Many entrepreneurs talk about growing up with big dreams of becoming millionaires or even billionaires. But that story doesn’t quite fit Robert Herjavec.
He’s shared that when he was young, his ambitions were far simpler. He wasn’t chasing massive wealth or luxury. His main goal was to earn enough money to pull himself and his parents, who had immigrated to Canada, out of poverty and into a more stable life.
Robert describes his success as something stemming from not wanting to be poor. Speaking about his childhood, Robert said, “It was really hard, only in hindsight. I didn’t know we were poor until we came to Canada.”
Where Robert Herjavec Ranks Among Shark Tank’s Richest
Robert Herjavec ended up going far beyond the goal he set for himself when starting out. Recent reports put his net worth at around $600 million. This makes him one of the richest investors on Shark Tank.
Among the Sharks, Daniel Lubetzky tops the list with an estimated $2.3 billion in net worth.
Robert Herjavec’s Early Life
Herjavec’s early life took a difficult turn when his family left their home country after his father was punished several times for criticizing the Communist authorities. They eventually found shelter in the basement of a friend’s house in Toronto, starting over with almost nothing.
Seeing his parents wrestle with language barriers and financial hardship pushed him to work harder and find stability through earning money.
In an interview with Hustle Meals, Herjavec said that the challenges his family faced after moving to Canada pushed him to aim higher. He learned early on that self-reliance was essential.
When asked what aspect of poverty motivated him the most, he explained that his biggest drive came from wanting to protect and support his parents.
Robert didn’t want his parents to be vulnerable or at the mercy of others. More than anything, he wanted to give them stability and a sense that their future was in their own hands.
Herjavec once talked about a moment that stayed with him. His mother didn’t speak English and was tricked into buying a vacuum cleaner that cost almost a third of their rent.
A salesman had taken advantage of the language barrier and scammed her. That experience made him realize he needed to earn more so he could protect his family from being exploited again.
He described his lesson from this incident, saying, “In North America, you have to have the ability to take care of yourself. You don’t have to want to be a billionaire or millionaire, but you have to make a certain amount of money to take care of the ones you love.”
Family Sacrifice That Inspired Robert Herjavec’s Work Ethic
Herjavec once mentioned a period when he was working as a waiter while trying to get his business off the ground. Feeling worn out, he vented to his mother about how hard it was to manage both.
Later that night, he saw his father come home after a full shift at the factory. Robert then observed how his father ate a quick meal, cleaned up, and went right back to work.
That moment and observation of pure drive and determination stirred something in him. It showed him what hard work and commitment truly mean.
Robert described the impact of this by saying, “I realized, I will never in my lifetime work as hard as that man is working right now. They gave up everything to come to a foreign country and live in someone’s basement for 18 months while learning the language to give me an opportunity. I thought, ‘How could I not acknowledge and justify that sacrifice?’ And that became my why.”
From Side Jobs to Building a Tech Empire
Herjavec’s journey from childhood poverty to business success was far from smooth. He often worked multiple jobs to help keep his family afloat. He even volunteered at IBM for six months before earning a paid position, a move that helped him gain valuable experience
Robert then started his first company (BRAK Systems) in 1990, focused on internet security. It eventually caught the attention of AT&T Canada, which bought it for around 30 million Canadian dollars.
More than a decade later, he launched The Herjavec Group in 2003. He was behind its growth from a small startup earning a few hundred thousand to a major player generating about CA$200 million each year.
The Deals That Made Robert Herjavec a Standout Shark
Herjavec rose to fame after joining Shark Tank as one of its main investors and later appeared on the show’s Canadian and Australian editions as well.
His sharp instincts carried over to Shark Tank, where he became known for choosing unconventional but high-return deals.
Two of Robert Herjavec’s best Shark Tank deals are Tipsy Elves and Aura Bora. Tipsy Elves is known for its fun holiday clothing, while Aura Bora makes sparkling water with herbal flavors.
Herjavec has often said that investing in Tipsy Elves was one of his smartest decisions. He put in $100,000 for a 10% share, even though he first thought the product was a bit silly. What convinced him was the founders’ passion and belief in their idea.
They quit their high-paying jobs to grow the company, and it paid off. Tipsy Elves soon expanded beyond Christmas sweaters into a full range of playful clothing and passed $160 million in sales by 2024.
Aura Bora is another Shark Tank success tied to Herjavec. The company makes sparkling water infused with herbs and botanicals. While the exact details of his investment haven’t been widely shared, Herjavec has called it one of his stronger deals.
The founders’ energy and belief in their vision attracted him, and he often bases his investments on that kind of passion.
He’s also put money into a few other unique ventures. These include The Laundry Lady, a service-based business that connects people with laundry professionals, Dig World, an experience center where visitors can operate real construction equipment, and Wildcoat, a creative clothing company.
