Kevin O’Leary has no problem with romance, but he has a big problem with joint bank accounts.
In an interview with Moneywise last month, the “Shark Tank” investor was asked what he thought about financial gurus who encourage married couples to combine everything: savings, credit cards, investments and even financial identity. His response was forceful.
“That’s the stupidest idea I’ve ever heard. It’s stupid. It’s a very stupid thing to do to yourself,” O’Leary said. “Anyone who does that is crazy. Don’t do it.”
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While it did not mention names, the council was clearly at odds with financial figures like Dave Ramsey, who has long insisted that the financial unit is part of the marital unit. In a clip shared on
O’Leary’s view is the opposite, especially when it comes to protecting women’s financial independence.
“A woman should never give up her financial independence,” she said. “Never merge it with your husband’s.”
Instead, it encourages couples to maintain some financial separation, even if they share basic expenses.
“It’s okay to share a credit card and each put $2,500 a month on it,” he said. “But all of your savings, your credit score, your own credit card, your own investments, your own savings account, whatever it is, has to stay in your name.”
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And that mentality is clearly taking hold, especially among younger couples. O’Leary is an investor in HelloPrenup, a platform that helps modern fiancés create prenups online. According to a 2024 HelloPrenup report, 75% of couples using the platform choose to keep their premarital assets separate before tying the knot. And while 79% still plan to share a joint bank account, the trend is clear: Couples want to protect their individual wealth while contributing to shared expenses on their own terms.
The platform also reports that 52% of women initiate the prenuptial process and the majority have less than $500,000 in liquid assets, dispelling the idea that prenups are only for the rich. The median net worth of HelloPrenup customers is just $78,000, and the average financial disparity between partners is about $250,000, suggesting that everyday couples, not just billionaires, are thinking about the future.