ECONOMY & WORK
MONEY 101
NEWS
PERSONAL FINANCE
NET WORTH
About Us Contact Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use DMCA Opt-out of personalized ads
© Copyright 2023 Market Realist. Market Realist is a registered trademark. All Rights Reserved. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.
MARKETREALIST.COM / ECONOMY & WORK

'Shark Tank' judge Kevin O'Leary blasts contestants for rejecting a deal, then calls them 'bozos'

After the contestants said no to a high-value investor deal, Mr. Wonderful said he had lost all respect for them.
PUBLISHED AUG 14, 2025
Screenshots showing Kevin O'Leary and the entrepreneurs on "Shark Tank" (Cover image source: YouTube | Sony Pictures Television)
Screenshots showing Kevin O'Leary and the entrepreneurs on "Shark Tank" (Cover image source: YouTube | Sony Pictures Television)

Over the years, Kevin O’Leary has built a reputation on "Shark Tank" for being one of the most ruthless investors ever. If it’s a good product with decent numbers, Mr. Wonderful will dedicate his time and effort to making it a success. However, if the company has an unrealistic valuation, he will tear into the entrepreneurs. In an earlier episode of the show, he did just that and then said that he had no respect for them after they turned down a mega deal.

The company was called The Players Trunk, and it had a team of four entrepreneurs. They sought $650,000 for a 5% stake in their business. What the company did was make merchandise of college athletes and sell them to fans. A lot of these athletes do not even know that a company has made merchandise relating to them, like jerseys, and sells them without paying them any money.

One of the four partners was such an athlete. The entrepreneurs also claimed to have over 800 amateur and collegiate athletes signed up for their program. After these athletes complete college and graduate, they can sell their merchandise at a higher price as they become vintage. It was a decent business model, and the Sharks liked the idea. The problem was their valuation, which was simply astronomical.

Screenshot showing the entrepreneurs making their pitch. (Image credit: YouTube | Sony Pictures Television)
Screenshot showing the entrepreneurs making their pitch. (Image source: YouTube | Sony Pictures Television)

The company had only been in existence for a year at the time of taping, but had roped in $1.3 million in sales. This was a good figure, but it did not even come close to justifying the $13 million valuation. O’Leary was stunned by what the entrepreneurs had asked for and did not hold back. The founders said that they had an investment from a credible venture capital firm, but it was not enough to convince Mr. Wonderful.

“I think that’s a crazy valuation. Now look, maybe they are putting other people’s money to work, but this is my money. I don’t do stupid deals. This deal is stupid. Guys, I’m out, “ he said. This might have been disheartening, but Mark Cuban and guest shark Kevin Hart almost immediately came in with their offer. They, too, believed the valuation to be unrealistic and offered $650,000 for 30% equity.

Screenshot showing Mark Cuban and Kevin Hart discussing a deal. (Image credit: YouTube | Sony Pictures Television)
Screenshot showing Mark Cuban and Kevin Hart discussing a deal. (Image source: YouTube | Sony Pictures Television)

Now, it is important to remember that when it comes to any sports-related business, no one is a better Shark than Cuban. The investor owns professional sports teams and interacts with pro-athletes regularly. These connections in the sports industry are gold. Hart, on the other hand, is a global superstar with brand deals worth millions from all over the world. Striking a deal with them might have shot The Players Trunk to the stars.

However, the entrepreneurs did not want to give up so much of their business and countered with $750,000 for 7.5% equity. This was immediately rejected, and O’Leary had had enough. “Guys, I also respected you until you turned that offer down. Now, I think you’re bozos,” he said. None of the other Sharks made them any offers either.

More on Market Realist:

'Shark Tank' judge Kevin O'Leary demands higher stake from contestants who made him wait for a deal

'Shark Tank' contestants convince Mark Cuban to close $150,000 deal after he initially rejected them

'Shark Tank' contestants convince Mark Cuban to invest $1.75 million even after he shook his head

RELATED TOPICS SHARK TANK
MORE ON MARKET REALIST
Mr. Wonderful did not want to be flexible but the entrepreneur made him an irrefutable offer.
10 hours ago
Some believe the strategy to be too cruel, while others believe that it was a gamble on winning.
11 hours ago
The contestant had her hands raised in celebration, only to be left disappointed and red-faced.
12 hours ago
In a recent video on Instagram, the current host of the show harshly criticized his own clothing choices.
1 day ago
The shark believed that he was the best man for the job and got the deal he wanted.
1 day ago
Fans of the show were disappointed with the loss but it was still a good attempt.
2 days ago
Mr. Wonderful said that he wanted to make things interesting and changed his offer at the last minute.
2 days ago
The contestant had said at first that he wasn't worried about the consequences.
2 days ago
The host spoke during the time alloted to the contestant to answer, causing it to run out.
2 days ago
The contestant did not expect the game to have such a twist and was over the moon.
2 days ago
The contestant was quicker than most people who find the round challenging.
3 days ago
The guest wanted way too much money from Harrison for the car, and the latter said no.
3 days ago
Steve Harvey could not control his laughter after hearing the answer for several seconds.
3 days ago
The entrepreneurs had a good reputation as they had founded a successful ice-cream brand earlier.
3 days ago
The contestant had played well to get to the bonus round with more than $22,000 in the purse.
3 days ago
The showrunners asked the question and the contestants had fun with it.
4 days ago
The whole train set was made in the 1920s by one of the most iconic toy companies of all time.
4 days ago
Harvey had hoped for one person to answer, and not five people all at once.
4 days ago
Seven-day champion Paolo Pasco also ended up losing his crown to Steven Olsen in the episode.
4 days ago