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
Resolv Exploit Update Leaves Key Recovery Questions
Resolv Labs updated users on the recent exploit that minted 80 million USR tokens. While whitelisted holders have largely redeemed their tokens, non-whitelisted users and RLP holders face delays. Investigations found no insider involvement, but recovery remains uncertain.
CryptoFrontNews8m ago
The core executive Li Xiong of the Taizi Group was escorted back to his home country, and the related wallets of Huìwàng that he founded have received more than $24 billion in cryptocurrency
Li Xiong, a core member of the Taizi Group, has been escorted back to China on suspicion of multiple crimes. Since 2021, the Huiwang Pay company he established in Cambodia has been involved in large-scale cryptocurrency transactions, becoming the largest online illegal marketplace.
GateNews1h ago
Chainalysis report: Russian and Iran-linked organizations use cryptocurrencies to purchase military drones, but on-chain records end up exposing tracking gaps
Chainalysis research reports that organizations linked to Russia and Iran have been buying low-cost drones and accessories through cryptocurrencies to bypass Western sanctions. Since 2022, pro-Russia groups have raised more than $8.3 million, and wallets associated with Iran show transactions with suppliers in Hong Kong. Although the anonymity of cryptocurrencies helps evade monitoring, blockchain transparency provides important leads for investigations.
ChainNewsAbmedia2h ago
Former FTX engineer Nishad Singh agrees to pay a $3.7 million penalty to the CFTC
Former FTX engineer Nishad Singh agreed to pay a $3.7 million penalty to the CFTC to resolve its regulatory issues stemming from the FTX collapse. This case highlights the growing accountability that regulators are demanding from the digital asset industry, as well as the importance of internal industry cooperation in reducing legal risk. Singh’s cooperation demonstrates the impact that transparency and compliance can have on the industry’s development, reminding executives that they must take legal responsibility seriously as they grow.
GateNews3h ago
Former chairman of Huìwan, Li Xiong, has been extradited! China is investigating a $4 billion money-laundering network involving scam compounds in Southeast Asia.
Li Xiong was extradited back to China from Cambodia, involving a cross-border money laundering case tied to the $4 billion Weiwang Group. The case has exposed the links between the Southeast Asian scam industry chain and crypto funds. Experts noted that the group, as a scam infrastructure provider, supports online scams and the movement of funds. Despite intensified international crackdown efforts, the money-laundering network remains highly adaptable, making it extremely difficult to trace.
CryptoCity4h ago
Polymarket betting on the 2026 nine-in-one election: 2 Taiwanese people were arrested! The investigators used by tracing the flow of funds to identify them
Taiwanese investigators and prosecutors cracked the first Polymarket cryptocurrency election betting case, arresting two bettors. Because they admitted their wrongdoing, they were granted deferred prosecution, and authorities reminded the public not to place illegal bets. The case shows that identity can be verified through tracing the flow of funds, emphasizes the Election and Recall Law’s provisions and potential criminal liability, and calls on the public to comply with the law.
CryptoCity5h ago
