You think you’re special because you can hit a ball? You’re a callow little hustler, Marty. You’re a line item on my balance sheet, and right now, you’re in the red,” says the villainous Milton Rockwell character, artfully portrayed by Kevin O’Leary in the Academy Award-nominated feature film “Marty Supreme.” It’s a line that echoes the cold, harsh style Kevin has perfected on the Emmy-winning reality television show, “Shark Tank.” Referred to as the show’s definitive “breakout star,” he is rarely seen out of his signature uniform, a bespoke suit reflecting discipline, sophistication, and success. Yet one must wonder: Does his merciless attitude reflect the real Kevin O’Leary or is it simply one layer of his clever, personified brand?
The answer is as multifaceted as Kevin himself. Like other wildly successful individuals who have made a mark across a range of disciplines, Kevin’s persona is an amalgam of life experiences, lessons learned and a unique dose of self-confidence that set him on his path from an early age.
