his competitors in what was described as “the industry’s first vicious public hostile battle”. He then founded his own mutual funds company, O’Leary Funds. According to ABC, O’Leary thinks of money as soldiers he sends to “war” every day.

He’s married with two kids

Kevin O’Leary with his wife Linda. Photo: @kevinolearytv/Instagram

Kevin married his wife Linda in 1990, and the pair have two children together. According to Guelph Mercury, the couple split for two years but later decided to give their relationship another shot. Kevin expressed his joy by saying that they “reunited and kept the family together”.

However, in 2019, Linda made headlines after she was involved in a boating accident that killed two people. According to People magazine, Linda was the designated driver of a boat that crashed into the bow of another vessel on Lake Joseph, north of Toronto, Canada. She was later charged with careless operation of a vessel under the regulations of the Canada Shipping Act. She was acquitted in 2021.

Kevin O’Leary has an impressive watch collection

Kevin O’Leary wearing two of his many watches. Photo: @kevinolearytv/Instagram

Mr Wonderful is not only known for his ruthless business approach, but also his impressive watch collection. According to GQ, his collection includes unique pieces and luxury brands including the likes of Rolex, Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet. He often wears a watch with a red strap – except for his Patek Philippe 5711.

According to GQ, O’Leary stopped revealing how many watches he has after his collection was stolen twice, leading him to keep his timepieces spread around his house. In an interview with CNBC, he said he wears three watches a day, explaining that he appreciates the art of watches, and the variety allows him match his watches to his outfits.

Millionaires and billionaires

O’Leary often wears his watches with a red strap, and owns pieces by Rolex, Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet – but his timepiece collection’s been stolen twice
He set up a campaign to buy TikTok after Biden signed a bill forcing ByteDance to sell the app to a non-Chinese company; he’s also said pro-Palestine protesters were ‘trashing their personal brand’