Kevin O'Leary Paid A Woman On 'Shark Tank' $250K To 'Get Her Out Of Here,' Then Made Millions Off Idea He Called 'Stupid'

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Jeannine Mancini

Thu, Mar 27, 2025, 7:00 AM 4 min read

Kevin O'Leary fired disconnected a post connected X earlier this period that was portion confession, portion humblebrag. It started with a feline swab and ended with millions successful his pocket. In classical Mr. Wonderful fashion, helium admitted helium erstwhile wrote a $250,000 check—not due to the fact that helium loved the pitch, but due to the fact that helium wanted it to spell away.

"A pistillate pitched maine a feline DNA test... for $29," helium posted. "I laughed. I told her, ‘I tin bargain a caller feline for 5 bucks.' But she wouldn't springiness up. So I wrote a $250K cheque conscionable to get escaped of her."

The pistillate was Anna Skaya. The company? Basepaws. On the surface, it looked similar a gimmick—genetic investigating for your cat. But underneath the fluff was a superior play successful DNA information collection. And O'Leary? He cashed retired hard.

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In the video clip attached to the X post, helium explained that erstwhile Skaya archetypal appeared connected "Shark Tank" successful 2019, she pitched her swab-and-send kit to assistance favored owners larn much astir their cat's genetics, wellness risks, and fare needs. O'Leary mocked the idea. "No 1 is going to springiness you a dime. This is simply a anserine idea," helium told her. But her transportation didn't fizzle—it wore him down.

"For $250,000 I tin conscionable get her retired of here," helium joked. So helium went successful connected the deal.

Three years later: "All currency exit. I made a fortune." Or, arsenic helium enactment it much colorfully, "I made a sh*tload of money."

It wasn't the archetypal clip O'Leary revisited the transportation that sounded ridiculous but made him millions. On "The Daniel Mac Show" successful July 2023, O'Leary recounted the absurdity: "A pistillate comes connected with a Q-tip and says, ‘For $29.95, I tin widen your cat's beingness 20 to 30%.' I said, ‘Wait a minute. I tin bargain a caller feline for 2 bucks. Why would I walk $29.95?'"

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And yet, helium admitted, "It was specified a brainsick pitch, I bought it anyway. She was truthful compelling." He estimated helium paid astir $50,000 for a 3.5% stake. It's worthy noting that fig doesn't lucifer the $250,000 for 5% helium mentioned connected Shark Tank and successful his caller X post, leaving it unclear whether the woody presumption changed down the scenes.