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Kevin O’Leary sheds tears as he remembers how Mark Cuban “saved” him from $2 million in debt.

Kevin O’Leary sheds tears as he remembers how Mark Cuban “saved” him from  million in debt.

Kevin O’Leary shed tears and shared an anecdote about a time his “Shark Tank” co-star Mark Cuban “saved” him from potentially spending time in prison because of a $2 million debt.

“I have a lot to thank him for. He saved my ass,” O’Leary told Chris Wallace on the CNN Max-based series “Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace.” At that time, Wallace inquired about O’Leary’s involvement in Canadian politics.

“In 2017 you ran for leader of the Conservative Party and dropped out at the last minute because you didn’t speak French well enough,” Wallace explained.

O’Leary then described how his campaign ended up leaving him a few million in debt after he lost his campaign.

“I was dramatically ahead in the polls until I reached Quebec. I am dyslexic and will never learn French. And it also leads to a story about Mark Cuban, which is very important when people often pit us against each other,” O’Leary explained. “In the Canadian system, if, as a loser in a race for $1,600 per contribution made only by Canadian citizens, you cannot repay your own debts, and if you do not do so in 24 months, you must repay your losses be put in prison. I was $2 million in the hole, and I wanted to write the check and just balance the books, and the government said, ‘No, you can’t do that. You’re going to be subject to the laws of the land.'”

O’Leary continued that he then decided to call Cuban and ask him for help.

“I called Mark. I said, “Mark, I’m in trouble here.” I need to put on an event where I can sell a lot of tickets to a lot of attendees, and I need you to fly here and stand next to me on stage.” He didn’t even blink. The next day he was on a plane. He never questioned it. He said, “Where do I have to be?” I’ll be there. So…” O’Leary said, pausing as tears began to fall.

“Give me a moment,” O’Leary says, trying to gather his emotions.

Wallace chimed in as O’Leary collected himself and said, “Well, I didn’t have that on my bingo card, Mr. Wonderful, uh, I’m getting emotional.”

“Anyway, I have a lot to thank him for. He saved my ass,” O’Leary said as he pulled himself together and dried his eyes.

Back to business: The investor also shared his thoughts on who he believes would “create a better economy” over the next four years between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. He said he knew Trump’s policies, but not Harris’s.

“My big problem, I don’t know Harris’ politics,” he told Wallace. “She’s not going to sit down to have a detailed discussion about price gouging or corporate taxes or anything like that. So of course I’m critical. I am very critical. It’s all sugar, no protein, that’s what I heard.”

And as for Trump, O’Leary said he fully understands what Trump brings to the table, despite Trump’s controversial past.

“I know his policies. He ran the economy for four years. You may not like him, you may hate him, and I know half the country hates him, but I know what I have,” O’Leary continued. “I know what I get from regulation. I know what my taxes are. I know what energy I have. I know what I can do in foreign policy. I know the devil I know, if you want to call him that. So if you only offer me the Trump I know or the unknown, crazy, then I’ll take the known.”

Although it doesn’t happen often, O’Leary, or Mr. Wonderful as he likes to be called, doesn’t hide his emotions, be they tears or frustrating outbursts on “Shark Tank.” The original Shark and the Cuban will return for Season 16 of the business and entrepreneurial series starting Friday on ABC. This will be Cuban’s final season.

The post Kevin O’Leary sheds tears as he recalls how Mark Cuban ‘saved’ him from $2M debt appeared first on TheWrap.

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