Kevin O'Leary Respects AOC and Elizabeth Warren. Says, 'Business Is Tough, But Politics? That's A Whole New Level Of Insanity'

Kevin O'Leary, known as “Mr. Wonderful” from Shark Tank, is famous for his sharp business skills and blunt attitude. However, he has newfound respect for people who enter the political sphere.

In a recent interview, O’Leary discussed political figures such as Elizabeth Warren and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) and explained why politics is a completely different challenge than business.

Don't Miss:

While Kevin O'Leary doesn't shy away from criticizing political policies, especially when they threaten capitalism, he's got respect for people like Trump, AOC and Elizabeth Warren. "I have a lot of respect for them," O’Leary said. "Because I know what that’s like – it's brutal. It’s unbelievably brutal."

O’Leary, who once considered running for Prime Minister in Canada, quickly realized that politics is not for the weak. He admits that the political world is way tougher than most people think. “In politics, 50% of the population hate you, and some of them want to kill you,” he said. “That's the difference.”


Trending: The global games market is projected to generate $272B by the end of the year — for $0.55/share, this VC-backed startup with a 7M+ userbase gives investors easy access to this asset market.


Politics takes criticism to a new level for someone like O'Leary, who's no stranger to being criticized for his blunt approach. "In celebrity, some people don’t like you. In politics, 50% of the population hate you," O'Leary explained. And it’s not just disliking you – they'll try to undermine your every move.

O’Leary can’t help but admire politicians for their tenacity and hard work despite political differences. He understands that working in this field puts you under constant strain and that everything you say and do is scrutinized, attacked, or supported depending on the day and the audience. "You don't know it until you're in it, and then you realize, ‘Whoa, this is crazy.'"


Trending: Amid the ongoing EV revolution, previously overlooked low-income communities now harbor a huge investment opportunity at just $500.


"Anybody thinking about doing that should really do some soul-searching about is this what I want to do," O'Leary said, acknowledging the toll politics takes on a person's life. And even though he said of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, “I don't like that guy,” he added, "You've got to respect the success he's had."

Recalling that he wasn’t ready for the political world, O’Leary remarks, “I don’t know what the hell I was thinking.” His wife’s response when he revealed his political aspirations was also less than thrilled: “Are you crazy? Are you out of your mind?" So, although he might be skilled in business, O’Leary saw that politics required a very different approach.

Read Next:

Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
Comments
Loading...
Posted In: Personal FinanceAOCKevin O’Learynews accessPersonal Finance Access
Benzinga simplifies the market for smarter investing

Trade confidently with insights and alerts from analyst ratings, free reports and breaking news that affects the stocks you care about.

Join Now: Free!