On February 14, Kevin O’Leary won a default judgment in a defamation case against Ben “BitBoy” Armstrong in the Southern District of Florida Federal Court, receiving a total award of $2.8 million. The court found that the defendant’s posting of “malicious” false accusations and private information on social media constituted serious defamation and punitive damages.
The ruling awarded O’Leary $750,000 in emotional distress damages, $78,000 in reputation damages, and an additional $2 million in punitive damages. The judge noted that as a public figure engaged in media and business collaborations, damage to O’Leary’s reputation would directly impact his performance invitations and business relationships. Expert testimony, based on the viewership of the relevant posts, the size of the affected audience, and repair costs, estimated the reputation loss at $78,000.
The dispute originated from multiple posts made by Armstrong in March 2025, accusing O’Leary of involvement in a fatal boat accident in 2019, and publicly sharing his private phone number in one post, urging fans to “call the murderer in real life.” The court found that O’Leary was only a passenger at the time and was not prosecuted; his wife was also declared innocent after the trial. The accident investigation indicated that another boat had no lights at the time. After the phone number was leaked, O’Leary received hundreds of calls, leading to an annual security expense of approximately $200,000 and changes to his travel and work routines for safety reasons.
Procedurally, O’Leary filed suit on March 26, 2025; service was completed by March 28. Armstrong repeatedly failed to respond within the deadline, despite court extensions and clear warnings, and did not submit a response. The clerk entered a default on May 6. A damages hearing was held on October 30, with Armstrong still absent. He later sought to dismiss the case citing detention and bipolar disorder, but the court found he had been properly notified, delayed nearly a year, and was harming the plaintiff’s interests, and thus dismissed the motion.
This case serves as a warning: spreading false accusations and “doxxing” others on social media can lead to high damages and long-term legal consequences. The parties involved include Kevin O’Leary, Ben “BitBoy” Armstrong, and O’Leary’s public role as an investor on “Shark Tank.”
Disclaimer: The information on this page may come from third parties and does not represent the views or opinions of Gate. The content displayed on this page is for reference only and does not constitute any financial, investment, or legal advice. Gate does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information and shall not be liable for any losses arising from the use of this information. Virtual asset investments carry high risks and are subject to significant price volatility. You may lose all of your invested principal. Please fully understand the relevant risks and make prudent decisions based on your own financial situation and risk tolerance. For details, please refer to
Disclaimer.
Related Articles
The U.S. arrests the relatives of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force commander Soleimani and terminates their permanent resident status
Gate News message. On April 4, the U.S. Department of State said that on the 3rd, federal law enforcement personnel arrested the niece and grandson of Qasem Soleimani, a commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force. The U.S. Secretary of State, Rubio, has revoked the two individuals’ lawful permanent resident status.
GateNews55m ago
Nevada judge extends ban on Kalshi, rejects event contract defense
A Nevada judge has reportedly extended a ban preventing Kalshi from offering event-based contracts in the state, ruling that the products constitute unlicensed gambling under state law.
Judge Jason Woodbury said at a hearing in Carson City on Friday that he will grant a preliminary injunction
Cointelegraph2h ago
ZachXBT: Circle’s compliance enforcement has been inadequate; multiple security incidents involve amounts exceeding $420 million
On-chain investigator ZachXBT published a report stating that since 2022, Circle has repeatedly failed to properly carry out compliance in multiple incidents involving illegal funds, with amounts totaling more than $420 million. The report notes that in several security incidents, Circle did not freeze suspicious accounts in a timely manner, leading to severe losses. Despite having relevant mechanisms, Circle responded slowly when facing attacks and investigations into money laundering, which affected industry security.
GateNews2h ago
Polymarket takes down market on missing US pilot after backlash
Polymarket removed a market tied to the fate of a missing US service member after mounting backlash, saying the listing violated its “integrity standards.”
The controversy erupted after a prediction market appeared asking whether US authorities would confirm the rescue of a pilot reportedly shot
Cointelegraph5h ago
Gansu Tianshui Court Tries a Cryptocurrency Money-Laundering Case: Defendant “Picked Up Cash as a Runner” Sentenced to Two Years and Four Months for 390k Yuan
A court in Qinchou District, Tianshui, Gansu, tried a case of virtual currency money laundering. The defendant withdrew more than 390k yuan using a “high-paying errand runner” method, converted the funds into virtual currency, and earned profits of 21.5k yuan. The court sentenced him to two years and four months in prison and fined him 10k yuan. The judge reminded the public to stay alert against participating in cash withdrawals and transfers, so as not to become an accomplice to crime.
GateNews7h ago
Nevada court extends ban on Kalshi sports prediction market, ruling it has no substantive difference from gambling
A Nevada judge ruled that Kalshi’s sports prediction market products have no substantive difference from gambling, extended the injunction prohibiting it from offering related services locally until the case is further considered. Regulators believe it should be subject to the state’s gambling regulations.
GateNews8h ago
