Kevin O'Leary Just Said This 'Is The Worst Financial Outcome' For A Couple. Here's One Way To Avoid It

SelfRugger

2026-02-27 11:45:32

Kevin O’Leary Just Said This ‘Is The Worst Financial Outcome’ For A Couple. Here’s One Way To Avoid It

AJ Fabino

Thu, February 12, 2026 at 5:16 AM GMT+9 4 min read

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Quick Summary

Kevin O'Leary warns that **uncontrolled spending and high-interest debt** are the biggest financial threats to a marriage, saying couples often get trapped paying 20%+ interest while balances grow and stress builds. When both partners lose discipline, debt can quietly undermine trust, stability, and long-term plans within just a few years.

Avoid that outcome by turning to **SmartAsset's **free advisor-matching tool**** to compare financial advisors and build a realistic plan.

Kevin O’Leary says the biggest financial threat to a marriage is not job loss, bad investments, or market crashes.

It is spending too much money.

In a video posted on X on Wednesday, the “Shark Tank” investor said couples get into serious trouble when both partners lose control of their spending.

“Imagine, it’s bad enough to have one outspend the other,” O’Leary said. “But if they’re both just completely out of control, that marriage is going to fail.”

He pointed to high-interest debt as the main driver. With credit cards charging around 23% interest, he said many couples end up trapped in a cycle where balances keep growing even as they struggle to keep up with payments.

“I’ve seen so many marriages break up after 36 months because they just blew their brains out financially,” O’Leary said. “Don’t let that happen.”

One Way To Avoid It: External Accountability

Most couples try to solve money problems on their own. They promise to spend less, create basic budgets, or download tracking apps. Sometimes that works, often it does not.

Behavior patterns are hard to change without structure and outside perspective. That is where professional guidance can help.

Services like SmartAsset connect couples with vetted financial advisors based on location, assets, and goals. Instead of guessing whether their debt and savings plan makes sense, couples can see how their current habits affect their long-term outlook.

Through SmartAsset’s free matching tool, users answer a short questionnaire and are paired with up to three advisors who work with similar clients. Initial consultations are typically free, and there is no obligation to move forward.

For many couples, having an outside professional review their situation creates accountability that internal conversations never quite achieve.

O’Leary is not arguing that couples should never spend money. His warning is about unconscious spending funded by expensive debt.

Story Continues

There is a difference between choosing to enjoy life within a plan and drifting into overspending without realizing the consequences. When partners agree on priorities and long-term goals, spending decisions become easier. When those goals are unclear, credit cards often fill the gap.

Without alignment, even strong incomes can feel tight. With alignment, moderate incomes can support stable, growing financial lives.

When Debt Becomes a Relationship Problem

When debt builds, it shows up in daily life through stress, arguments, and constant pressure around bills.

High-interest balances make the situation worse. A couple carrying large credit card debt can end up paying thousands of dollars each year in interest alone. That money is not building savings, paying down principal, or supporting long-term goals. It is just keeping the account open.

Over time, that can create tension. One partner may want to cut back while the other may feel restricted. Both may feel overwhelmed. Without a clear plan, resentment builds alongside the balances.

O’Leary’s warning is about this slow breakdown. When overspending becomes normal, financial problems stop feeling urgent until they are impossible to ignore.

The worst outcome the “Shark Tank” investor describes is what those high balances do to trust and stability inside a relationship.

The good news is that this path is avoidable. Debt can be reduced, spending can be adjusted, and retirement plans can be rebuilt.

For many households, the first step is getting a clear, professional assessment of where they stand and where they are headed.

SmartAsset’s free advisor-matching tool can help couples take that step by showing them what their financial future looks like with and without changes.

Image: Shutterstock

This article Kevin O’Leary Just Said This ‘Is The Worst Financial Outcome’ For A Couple. Here’s One Way To Avoid It originally appeared on Benzinga.com

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