If you've been tuning into Shark Tank for a while, you know what to expect from the investors. There's Mark Cuban, the tech-savvy billionaire who's like the cool uncle everyone loves. Then there's Barbara Corcoran, the pint-sized powerhouse with an energy that could light up a stadium. And don't forget Robert Herjavec, the guy who's always got a calm, collected approach to every deal. But Kevin O'Leary? Well, let's just say he's not exactly the warm and fuzzy type. In fact, his nickname, "Mr. Wonderful," seems like the opposite of what you'd expect.
Kevin O'Leary, the Canadian businessman, has carved out his own niche on the show. He's the guy who's blunt, sarcastic, and always focused on the bottom line. It's easy to dismiss his licensing deals as unappealing, but you can't ignore the fact that the man knows how to make money. He's co-founded some pretty big names in the business world, like Softkey, a former software giant, and O'Leary Funds, a mutual fund powerhouse. Still, the origin of his nickname remains a mystery—so let's dive into the story straight from the man himself.
From left: Barbara Corcoran, Daymond John, Mark Cuban, Kevin O’Leary, Robert Herjavec, and Lori Greiner.
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The Origin Story of "Mr. Wonderful"
Kevin has shared a few different versions of how he earned the nickname "Mr. Wonderful," but they all lead back to one person: Barbara Corcoran. Here's the thing—neither Kevin nor his fellow sharks can pinpoint exactly when it all started. They're still searching for that elusive tape from Season 1 where they think it all went down. "You know, it might have been Barbara. She flew in on her broom that morning and she was in a nasty mood. That’s what happened," Kevin joked to Entertainment Weekly.
Later, Kevin confirmed that it was indeed Barbara who gave him the moniker during a particularly tough negotiation in 2009. "Barbara said, 'Well aren’t you Mr. Wonderful?' and I said, 'You know what Barbara, I am!'" he told Boston Magazine. And just like that, the name stuck. So much so that people rarely call him Kevin anymore. He went on to say, "I show up at hotels and my reservation is under the name Mr. Wonderful. They don’t even know my real name. That’s just nuts!"
