Kevin O'Leary, investor and entrepreneur known commonly for his role on ABC's "Shark Tank," recently sparked some mixed reactions after dishing out advice on The Iced Coffee Hour podcast.
As a guest of the show, O'Leary was invited to discuss financial tips as well as his personal success as an entrepreneur.
One piece of advice, however, quickly gained attention online for all the wrong reasons.
"Take 20% of your salary of $69,000 and put it into the market each week and don't touch it," O'Leary said in reference to becoming a millionaire with a $69,000 salary.
Kevin O'Leary reveals you'll become a millionaire on $69,000/year by investing 20% of your paycheck each week👀
— The Iced Coffee Hour (@TheICHpodcast) March 29, 2026
"Take 20% of your salary of $69,000 and put it into the market each week and don't touch it" pic.twitter.com/jAjtG2loBa
One X account, centered on grievances with the modern-day labor market, reposted the clip of O'Leary's suggestion.
"Guys, it's simple, I know you can't afford anything as it is but if you just put away a measly $1200 a month for the next 22 years, you'll have a million dollars," they quipped, alluding to the subtext of O'Leary's tone. "My watch costs $800,000. I'm very in touch with middle class finances."
The backlash comes on the heels of fellow business elites and celebrities sharing seemingly simple advice for the average person while simultaneously boasting luxurious lifestyles aboard massive yachts and in private jets.
These lifestyles directly influence communities worldwide as they require harmful practices like the burning of fossil fuels and excessive use of valuable resources, contributing to global warming and more severe weather conditions.
The advice is doubly troubling, as basic necessities like groceries and gas increase in price as a direct result of crops failing in extreme weather conditions, making O'Leary's statements appear even more out of touch for the average American.
For those living more paycheck to paycheck, financial experts generally advise seeking out a high-yield savings account to earn over 3% interest while retaining full access to that money. Options include those offered by SoFi and GreenFi — the latter of which invests in growing trees and both of which have higher profit margins and cause lower pollution than traditional banks through reduced physical locations.
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Save $1,000 this year 💸 Commenters did not hesitate to agree about the sentiment toward the unrealistic advice, especially given that the stock market has had a terrible 2026 thus far — money invested in the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones, for example, has lost nearly 5% since Jan. 1.
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"I'm not going to take financial advice from a guy who hasn't known the price of groceries since 1985 …" one user stated.
Another joked, "Have you considered not buying food?"
One commenter pointed out flaws with O'Leary's suggestion, regardless of whether or not one has the money to invest to begin with.
"It also assumes you can pick stocks that never go down, and there is never a recession, and you never get laid off," they said.
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