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The Shark Tank investor has a bone to pick — and it’s all about fairness.
Kevin O’Leary is calling out Chinese companies for what he says is a major double standard.
“Okay! You’re a Chinese company and you want to litigate a competitor in the United States. You can hire an American lawyer and sue the crap out of that American company,”
he said.
“Try and do that in China. You don’t have a reciprocal right to do that.”
But the real kicker? Chinese companies raising billions in U.S. markets while dodging the strict accounting rules that American firms must follow. O’Leary didn’t hold back:
“How is that even legal?”
From lawsuits to stock listings, O’Leary wants the same rules for everyone. And now that there’s a new SEC sheriff in town, he says, it’s time to act.
Shark Tank’s O’Leary says the U.S. system is too soft
O’Leary isn’t just making noise – he’s naming names. He pointed out that Chinese companies are flooding U.S. markets, listing on the Nasdaq and New York Stock Exchange, while ignoring U.S. accounting laws.
“There’s $800 billion worth of market capitalization of Chinese companies that don’t comply by American GAAP laws,”
he said.
“I have to comply. I have to pay millions of dollars to actually comply with the rules of the SEC… The Chinese guys don’t.”
This isn't just a money problem — it’s a fairness issue. The Shark Tank star sees a system that gives foreign companies a free pass while forcing American businesses to jump through expensive hoops.
And for someone who made his name demanding tough deals and no shortcuts, O’Leary’s frustration tracks.
“I’m trying to raise dollars. I’m competing with a Chinese company that doesn’t even comply.”
Legal rights? Only one side wins, says O’Leary
For O’Leary, it’s not just about market rules — it’s about legal power. And right now, he says, it’s lopsided.
“You want to litigate in America? Fine. But can I do the same in China? No, I can’t,”
he explained.
He wants reciprocity — a key business principle that if you can operate freely in one country, your competitors should be able to do the same in yours. But according to him, that’s not happening.
O’Leary’s Shark Tank persona has always centered around clean deals and straight talk. So it’s not surprising he’s pushing for a system where both sides—U.S. and Chinese firms—play by the same rules, both in the courtroom and on the trading floor.
“If you’re controlled by the Chinese Party,”
he said,
“you can’t use the American legal system. Not until you give us reciprocal rights.”
A new face at the SEC — and big expectations
O’Leary isn’t just venting. He’s already taken his concerns to Capitol Hill.
Enter Paul Atkins, the newly appointed head of the SEC. O’Leary says he met with him recently to push for stricter enforcement of an existing law — one that could shake things up for Chinese firms listed in the U.S.
“There’s a law on the books,”
O’Leary said,
“that was brought out four years ago by Rick Scott, Senator from Florida, that says: if you’re a Chinese company who doesn’t comply with GAAP, you have 24 to 36 months to comply.”
The Shark Tank star isn’t asking for new laws — just for the current one to be enforced.
“Let me take the law, make it 24 months. And if you don’t comply, you’re delisted.”
That’s the message he gave Atkins directly: enforce it or face backlash.
Senator Rick Scott puts pressure on regulators
O’Leary isn’t the only one sounding the alarm. Senator Rick Scott, the lawmaker behind the original bill, is also urging action.
“He sent [Atkins] a letter — he made it public last week — saying, ‘Hey, look. Do your job. Because if you don’t, I’m gonna make a lot of noise,’”
O’Leary said.
The Shark Tank investor praised the letter and said the ball is now in Atkins’ court.
“I asked him, ‘Hey, are you going to enforce this law?’ And he said, ‘Yeah, we’re going to start delisting these companies finally.’”
If the SEC follows through, it could mean serious consequences for Chinese firms that haven’t opened their books. It could also mean a more level playing field for American companies that do comply.
O’Leary’s takeaway?
“I got no problem competing with any company… that I have to play on the same level playing field with.”
O’Leary warns: Enforce it, or hear me roar
O’Leary closed his remarks with a warning shot: if the SEC doesn’t act, he will.
“I’ve had enough of the double standard, Chinese companies sue American firms in U.S. courts — but we can’t do the same in China,”
he said.
That kind of blunt, unapologetic talk is O’Leary’s trademark—on and off Shark Tank. And this time, it’s directed not at a startup, but at regulators and foreign markets.
Will the SEC follow through? Time will tell. But O’Leary, it seems, has no plans to let this go quietly.
What this means for Shark Tank-era investors
If you’re a casual investor who got into stocks thanks to Shark Tank, this issue could be more relevant than you think.
Many Chinese companies are publicly traded in the U.S., and some are found in major ETFs or mutual funds. If the SEC begins delisting non-compliant firms, it could create waves — both financially and politically.
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At the same time, O’Leary argues that long-term fairness will benefit everyone. For investors, clearer rules and equal compliance mean a more stable market.
The message from the Shark Tank mogul is simple: don’t give one side a free pass.
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