Many people are aware of Robert because of his role on the popular TV show Shark Tank, in which he evaluates participants’ startup business proposals and concepts. He was also featured in Dragon’s Den, a Canadian version of the show.
Herjavec is a really successful entrepreneur in addition to his career as a television personality. The venture entrepreneur built an enormous enterprise around internet security and is one of Canada’s most renowned immigrant success stories.
Early Years:
At the age of eight, Robert Herjavec emigrated to Canada from what is now Croatia. For Herjavec’s family, especially his father, growing up in the old Yugoslavia was difficult. The family patriarch was frequently imprisoned for speaking out against communism. This was one of the elements that motivated the family to relocate to Canada in quest of new chances. The family arrived with barely $20 and a single suitcase, according to Robert Herjavec.
They eventually moved to Toronto, where Robert went to school and his father worked in manufacturing nearby. When Robert first came, he barely spoke English and was regularly mocked by his peers. He was also bothered by the fact that he came from a lesser socioeconomic background than many other Canadians. After coming, the family resided in a basement for over a year.
Robert graduated from the University of Toronto in 1984. Despite the fact that he would go on to become a successful entrepreneur, his university degree did not reflect this. He graduated from college with a bachelor’s degree in English literature and a master’s degree in political science. Because these credentials weren’t instantly transferable to well-paying employment, Robert ended himself waiting tables, delivering newspapers, and working a variety of other low-wage tasks to help support his family.
Early Internet Security Experiences: Robert got work in the film industry as a third AD (assistant director), but timetables were unpredictable and there were large gaps between movies. In order to supplement his income during these periods, Robert Herjavec applied for a variety of occupations.
Selling computer equipment for a business called Logiquest was one of these jobs. Despite his lack of qualifications, he persuaded management to hire him as an unpaid intern for six months. He quickly ascended the corporate ladder to become the company’s general manager.
Entrepreneurial Success in the Early Stages:
In 1990, Herjavec quit Logiquest to start his own company, BRAK Systems. Robert established the entire company in his basement, specializing in internet security software. In 2000, AT&T Canada purchased BRAK Systems for more than $30 million, ten years after it was founded. Robert took a break from entrepreneurship to working as the VP of Sales at Ramp Network before returning to start his own company in 2003.
The Herjavec Group was the entrepreneur’s second venture. This would turn out to be Robert’s most successful endeavor, and by 2020, it was one of Canada’s fastest-growing software companies. Internet security solutions and services are the company’s specialty. It is also the largest provider of IT security services in Canada. Although the company began slowly, with sales of $400,000 in its first year, revenues have since surged. The Herjavec Group was reported to generate $200 million in annual revenue in 2017.
Robert Herjavec’s role as a television personality included appearances on both Dragon’s Den and Shark Tank. He has put money into a number of contestants’ projects. In exchange for a 10% stake in Tipsy Elves, he put $100,000 into the company.
This turned out to be a wise financial option, as the company made $70 million in revenue since its inception in 2018. Robert Herjavec competed in the 20th season of Dancing with the Stars in 2015. He was paired with an Australian dancer who would later become his wife, and the two came in sixth place.
Writing as a profession:
Robert Herjavec is the author of various “self-help” or financial guidance books. Driven: How to Succeed in Business and Life was published in 2010. He published The Will to Win: Leading, Competing, and Succeeding in 2013, and went on to give a series of talks based on the principles stated in the book. He released his third book, You Don’t Have to Be a Shark: Creating Your Own Success, in 2016.
Private Life:
Robert Herjavec married his first wife, Diane Plese, in 1990. They divorced after a 24-year marriage that had seen them through Herjavec’s business accomplishments. A divorce was finalized two years later. The pair had three children throughout their marriage: two daughters and a son.
Despite the fact that his ex-wife received payments as a result of the divorce, the amount was doubled in 2019 when a judge ordered Robert to pay more. Diane Plese received a total of $25 million.
Herjavec’s mental health was severely impacted by the divorce, and he reportedly struggled with suicidal thoughts and sadness. Herjavec became more involved with charity around this time, donating large sums to a homeless shelter in Seattle.
Dancing with the Stars eventually led him to his next wife, Kym. The couple welcomed twins into the world in 2017. In Toronto, Robert has a $7.5 million house.
Awards:
Robert Herjavec received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in the field of Technology in Ontario in 2012. Herjavec received Queen Elizabeth II, Diamond Jubilee Medal, for Outstanding Service to Canada in the same year.
Robert Herjavec’s net worth:
Robert Herjavec has a net worth of $200 million and is a Canadian businessman, investor, and television personality.
Robert purchased a property in Hidden Hills, California for $14.6 million in 2019. He advertised this home for $17.25 million in February 2021. In May 2021, he accepted $17 million.
Robert was reported to be the buyer of a 6,200 square foot New York City penthouse in the One57 building in July 2021. Robert paid $34.5 million, which was a significant decrease from the unit’s previous asking price of $45 million.
Robert’s $34.5 million is around $13 million less than the seller’s 2015 asking price. Perhaps most crucially, the seller was represented by The Corcoran Group, Robert’s Shark Tank co-real star’s estate agency!
