‘Shark Tank’ Investor Kevin O’Leary Says Real Estate Can Build ‘Tremendous Wealth’ — But The Trick Is Surviving ‘Long Enough’

‘Shark Tank’ Investor Kevin O’Leary Says Real Estate Can Build ‘Tremendous Wealth’ — But The Trick Is Surviving ‘Long Enough’

Jeannine Mancini

Mon, August 17, 2026 at 11:31 PM GMT+3 5 min read

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Anyone can buy real estate when prices are climbing. The hard part is still owning it after the market reminds everyone that nothing goes up forever.

"Shark Tank" investor Kevin O'Leary offered that reminder in a post on X in July, arguing that real estate remains one of the best long-term wealth builders—but only for investors who can withstand the setbacks that inevitably come with it.

"Real estate can build tremendous wealth, but only if you survive long enough to benefit from it," O'Leary wrote.

O'Leary said experience has changed the way he approaches the market. While he still believes in real estate, he said he's learned firsthand that too much borrowing can turn a promising investment into a costly mistake.

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Debt Can Turn a Good Investment Into a Bad One

O'Leary said commercial real estate has undergone a significant correction since the pandemic, creating opportunities for patient investors willing to think beyond today's headlines.

His strategy is deliberately simple: buy properties in neighborhoods you understand, avoid excessive leverage, take care of tenants and invest with a long-term mindset.

"The biggest mistake I see investors make is using too much debt," O'Leary wrote. "When markets correct or unexpected events happen, leverage can wipe you out."

His warning reflects a challenge many property owners have faced in recent years. Higher interest rates have increased borrowing costs, while commercial real estate has been pressured by changing office demand and tighter lending standards. Investors who relied heavily on debt have often found themselves with far less flexibility when property values or rental income declined.

Trending: The Wealthy Have Long Used Private Real Estate To Diversify Beyond Stocks. Here's One Platform Opening That Door.

Building Wealth Without Buying an Entire Property

O'Leary's advice centers on owning real estate for the long haul, but buying and managing an investment property isn't the only way to gain exposure to the market.

Platforms such as Arrived allow investors to purchase fractional shares of professionally managed rental homes starting with as little as $100. Instead of searching for properties, qualifying for another mortgage or handling tenants and maintenance, investors can own a share of rental homes while Arrived manages the day-to-day operations.

The approach isn't the same as owning an entire property, and like any investment, it carries risk. But for investors who want exposure to residential real estate without taking on significant debt, it offers a different path.

O'Leary's broader message wasn't that real estate is easy. It was almost the opposite. Markets rise, markets fall and unexpected challenges inevitably appear. For investors who keep debt under control and remain patient, however, those ups and downs may simply become part of the journey toward long-term wealth.

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Building Wealth Across More Than Just the Market

Building a resilient portfolio means thinking beyond a single asset or market trend. Economic cycles shift, sectors rise and fall, and no one investment performs well in every environment. That's why many investors look to diversify with platforms that provide access to real estate, fixed-income opportunities, precious metals, and even self-directed retirement accounts. By spreading exposure across multiple asset classes, it becomes easier to manage risk, capture steady returns, and create long-term wealth that isn't tied to the fortunes of just one company or industry.

Arrived

Backed by Jeff Bezos, Arrived Homes makes real estate investing accessible with a low barrier to entry. Investors canbuy fractional shares of single-family rentals and vacation homes starting with as little as $100. This allows everyday investors to diversify into real estate, collect rental income, and build long-term wealth without needing to manage properties directly.

Realberry

Institutional-quality real estate has traditionally been difficult for individual investors to access.Realberry gives accredited investors direct access to private real estate opportunities backed by a team with 35 years of experience, $3.4 billion in assets under management, and $481 million in cumulative distributions paid to investors as of Q4 2025, according to the company. With a portfolio spanning 13 million square feet across seven U.S. states, Realberry focuses on acquiring, developing, and managing real estate with an emphasis on long-term value creation while its principals often invest alongside clients to help align interests.

FarmTogether

Farmland has historically held its value through market volatility and delivered returns uncorrelated to stocks and bonds. For accredited investors,FarmTogether offers direct access to high-quality U.S. farmland starting at $15,000 — fully managed, with no landlord headaches.

Fundrise

Private real estate and private credit can add income and stability to a stock-heavy portfolio.Fundrise offers access to diversified private real estate and credit strategies through an easy-to-use platform, with professionally managed portfolios designed to generate passive income and long-term growth.

Mode Mobile

Mode Mobile is changing the way people interact with their phones by letting users earn money from the same apps and activities they already use every day. Instead of platforms keeping all the advertising revenue, Mode Mobile shares a portion back with users who engage with content, play games, and scroll on their devices. Named one of Deloitte's fastest-growing software companies in North America, the company has built a large beta user base and is scaling a model that turns everyday smartphone usage into a potential income stream.

EquityMultiple

For accredited investors looking beyond stocks and bonds, EquityMultiple provides access to vetted commercial real estate deals starting at $5,000, with only ~5% of opportunities passing their due diligence process.

Image: Imagn

This article 'Shark Tank' Investor Kevin O'Leary Says Real Estate Can Build 'Tremendous Wealth' — But The Trick Is Surviving 'Long Enough' originally appeared on Benzinga.com

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