Shark Tank investor Kevin O'Leary recently opened up about why he thinks divorce is the top destroyer of one's wealth. In a candid conversation with Fox News, talking about something that many might deem an uncomfortable conversation, Kevin stepped up.
He revealed that infidelity, which is often believed to be the reason for divorce, is not. What everything boils down to is money and financial stress.
Kevin says that he was under the assumption that marriages end due to infidelity. However, his entire thesis changed when he was doing research for his book called 'Men, Women & Money.'
He had met with numerous divorce lawyers who revealed that the majority of the cases they get are not due to cheating but due to the stress related to money problems. He explained that the issue originates from when one person "outspends" the other in a relationship. Talking about the same, he said,
"You know, I wrote this book years ago called 'Men, Women, Money.' When I was researching and I went to divorce lawyers, I thought infidelity was the reason people got divorced.
He added,
Most marriages end after 5 years, 50% of them. And it turns out, it has nothing to do with infidelity, and it has everything to do with financial stress. When one partner outspends the other, that's why you get divorced."
Shark Tank investor Kevin O'Leary advocates for smart marriage decisions
Kevin O'Leary, the Shark Tank investor, advises couples to approach marriage as though they are entering a business partnership, which includes mutual goals and shared responsibilities.
He draws similarities to having a child, but it is not a physical baby, instead, he calls the money a metaphorical kid. He reveals that couples tend to neglect it and focus solely on love. However, these practical considerations inevitably surface later on in the marriage and can cause issues. Explaining, he said,
"And what I figured out, and I believe this to be true, and I tell everybody getting married, there's a first child you have at the table, even though no one's been born yet. It's called Mr. Money. And you've got to take care of that child. You're creating a business."
He added,
"When you get married, it's a financial union; that's what families do to each other. And so, you've got to start thinking about who I'm marrying? Do we have the same financial goals? Are we going to get there together? Or is my significant other going to spend me into debt?"
The Shark Tank investor did not hold back while talking about the aftermath of divorce either. He revealed that an individual's wealth starts decreasing in geometric progression after each other.
According to him, a lot goes into handling the financial aspects of a divorce, and then the individual starts all over again with a new marriage, but this time, with only half of the assets they had before.
Shark Tank season 16 episodes release weekly on ABC at 8 PM Eastern Time on Fridays. They are later available to watch on Hulu.