Kevin O' Leary Says By 33, You Should Have $100,000 Saved 'Somewhere' — 'That's the Age When it's Really Time to Start Getting Focused'

Everyone's got an opinion on how much you should have saved by your 30s—but Kevin O'Leary isn't just tossing around vague advice. The "Shark Tank" investor wrote in an August LinkedIn post:

"I tell young people all the time, by the time you hit 33 years old you should have at least $100,000 saved somewhere. Make that your goal. That’s the age when it’s really time to start getting FOCUSED on saving. You want to be in a good place when you’re 65, but it starts now!"

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That number might sound ambitious, especially in today's economy, but it lines up with what other financial heavyweights are preaching. Fidelity recommends having at least one year's salary banked by age 30, then doubling it by 35. T. Rowe Price suggests saving 15% of your income every year starting in your 20s. In other words—$100,000 isn't some wild outlier. It's more like the bare minimum to stay in the game.

The question is, can you actually get there?

Let's say you earn $55,000 a year. You'd need to save around $450 a month for ten years straight—not including investment returns—to cross that six-figure line. It's tight, but doable with a 401(k) match, no major debt, and some serious consistency. But it's not just about the number. It's about what that first $100,000 represents.

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The late Charlie Munger put it plainly back in the 1990s: "The first $100,000 is a b***, but you gotta do it."* He wasn't being dramatic—he was being real. That first milestone is what flips the switch. After that, compounding steps in, and the heavy lifting shifts from your paycheck to your portfolio. With a 7% return, $100,000 invested at 33 turns into over $760,000 by retirement—with zero additional contributions.

Some experts say the first $100,000 isn't just a financial milestone—it's a psychological one. It proves you can delay gratification, build habits, and actually stick to a plan. That kind of discipline pays off way beyond your bank balance.

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O'Leary didn't say you need it in any one place. He's not pushing stocks over crypto or preaching about index funds versus real estate. In fact, he's spoken publicly about owning Bitcoin, calling it a legitimate asset class and even part of his long-term portfolio. Still, he's been clear it's not about choosing the "right" vehicle—it's about having the discipline to put money somewhere and let it grow. Whether it's in a Roth IRA or a Bitcoin wallet, the key is getting started early.

So whether you hit $100,000 at 33, 38, or 43, the point is to start. Because in the long run, it's not the perfect plan that wins—it's the one you actually follow.

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