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
Ledger phishing email scam steals 600,000 USDT, and U.S. federal prosecutors recover all funds
An American court ruled to forfeit more than $600,000 in USDT, stemming from a physical letter phishing scam targeting Ledger users. After receiving the disguised letter, the victims leaked their seed phrases, and their funds were stolen. The scammers tried to conceal the funds through multiple transfers and conversion methods, but the transparency of the blockchain helped the police track the path of the fund movements. They then successfully recovered the funds through a civil forfeiture proceeding.
MarketWhisper2h ago
Gate Daily Report (April 3): Bitcoin miner MARA lays off 15%; North Korea is accused of attacking Drift to profit 286 million
Bitcoin (BTC) gives back this week’s gains, temporarily trading at around $66,780 on April 3. Bitcoin miner MARA cut 15% of its workforce, shifting its strategy toward energy and digital infrastructure. Blockchain analytics firm Elliptic says North Korean hackers may exploit a vulnerability in the Drift Protocol to profit $286 million.
MarketWhisper3h ago
US: The CFTC sues Arizona, Connecticut, and Illinois, arguing it has exclusive jurisdiction over prediction markets
The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) filed a lawsuit on April 3 against Arizona, Connecticut, and Illinois, reaffirming its exclusive jurisdiction over event contracts and prediction markets, and seeking to have federal courts bar state-level interference with prediction market activities that comply with federal regulations.
GateNews3h ago
Trump appoints acting Attorney General who holds BTC, raising ethical questions about crypto enforcement policy
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, appointed Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche as Acting Attorney General, and dissolved the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team, issuing a memorandum to halt regulatory enforcement against the crypto industry. When Blanche signed this memorandum, he still held crypto assets, which allegedly violated ethical standards and sparked legal disputes; whether transferring his assets into his family’s name can eliminate the conflict of interest remains controversial.
MarketWhisper3h ago
CFTC sues in 3 states to reclaim jurisdiction over prediction markets, as a U.S. conflict landscape begins to take shape
The Trump administration has recently intervened in a lawsuit involving the CFTC and the regulators of gambling in three states, challenging the states’ authority to regulate prediction markets. The CFTC argues that, under the Commodity Exchange Act, it has exclusive jurisdiction over these markets, and accuses the states of overstepping their authority in an attempt to change the nature of the wagering event contracts. This lawsuit reflects regulatory actions by 11 states regarding prediction markets, each facing different legal challenges. If a federal court sides with the CFTC, it will help provide legal protection for prediction markets; otherwise, it will increase operational uncertainty.
MarketWhisper4h ago
ZachXBT Accuses Circle of Being ‘Asleep’ as Drift Hack Funds Moved Freely
Blockchain investigator ZachXBT has once again slammed Circle and its CEO, Jeremy Allaire, following alleged inaction during the $280 million exploit tied to Drift Protocol.
He described the entire fiasco as a critical delay in response as funds were actively moved across chains.
Circle Under
CryptoPotato6h ago
