Kevin O'Leary — SPARQNOW

At-a-Glance

Sold SoftKey Software Products to the Mattel Toy Company for $4.2 billion in 1999.
Founder of O'Leary Financial Group (since 2013) and Chairman of O’Leary Ventures and Beanstox.
Founded SoftKey Software Products from his basement.
Founded O'Leary Funds, a mutual fund company, and O’Shares ETFs.
Serves on the investment committee of Boston's 200-year-old Hamilton Trust.
Holds an MBA in Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies.

Biography

Kevin O'Leary began his entrepreneurial journey by launching SoftKey Software Products from his basement. He expanded the company through a series of acquisitions from 1995 to 1999, buying out competitors such as Mindscape, Broderbund, and The Learning Company. In 1999, he sold SoftKey Software Products to the Mattel Toy Company for $4.2 billion, marking one of the largest deals in the consumer software industry.