Kevin O'Leary, best known as "Mr. Wonderful" on “Shark Tank,” says the show's global popularity has given him direct access to world leaders. According to O'Leary, he can cold-call top officials—including crown princes—and they actually call him back.
"I knew Shark Tank was big, but I didn't realize its global reach until I started cold-calling world leaders—and they called me back," O'Leary said in a recent post on social media. "Now, I pitch billion-dollar deals from the U.S. to Saudi Arabia. Why wouldn't I use that to my advantage?"
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The Global Power of Shark Tank
O'Leary, who refers to himself as an ambassador for entrepreneurship, says he works with politicians across party lines in the U.S. and connects with leaders worldwide. He claims that "Shark Tank" is a top-rated show in countries like Sweden, Denmark, England, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. That international reach, he says, allows him to make big deals happen.
"I started to test it by just saying, ‘Okay, who's the Crown Prince of XYZ country? I'm just going to call them and see what happens,'" he explained. "They call me back, and I say, ‘Look, I want to bring over a project. I need $2 billion for it. I'm investing my own money beside it.' They say, ‘Sure, come on over.'"
O'Leary sees no reason not to leverage that kind of access. "Yeah, that works," he said. "So now it's getting more interesting. I don't think there's a country anywhere in the world that doesn't know who Mr. Wonderful is."
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From Business to TV Stardom
O'Leary's blunt, no-nonsense approach has made him one of the most polarizing figures on "Shark Tank." But that same attitude is what landed him on the show in the first place. After selling The Learning Company for billions, he was working with a private-equity firm when "Shark Tank" creator Mark Burnett called him.
"Burnett told me they were looking for someone who was ‘a real a**hole,'" O'Leary recalled. "That's who I am. I just tell the truth."
That tough-love persona has helped expand his brand beyond business. Whether people love or hate him, they listen to what he says.
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Three Passports, One Goal
O'Leary's international business dealings are also helped by his multiple citizenships. He holds three passports—Canadian, Irish, and UAE—each giving him different advantages.
He was born in Canada, giving him citizenship by birthright. His Irish passport comes through descent, allowing him to live and work in the EU. His UAE citizenship, granted by exception to people it believes will benefit its economy, aligns with his frequent business ventures in the region.
With his multiple citizenships, O'Leary enjoys the benefits of tax-friendly policies in the UAE, unrestricted EU access for business, and global credibility.
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