Kevin O’Leary Biography & Net Worth

Kevin O’Leary Biography & Net Worth

Kevin O’Leary is a Canadian businessman and television personality. He is one of the founders of the software company ‘SoftKey’. Born in Montreal, he was raised by his stepfather and businesswoman mother who he later idolized. Kevin obtained his MBA degree from University of Western Ontario. He combined with Gary Babcock and John Freeman to found the company named ‘SoftKey Software Products’. Their company produced computer software and related products. Throughout the next twenty years that followed, the company acquired nearly almost all of its rivals in the American and Canadian markets and was re-branded “The Learning Company”. In 1999, he sold off the company to “Mattel” and thus became a multi-millionaire. He turned to television in the mid-2000s and started appearing on several reality shows and talk shows. In 2017, he ventured into politics and then contested to win the leadership of the Canada’s Conservative Party of. However, he withdrew just one month before the election due to lack of support from Quebec, his birthplace. In this article, we will take a stroll through Kevin O’Leary net worth and businesses, as well as all other aspects of his life and career. So if you’re ready, let’s go!

Kevin O’Leary’s Early Life

Terence Thomas Kevin O’Leary is the son of Lebanese mother Georgette and Irish father Terry O’Leary. He was raised in company of his brother. Things took a little twist in his childhood life when his father divorced his mother, and later died of alcoholism. O’Leary mother by profession was a Kevin’s mother was fully into business as at that time. She was a very skilled investor who upon the death of her husband married George Kanawaty.

Kevin attended Stanstead College, St. George’s School, University of Waterloo, graduating with a B.A in environmental studies. He proceeded to the University of Western Ontario from where he graduated with his MBA in entrepreneurship.

Kevin O’Leary’s Career

After graduating from college, O’Leary found a job at Nabisco’s cat food brand where he served as assistant brand manager in 1979. He later co-founded Special Event TV which specialized in the production of small television shows, sports, and documentaries. Along the line, he sold his share of the company and moved to Toronto where he started “Softkey” in his basement. His company focused on the publishing and distribution of softwares based on CD-ROM. His company was significantly successful. It was prosperous and dealt with educational software products in 1990.

With profits growing, Softkey aacquire The Learning Company (TLC) in 1995 for $600 million. Over the next two years that followed, the company faced losses though it acquired Broderbund for $400 million. He later sold TLC in 1999 for $4.2 billion. This sale was tagged the most disastrous acquisitions in history because Mattel did not makes profits but instead made losses that ended in a loss of $3 billion of shareholders value. It was a terrible loss, and O’Leary was sued for misleading the company which purchased TLC from him. The energetic businessman decided to invest in StorageNow Holdings and churned out $500,000 for his plan. He eventually sold his shares $4.5 million. Furthermore, he has also established several projects with some of them being ETF and investing, O’Leary Ventures, and O’Leary Funds which has a capital of over $1 billion capital.

Apart from owning businesses and investments, Kevin O’Leary has also made appearances on media. He has appeared on a number of television shows, namely Redemption Inc., The Lang and O’Leary Exchange, Discovery Project Earth, Shark Tank, and Dragons’ Den. He is also an author, with a number of books and articles credited to him.

Awards & Achievements

Apart from being a wealthy person, Kevin O’Leary has received accolades for his business contributions and his efforts in television shows. He has authored three books that are dedicated to helping people achieve financial success.

Personal Life & Family

O’Leary has been married to his wife Linda since 1990. Though they separated in 2011, they made up in 2014 and has lived peacefully since then. The couple has two children together.

Mr. O’Leary is currently 66 years old. He weighs 81kg and has a height of 177cm. He is known for his energetic style as well as for his expertise in the media. Due to his manner of approach with entrepreneurs and business tycoons in Shark Tank and Dragon’s Den, he has earned the nickname “Mr Wonderful”.

Kevin O’Leary Net Worth

Most of his fortune has come as a result of sales of his software products company. He also boosted his income by investing in numerous ventures which has made it possible for him to amass such wealth. Kevin resides in Toronto, but also spends time in his costly house in Boston. He also has many luxurious cars, including an Audi A5, a Rolls Royce, and Ford Mondeo.

Kevin O’Leary net worth and fame stems from his successful career as a businessman. He now has at least $450 million to his name. The Canadian business tycoon made his mark on the list of the world’s richest men by founding companies, making relevant investments, as well as appearing on television through several television shows. He also seems to be enjoying great success in other prestigious fields like politics and writing.