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Kevin O’Leary isn’t known for sugarcoating advice, and in true Shark Tank fashion, his latest money talk is all about taking risks, slashing debt, and building financial freedom like your future depends on it. Because, well, it does.
“I wrote a book about this called Men, Women & Money,”
O’Leary shared, diving into his philosophy on long-term wealth.
“You can take horrendous amounts of risk because your time is yours,”
he said, pointing to the golden opportunity in your 20s. But once mortgages and kids enter the picture? The game changes pretty fast.
It’s a plan built not on fast money, but smart money.
Why Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary says your 20s are for risk
Kevin O’Leary wants young adults to know one thing: now is the time to go big.
“You start your business if you can be an entrepreneur, you can take horrendous amounts of risk,” he said.
That’s because, according to O’Leary, your time in your 20s is all yours. No mortgage. No kids. No real ties. Just freedom, and that freedom is an asset.
That’s where the Shark Tank mindset kicks in. O’Leary encourages taking those big swings early, when the downside isn’t as steep. Trying and failing is still growth, and learning to build something is part of the long game. The stakes are lower when you don’t have dependents or big bills.
It’s the same principle we’ve seen play out on Shark Tank; some of the most successful founders took their shot early. O’Leary wants you to do the same, with strategy.
The middle years are for getting lean, not flashy
If your 20s are for risk, your 30s and 40s are for realism.
“You really gotta think about what you’re doing,” O’Leary said.
The entrepreneurial energy doesn’t stop, but your choices need to evolve.
By this stage, most people are balancing more than just dreams. There are mortgages, kids, partners, and responsibilities that don’t go away after a failed pitch. O’Leary emphasizes teamwork with your significant other:
“You and your spouse or the significant other [are] building this family together in a pillar of strength around financial independence.”
Translation? Cut the lifestyle creep. Get serious about debt. Don’t just make more money, make it work harder. In the world of Shark Tank, it’s like moving from early-stage hustle to scaling smartly. The risks you took in your 20s should start to pay off, but only if you keep the overhead low and your mindset sharp.
The goal: be debt-free by your 50s
There’s no sugarcoating this one. Shark Tank's Kevin O’Leary says it plainly:
“You gotta get rid of your debts in your 40s, you got to pay off your mortgages.”
It’s not a nice-to-have, it’s a must. The payoff? Freedom.
By your 50s and 60s, O’Leary’s vision is clear. No debt. No mortgage. No monthly scramble. Just you and your investments, working in your favor. It’s not about retiring on a beach with a yacht. It’s about having options, and no one knocking on your door asking for money.
O’Leary’s advice echoes what we often see in the post-investment world of Shark Tank. Founders who build lean and think long-term are the ones who survive. They’re not living check to check. They’re not chasing trends. They’re in it for the independence.
And you can be too, if you start early and stay focused.
Invest early and watch it snowball
Here’s where the math kicks in. According to O’Leary, even an average salary can turn into a serious nest egg.
“If you only have an average salary of $58,000, if you just took 15% of that and invested it, that investing that you started in your 20s would be worth about a million and a half dollars,” he explained.
Let that sink in. Just 15% a year, consistently, could bring in seven figures over time. No fancy side hustles. No market timing. Just a consistent habit.
It’s the kind of practical wealth-building advice that mirrors the best Shark Tank pitches: not always flashy, but always scalable. O’Leary’s formula isn’t complicated, but it does require patience and discipline, two things most people overlook while chasing quick wins.
The earlier you start, the easier the compound magic works. But the key is starting and sticking with it.
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So, whether you're 22 or 42, Kevin asks: Are you building your financial fortress? Or are you just hoping someone else invests in your life?
Because as every shark knows, the best investment you can make... is in yourself.
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