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

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’

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”.