# Shark Tank stars avoid mixing money and family

> Kevin O'Leary, Barbara Corcoran and Robert Herjavec keep finances separate from relationships. Here's why retirees should follow their lead.
- Title: Shark Tank stars avoid mixing money and family · Yahoo Finance
- Summary: Kevin O'Leary, Barbara Corcoran and Robert Herjavec keep finances separate from relationships. Here's why retirees should follow their lead. Lending money to…
- Keywords: kevin o'leary, barbara corcoran, robert herjavec, shark tank, retirement planning, family finances, lending to family, financial gifts, retirement security, family relationships, business, finance
- Source: Yahoo Finance — https://finance.yahoo.com/small-business/articles/kevin-o-leary-barbara-corcoran-103500907.html
- Published: 2026-09-16T10:35:00+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: kevin o'leary, barbara corcoran, robert herjavec, shark tank, retirement planning, family finances, lending to family, financial gifts, retirement security, family relationships, business, finance
## Billionaires don't retire
Kevin O'Leary ($400 million), Barbara Corcoran ($100 million), and Robert Herjavec ($300+ million) all keep working despite having far more than the $1.46 million most Americans need to retire comfortably.
## Their shared money rule
All three Sharks follow the same principle: keep money and family completely separate. They say mixing finances with loved ones complicates relationships and creates conflict.

> Money complicates relationships, relationships with your friends, family … so when you don't have a lot of money, things run smoother.
## Herjavec: gifts, not loans
Robert Herjavec refuses to loan money to family or invest with them in business, even though all his adult children have successful careers. He will give money as a gift if there's a genuine need.

> I will never lend money to family and I won't invest with family. I will give money to family if they need it and there's a good reason.
## O'Leary's one-time gift rule
Kevin O'Leary gives generous one-time gifts instead of loans, then makes it clear the conversation is over. He believes loans create entitlement and prevent people from taking risks.

> Something I learned from my mother decades ago is that entitlement is a curse.
## Most retirees aren't following this
A 2025 AARP survey found 75% of parents are financially supporting adult children, with a median contribution of $1,400 a year. Of those, 42% said it's causing them financial stress.
## The retirement threat
More than a third of parents say supporting adult children is hurting their own finances. Thirty six percent worry it could damage their retirement plan, and 35% report emotional stress from the arrangement.
## The loan problem
Fifty six percent of adults aged 50 to 64 and 61% aged 65 or older have loaned money to family or friends and expect repayment. Financial advisors warn this is risky because loans often don't get repaid.

> If you're going to lend money, you should assume that you might not be repaid.
## Tax and legal complications
Gifts of $19,000 or more trigger federal gift tax. Loans of $10,000 or more require IRS minimum interest rates. Withdrawals from retirement accounts for loans may also be taxed.
## Run the numbers first
Before lending or gifting money, work with a financial advisor or tax attorney to see how it affects your short-term and long-term security. If you can't afford it, you need to say no.
## Key takeaway

Lending money to family risks both your retirement security and your relationships. Set clear boundaries or give gifts instead of loans.