Terence Thomas Kevin O’Leary is best known for his appearances on Canada’s ‘Dragon’s Den’ and America’s ‘Shark Tank.’ Often referred to as “Mr. Wonderful”, has Kevin O’Leary’s love life been wonderful too? Today we are going on the hunt to find out everything there is to know about it!
Kevin O’Leary is married to his only wife, Linda O’Leary. They wed in 1990 and, during the course of their three-decade-long marriage, have been through many trying times – including separating and almost getting a divorce in 2011.
Being married for such a long time comes with the many ups and downs of life. Let’s take a deep dive into this Shark’s path to wedded bliss.
Is Kevin O’Leary Married?
Although Kevin is known worldwide now, he was not always the most ruthless Dragon in the Den. Born in Montreal, Canada, Kevin describes his family as being middle class. His parents divorced at a young age and his mother went on to marry the man who would be his stepdad, George Kanawaty. Kevin learned his investment lessons from his mother, who taught him to save a third of his money.
Kevin and Linda O’Leary met at the gym while Kevin was resting on a workout machine. Linda walked up to him, nudged his shoulder, and told him he needed to get off the machine so someone else could use it.
Linda worked for the gym that Kevin was a member of, and he would actively look for her every time he was there for a workout session. Finally getting a few chances to speak to Linda, Kevin found out that she already had a boyfriend!
Once Kevin stopped pursuing her, Linda became intrigued by him and found a way to get on the guest list for the house party Kevin and his roommates were having. As soon as they started talking, they immediately clicked. After that party, the two were considered a couple, and Linda’s previous boyfriend was left in the dust.
Why Did Kevin and Linda O’Leary Split?
The one thing Kevin recommends to couples is to have a long engagement. This is to fully understand the person you are going to make a lifelong commitment to. Having the tough talks about life beliefs, raising children and finances helped him and Linda avoid the future arguments that couples who were engaged for a shorter period have.
He is quoted saying “We weren’t starry-eyed kids rushing full tilt down the aisle. We had tested our relationship, figured out our core compatibilities, and made a plan for a partnership that would last.” So with having such a sure thing, what caused their split for two years?
2011 seemed to be a tough year for the couple when they announced that they were getting a divorce. This was chalked up to Kevin’s extreme working lifestyle which has driven a wedge in their marriage. They both lived in separate homes for the two years they were separated and preparing to finalize the divorce.
Once they reached the stage of dividing the assets they had accumulated in their marriage, the pair decided to give their relationship another try, and have remained happily married to this day.
Who is Linda O’Leary?
Linda O’Leary, nee Greer, is not only Kevin’s wife, she is also the Vice President of marketing at O’Leary Fine Wines. Having married Kevin after a six-year-long engagement, Linda supports her husband in all of his business endeavors and even has time to sit on the board of directors for the National Ballet of Canada.
Apart from her appearances in the media revolving around Kevin, Linda received a string of bad press relating to the boat accident that took place in 2019. She had been driving the boat when the accident occurred and had allegedly been found with alcohol on her breath.
After a two-year-long trial, Linda was found not guilty in 2021 by the court justice, Richard Humprey, who delivered his verdict and noted that the lights of the boat that Linda crashed into were off at the time of the collision, effectively deeming the boat invisible in the night.
It would seem that no one is exempt from some tragedy in their lives, no matter the balance of your bank account. Linda walked away from a crash that claimed the lives of two people. Does she count her lucky stars every night before she counts her dollars?