Credit: ABC Entertainment Press Site
Highlights
- Kevin O’Leary has established his name as the bold and blunt Shark.
- But he possesses a lot of other qualities that help him match up to the title of ‘Mr. Wonderful.’
- From banter with fellow Sharks to no-filter conversations with the entrepreneurs, Kevin has earned the attention of audiences for a variety of reasons.
Shark Tank, the Emmy award-winner show, is one of the few reality TV shows that stays relevant even after being broadcast for 15 consecutive years. With every passing year, viewers have found themselves connected to it better than ever. It is due to their fondness for the show that the panel of investors or Sharks have become renowned figures across the globe.
The audiences love each of the Sharks for their unique character traits. Out of them all, Kevin O’Leary is widely known for his harsh, blunt, and sometimes mean behavior. Over the many seasons of the show, he has emerged as the sarcastic investor who doesn’t shy away from openly dissing the entrepreneurs.
But then there have also been episodes where he has shown his soft side to the world by getting emotional about real-life stories of some entrepreneurs. It is due to the multi-range of emotions he brings to the show that he’s loved by many.
Here is a detailed account of all the times Kevin O’Leary lived up to “Mr. Wonderful:”
1. When Kevin Called the Founder of “Throx” A “Cockroach”
The harsh and brutal side of Kevin O’Leary became evident in one of its earliest seasons when entrepreneur Edwin Heaven came up with his creation ‘Throx.’
Seeking an investment of $50K for 25% of his firm, Edwin came up with Throx – the cure for the missing sock. The product ensemble consists of three socks so that even if you lose one you still have a pair. His pitch was one of the shortest ever in the history of Shark Tank where he went on to state that he’s made $38K in sales in one year. The Sharks weren’t impressed though.
Annoyed with both the product and the pitch, Kevin said that the big sock distributors can easily crush him like a “cockroach” as the idea can never be patented. They could sell the same product without facing any troubles, which would ultimately crush his market share. Giving his brutal feedback, ‘Mr. Wonderful’ marked himself out of the deal.
The other Sharks maintained a similar approach. So Edwin had to walk out without bagging any investment.
2.“I Buy a Broom for Barbara Every Year So She Could Fly Around.”
There have been numerous instances in the past 15 years when Kevin has shown that he’s got a funny side to him, which gets hidden beneath a tough exterior. Perhaps this is what makes him “Mr. Wonderful.” Here’s a detailed example of the same:
Seeking an investment worth $350K for 2.5% of their company, Trevor Lambert and John Vadnais came up with their pitch about VaBroom. This product appears as a broom but has a one cup capacity canister that just like a vacuum cleaner sucks up any debris on the floor.
When the entrepreneurs presented their samples, Kevin volunteered and tried the product then and there. Next came the negotiation, where they revealed that VaBroom pays a 5% royalty to the design firm. None of the Sharks seemed much interested in making an investment offer.
It is then that Kevin said “All roads lead to Mr. Wonderful” and that he got interested the minute they mentioned “royalty.” He offered $350K with a $3 royalty till the time he recoups $700,000 alongside a 2.5% of the design firm. After some discussions, the deal was locked at the same offer.
Towards the end, Kevin showed his humorous side saying that “I Buy A Broom for Barbara Every Year So She Could Fly Around.” Everyone in the room burst out in laughter.
3. “I’ll Make An Offer Because I Hate Greed”
This episode revealed the straightforwardness of Kevin O’Leary, which is what makes him ‘Mr. Wonderful.’
Nadine Habayeb came up to the tank seeking $200K for 10% equity in her product named Bohana, a delicious snack made out of popped water lily seeds. Describing its many nutritional aspects, Nadine claimed that the product contains 50% more protein, fewer fats & calories, and no kernels.
But when it came to the negotiations, Mark said he was not excited enough about the product and so was out. Rohan and Lori opted out as well. Barbara made the first offer of $200 for 30% equity. On hearing this, Mr. Wonderful brought out his prankish side by calling her ‘greedy.’ Further, he said that the business was still in its early stages so Barbara would be a good partner. To this, she replied, “I don’t need you as my salesman.”
And then the banter continued with Kevin saying “I’ll Make An Offer Because I Hate Greed.” He even admitted that he was making the offer just to “mess with Barabara” as she said bad things to him. Nadine finally locked the deal with Kevin’s offer of $200K as a loan at 9% interest, which would continue over three years in return for an 8% equity stake.
To Conclude
Kevin O’Leary is an experienced business mogul who possesses a wide range of qualities that make him stand out among a panel of other well-known Sharks. He may come across as a tough individual due to his feisty encounters with entrepreneurs and fellow Sharks on the show. But over the years he has revealed his humorous and witty side as well, which makes him live up to the label of “Mr. Wonderful.”
Entrepreneur, auteur, raconteur. Rob Merlino is a blogger and writer who enjoys the Shark Tank TV show and Hot Dogs. A father of five who freelances in a variety of publications, Rob has a stable of websites including Shark Tank Blog, Hot Dog Stories, Rob Merlino.com and more.
Speak Your Mind