Author
Ahmed Balaha
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Kevin O’Leary just walked away with a $2.8 million court victory. The Shark Tank investor obtained a default judgment against former crypto influencer Ben Armstrong, better known as BitBoy Crypto.
The funny thing? Armstrong didn’t even defend himself properly. A federal judge in Florida stepped in and awarded heavy punitive damages after allegations surfaced that Armstrong publicly called O’Leary a “murderer.”
- Judge Beth Bloom awarded O’Leary $2 million in punitive damages plus $750,000 for emotional distress.
- The court rejected Armstrong’s attempt to blame the noncompliance on mental health problems and incarceration.
- Armstrong previously mocked O’Leary online, posting his personal phone number and alleging a cover-up regarding a 2019 boat accident.
The dispute behind Kevin O’Leary’s lawsuit
This entire feud dates back to a tragic boat accident in 2019 involving O’Leary’s wife, Linda, where two people lost their lives. She was completely acquitted in 2021. Case closed.
Years later, Armstrong went online and completely ignored that result. He posted claims saying O’Leary and his wife “murdered a couple and covered it up.” Then it escalated. He shared O’Leary’s private phone number and urged his followers to call him, saying things like he was a “mad dog” chasing him.
At one point, Armstrong even mocked critics by asking, “What are they going to do, sue me?”
Turns out that’s exactly what happened. And on March 26, 2025 he got his answer in court.
Breaking down the $2.8 million judgment
The judgment included $78,000 for reputational damage and $750,000 for emotional distress.
O’Leary even pointed to increased security measures and changes to studio access due to fears related to Armstrong’s online followers.
Then came the real blow. An additional two million dollars in punitive damages, intended to send a message. Armstrong had already defaulted after failing to respond to the lawsuit in 2025. He later attempted to undo that default in early 2026, arguing that incarceration and mental health issues prevented him from defending himself.
The court did not buy it.
This sentence adds to what has already been a brutal run for Armstrong, who was kicked out of the HIT Network and now faces serious financial consequences.
