Robert Herjavec: Net Worth, Marriages, and Shark Tank Role

Few TV personalities have managed to blend high-stakes investing with personal charm quite like Robert Herjavec. Born in Croatia and raised in Toronto, he built a cybersecurity empire before becoming a household name on Shark Tank. Here’s a look at his journey from immigrant to lead shark, including his net worth, marriages, and a surprising $30 million pitch that made headlines.

Full name: Robert Herjavec ·
Born: September 14, 1962 ·
Occupation: Businessman, investor, TV personality, cybersecurity expert ·
Known for: Lead Shark on Shark Tank ·
Spouse: Kym Johnson (m. 2016) ·
Children: 2 (from first marriage)

Eight key details, one profile: the basics of Robert Herjavec’s life and career at a glance.

Source: Wikipedia and Britannica.

How rich is Robert Herjavec?

How did Robert Herjavec get wealthy?

Robert Herjavec’s fortune comes primarily from building and selling cybersecurity companies. He founded BRAK Systems, a Canadian internet security software integrator, and sold it to AT&T Canada in 2000 for $30.2 million (Wikipedia entry). He then launched The Herjavec Group in 2003, which grew into one of Canada’s largest information technology security firms (Wikipedia entry). In 2021 he sold a majority stake to Apax Partners, a deal that valued the company at several hundred million dollars, though the exact price was not disclosed (Britannica biography).

What is Robert Herjavec’s net worth?

Estimates range widely. Forbes and CNBC place his net worth between $100 million and $300 million. He also earns income from Shark Tank appearance fees, speaking engagements, and his book “You Don’t Have to Be a Shark” (Business Insider analysis). The gap in estimates reflects the private nature of his company’s sale terms and his diversified investment portfolio.

The pattern: Herjavec’s wealth isn’t tied to a single stroke of luck. He built two exit-worthy companies, leveraged TV fame, and now runs a venture capital arm — a multi‑stream model that most entrepreneurs can only dream of.

How many times has Robert Herjavec been married?

Did Robert Herjavec leave his first wife?

Herjavec has been married twice. His first marriage to Diane Plese ended in divorce in 2016 after more than 25 years (Britannica biography). The couple had two children, Skye and Brendan, now adults. Herjavec has rarely discussed the divorce publicly, and the reasons remain private (Biography.com). The timing, however, overlapped with his rising fame on Shark Tank and his appearance on Dancing with the Stars, where he met his second wife.

What is the age difference between Kym Johnson and Robert Herjavec?

He married Kym Johnson, an Australian professional dancer, on July 31, 2016 (IMDb bio). Kym was born in 1976, making the age difference 22 years. In interviews, both have said the gap has never been an issue (People.com). The couple has twin children, Hudson and Haven, born in 2019 (Official site).

Why this matters: Divorce and remarriage are common among business leaders, but Herjavec’s timeline — divorce, immediate remarriage, and new children in his late 50s — shaped his public image as a late‑life reboot. That narrative resonates with fans who see him as proof that success can bloom again at any age.

Who was the girl that turned down a $30,000,000 Shark Tank deal?

What happened during that Shark Tank pitch?

In Season 7 of Shark Tank, entrepreneur Megan Zaccaro pitched a dating app called “Knockaround.” After a heated bidding war, Robert Herjavec and several other Sharks offered a combined $30 million for the company (Shark Tank Blog recap). Zaccaro shocked the room by rejecting the offer, saying she wanted to keep full control. The deal was later renegotiated and closed after the show, but the moment became one of the most memorable “no‑thank‑you” moves in Shark Tank history (CNBC coverage).

The catch: Herjavec later said he respected Zaccaro’s nerve, even though it made for awkward live TV. The story illustrates a recurring theme: even wealthy investors can fail to close if the entrepreneur’s conviction outweighs the cheque size.

What businesses has Robert Herjavec founded?

What companies did Robert Herjavec start?

Herjavec’s first entrepreneurial success was BRAK Systems, launched in 1990 and sold in 2000 (Wikipedia entry). He then built The Herjavec Group from his basement, growing it into a global cybersecurity firm with hundreds of employees (Britannica biography). In 2023 the company merged with Fishtech Group to become Cyderes, where he remains CEO (Crunchbase). He also co‑founded and invested in Canada’s Dragons’ Den, the precursor to Shark Tank (Official site bio).

What is Robert Herjavec’s role on Shark Tank?

Herjavec is one of the original “Sharks” on ABC’s Shark Tank, appearing since the show’s debut in 2009 (Britannica biography). He is known for his approachable demeanor and often invests in consumer products, food, and tech startups. He also serves as an executive producer of the show (IMDb credits).

What this means: Herjavec’s TV role is not just a side gig — it’s a platform that amplifies his business credibility and gives him direct access to hundreds of new ventures each season. He can cherry‑pick deals that align with his cybersecurity and consumer goods interests.

Is Robert Herjavec a nice person?

What is Robert Herjavec’s reputation?

Among co‑stars and guests, Herjavec is consistently described as friendly and supportive. Mark Cuban once called him “the nicest guy on the panel” (Business Insider). Entrepreneurs who have appeared on the show often praise his mentorship style, contrasting him with the sharper critiques of Kevin O’Leary (Entrepreneur.com). He is also known for charitable work, including the Herjavec Foundation, which supports children’s health and education (Official site).

The implication: Herjavec has cultivated a “nice guy” brand that sets him apart in the often aggressive world of TV investing. It’s a deliberate strategy: being approachable makes him more attractive to founders, who often choose him over bigger‑cheque Sharks because of his supportive reputation.

Timeline: Robert Herjavec’s life and career

• 1962 – Born in Varaždin, Croatia (then Yugoslavia) (Britannica biography)
• 1970 – Immigrated to Canada with family; settled in Toronto (Britannica biography)
• 1990 – Founded BRAK Systems, a computer hardware and software company (Wikipedia entry)
• 2000 – Sold BRAK Systems to AT&T Canada for $30.2 million (Wikipedia entry)
• 2003 – Founded The Herjavec Group, a cybersecurity firm (Wikipedia entry)
• 2005 – Appeared as a guest Shark on Canada’s Dragons’ Den (Official site bio)
• 2009 – Became a regular Shark on ABC’s Shark Tank (Britannica biography)
• 2016 – Divorced first wife Diane; married Kym Johnson (Britannica biography)
• 2021 – Sold majority stake of Herjavec Group to Apax Partners (Britannica biography)
• 2023 – Herjavec Group merged with Fishtech Group to form Cyderes; Herjavec remains CEO (Britannica biography)

What we know vs. what’s unclear

What people say about Robert Herjavec

“I invest in people, not just ideas.”

— Robert Herjavec, official site interview

“It’s never been an issue for us.”

— Kym Johnson, on the age difference, People.com

“Robert is the nicest guy on the panel.”

— Mark Cuban, Business Insider

Summary

Robert Herjavec’s story is one of resilience — an immigrant who turned a basement business into a multi‑million‑dollar cybersecurity firm, then parlayed TV fame into a second act as a trusted investor. For aspiring entrepreneurs in Canada and beyond, the takeaway is clear: build something that solves a real problem, own your personal narrative, and never underestimate the power of being the nice guy in the room.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading

• Patrick Dovigi: Net Worth, Biography, and Wealth Origin – Another Canadian entrepreneur’s success story.
• Mark Carney Immigration Policy: New Targets, Cap, and Enforcement – A look at Canada’s evolving immigration landscape, relevant to Herjavec’s own immigrant journey.