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Kevin O’Leary has just achieved a courtroom victory amounting to $2.8 million. The Shark Tank investor obtained a default judgment against former crypto influencer Ben Armstrong, widely recognized as BitBoy Crypto.
The interesting aspect? Armstrong did not adequately defend himself. A federal judge in Florida intervened and granted substantial punitive damages following allegations that Armstrong publicly labeled O’Leary a “murderer.”
- Judge Beth Bloom awarded O’Leary $2 million in punitive damages along with $750,000 for emotional distress.
- The court dismissed Armstrong’s attempt to attribute the default to mental health issues and incarceration.
- Armstrong had previously ridiculed O’Leary online, disclosing his personal phone number and making accusations regarding a 2019 boating incident.
The Dispute Leading to Kevin O’Leary Lawsuit
This entire conflict originates from a tragic 2019 boating accident involving O’Leary’s wife, Linda, which resulted in the deaths of two individuals. She was fully exonerated in 2021. Case closed.
Years later, Armstrong took to the internet and completely disregarded that conclusion. He made assertions claiming O’Leary and his wife “murdered a couple and concealed it.” The situation escalated further when he published O’Leary’s private phone number and encouraged his followers to contact him, referring to him as a “rabid dog” pursuing him.
Source: ALM
At one point, Armstrong even ridiculed detractors by asking, “What are you gonna do, sue me?”
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It turns out, that is precisely what transpired. And on March 26, 2025, he received his response in court.
Analyzing the $2.8 Million Judgment
The ruling encompassed $78,000 for reputational harm and $750,000 for emotional distress.
O’Leary also highlighted heightened security measures and modifications to studio access due to concerns related to Armstrong’s online following.
Then came the significant penalty. An additional $2 million in punitive damages, intended to convey a message. Armstrong had already defaulted after neglecting to respond to the lawsuit in 2025. He subsequently attempted to reverse that default in early 2026, contending that incarceration and mental health issues prevented him from mounting a defense.
The court did not accept this argument.
Source: Lastest Appearance For Bitboy
This judgment compounds what has already been a challenging period for Armstrong, who was ousted from the HIT Network and is now facing significant financial repercussions.
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