A U.S. court awarded Shark Tank star Kevin O’Leary $2.8 million in damages after ruling against crypto influencer Ben “Bitboy Crypto” Armstrong in a defamation case.
Failed Attempt to Overturn Judgment
A U.S. court has ordered entrepreneur and television personality Kevin O’Leary to be paid $2,828,000 in damages after ruling against crypto influencer Ben “Bitboy Crypto” Armstrong in a high‑profile defamation case.
The court also rejected Armstrong’s bid to overturn a default judgment, dismissing his claims that “extraordinary circumstances” — including incarceration and mental health struggles — prevented him from attending the hearing. According to the omnibus order issued on Feb. 11, O’Leary accused Armstrong of maliciously publishing falsehoods, including calling him a murderer and alleging he “paid millions to cover up his role in a murder.”
The claims stemmed from a 2019 boating accident involving O’Leary’s wife, Linda, which tragically left two people dead. Linda was later exonerated, but the incident reportedly caused financial fallout for the O’Learys as speaking engagements dried up.
Despite moving on, Armstrong allegedly resurrected the false claims in March 2025, accusing O’Leary of murder and urging followers to harass him by sharing his personal cell phone number. O’Leary argued that Armstrong’s posts damaged his businesses and reputation, while the exposure of his phone number disrupted both his professional and personal life.
“O’Leary has been inundated with inquiries from his business partners and television network partners regarding Defendant’s posts that O’Leary was a murderer and paid millions to cover it up,” the order states.
Business Fallout and Security Concerns
The Shark Tank star also revealed he now spends an additional $200,000 annually on security, with staff pressing him to further bolster protection.
In a motion filed on Jan. 9, Armstrong argued that his incarceration and bipolar disorder prevented him from responding to the case. The court dismissed this, ruling:
“While the Defendant cites to various mental health issues as the basis for his failure to respond, he has failed to provide specific facts and circumstances demonstrating why the illness or disability caused him to miss the original deadline.”
The judgment underscores the court’s stance that Armstrong’s excuses were insufficient, leaving the multimillion‑dollar damages award firmly in O’Leary’s favor.
FAQ ❓
- What did the U.S. court decide? A U.S. court awarded Kevin O’Leary $2.8 million in damages against Ben “Bitboy Crypto” Armstrong.
- Why was Armstrong sued? Armstrong falsely accused O’Leary of murder and claimed he paid millions to cover it up.
- What impact did the allegations have? O’Leary said the false claims hurt his businesses and forced him to spend $200,000 more yearly on security.
- Did Armstrong’s defense succeed? No, the court rejected his motion, ruling his excuses of incarceration and mental health were insufficient.
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