The Life and Business Career of Kevin O’Leary

June 1, 2024

Kevin O’Leary, also known as “Mr. Wonderful,” is a Canadian businessman, investor, and television personality. He was born on July 9, 1954 in Montreal, Quebec and grew up in a modest middle-class family. As a teenager, O’Leary displayed an entrepreneurial spirit by setting up various small ventures such as selling Christmas trees and trading stocks. He went on to study at the University of Waterloo and then completed an MBA at the prestigious University of Western Ontario.

After graduation, O’Leary worked in various entry level positions before starting his own software company, SoftKey, in 1986. The company eventually became one of the largest educational software companies in the world and O’Leary made his first million at the age of 32. In 2003, SoftKey was acquired by The Learning Company for $606 million, making O’Leary a multi-millionaire. It was during this time that O’Leary started to gain recognition as a business expert and was invited to appear on several TV shows as a commentator. He eventually landed his own show called “Red Means Go” where he gave advice to struggling businesses. Today, O’Leary is best known for his role on the hit show “Shark Tank” where he invests in and advises up-and-coming entrepreneurs.