KEVIN O‘LEARY

The Shark Tank investor, 67, will serve as judge and jury on his new series, Money Court (Aug. 11 on CNBC), settling a wide range of financial disputes between colleagues and members of families so litigants can get back to business. What do you bring to Money Court? I’ve got a portfolio of over 35 companies, and every day there are disputes. So I’ve been doing it a long time. And no, I’m not a legal judge, but I resolve a lot of issues. Why? Because it’s good for business. The worst thing that can happen in a business is to have a money dispute; it just freezes everything up. Why do you think people are coming to you to resolve financial disputes? I’ve come to the conclusion that you may not like me, but you trust me. I try to tell the truth all the time. It’s not always easy. In the context of Shark Tank, I’m the shark that says, “It’s a zero and you’re wasting your money.” Not everybody likes that clarity, but they trust it. What has Shark Tank taught you? When people first come out to the carpet, they’re right in front of me. Over the last few years, I’ve taken to just looking at them. This may sound crazy, but I can tell after just 30 or 40 seconds: winner or loser, and I'm never wrong. There’s an aura around people that are successful—a look in their eyes, a confidence that losers don’t have. How did you get the nickname “Mr. Wonderful”? We think it was said facetiously by [fellow Shark Tank investor] Barbara Corcoran. She and I are good friends, but we don’t always see eye to eye. That’s probably how it started, and it stuck. When I land at an airport, the limo sign says “Mr. Wonderful.” I say to the guy, “Do you know my name?” He goes, “You’re Mr. Wonderful.”