Kevin O'Leary gets emotional recalling how Mark Cuban saved him from prison over $2M debt
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Kevin O’Leary, best known as 'Mr Wonderful' on 'Shark Tank', opened up in a raw and emotional moment, shedding tears as he recounted how fellow shark Mark Cuban "saved" him from facing prison over a $2 million debt.
Speaking with Chris Wallace on 'Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace,' O'Leary shared a story of Cuban’s swift and selfless support during a critical time in his life.
Kevin O'Leary details his $2 million debt from failed Conservative leadership run in Canada
Kevin O'Leary explained how his 2017 run for leadership of Canada’s Conservative Party left him with an overwhelming financial burden.
"I was leading in the polls, dramatically, until I hit Quebec. I’m dyslexic, I’ll never learn French. And it also leads to a story about Mark Cuban that is very important when people pit us against each other, a lot" he admitted, detailing how his campaign failure landed him $2 million in debt.
“In the Canadian system, you have to pay back your losses if, if you’re a loser in a race at $1,600 per contribution by only Canadian citizens, you can’t pay back your own debt, and if you fail to do it in 24 months, you can be put in prison," he explained.
Mark Cuban flies to Kevin O'Leary's rescue without hesitation
"I was $2 million in the hole, and I wanted to write the check and just clear the books, and the government said, ‘No, you can’t do that. You’re going to be subject to the laws of the land.'" That’s when O'Leary turned to Cuban for help. "I called up Mark. I said, ‘Mark, I’m in trouble here.’"
Without hesitation, Cuban flew to Canada to help organize a fundraising event that cleared O'Leary's debt. "He didn’t even blink. He was on the plane the next day. He never even questioned it. He said, ‘Where do I have to be? I’ll be there. So," O'Leary said, his voice cracking with emotion. "I owe him a lot. He saved my a*s."
Kevin O’Leary says Kamala Harris is 'all sugar, no protein' over her policies
As Kevin O’Leary fought back tears, Wallace remarked, "Well, I did not have that on my bingo card, Mr Wonderful, uh, getting emotional." While the conversation was heartfelt, O'Leary quickly pivoted back to business, sharing his views on the upcoming presidential election.
He compared Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump, noting that while he knows the latter's policies, he remains critical of Harris for not engaging in detailed economic discussions. "She’s all sugar, no protein," O'Leary quipped.
