Robert Herjavec Says Real Estate Is the Only Safe Bet? Yeah, Right.
Alright, let's get one thing straight: another day, another millionaire telling us how to live. This time it's Shark Tank's Robert Herjavec, bless his heart, dispensing wisdom about how if he were down to his last million, he'd plow it all into real estate. Shark Tank Investor Robert Herjavec: Where I'd Put a Million Oh, really? A million bucks is now "desperate"? Give me a break.
The "Safety" Myth
Herjavec told Grant Cardone that real estate is where he’d “build a foundation.” You know, because "desperate people do stupid s–t.” Shark Tank Investor Robert Herjavec: Where I'd Put a Million Translation: He's so used to playing with Monopoly money that a measly million is now a "foundation." The rest of us are out here building foundations on ramen and prayer.
And the whole "safe bet" narrative? Please. Real estate is about as safe as a toddler with a loaded diaper. Yeah, it can be lucrative, but it's also a black hole for cash, time, and sanity. Between property taxes, maintenance, and the sheer joy of dealing with tenants who think "rent" is a four-letter word...I'd rather wrestle a bear.
Plus, let's be real, real estate ain't exactly accessible to everyone, especially not first-time buyers. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) found that first-time homebuyers now make up only half the share they did in 2007. [Source Title: Robert Herjavec’s Bold $1M Answer Shows How Billionaires Really Think] So while Herjavec is busy scooping up luxury pads on Billionaires’ Row [Source Title: Robert Herjavec’s Bold $1M Answer Shows How Billionaires Really Think], the rest of us are supposed to be thrilled about a 6% to 9% appreciation, assuming we can even get a mortgage?
The Herjavec Reality Distortion Field
Okay, I'm not saying Robert Herjavec (net worth somewhere between $300 million and $600 million, according to reports...so how much is robert herjavec net worth, really?) [Source Title: Robert Herjavec’s Bold $1M Answer Shows How Billionaires Really Think] doesn't know what he's talking about. The dude's clearly done alright for himself. He's been on Dragon’s Den and Shark Tank; he's married to Kym Johnson (Kym Johnson Robert Herjavec are living the high life, apparently); he’s got houses all over the damn place. [Source Title: Robert Herjavec’s Bold $1M Answer Shows How Billionaires Really Think] But his perspective is so detached from reality that it's practically science fiction.
It’s like when celebrities tell you to "just be yourself" to succeed. Easy for them to say when they've got a team of stylists, publicists, and personal trainers making sure their "self" is camera-ready. Robert Herjavec wife, Kym, probably doesn't clip coupons, let's be real.
And I get it, real estate has performed well during inflation. [Source Title: Robert Herjavec’s Bold $1M Answer Shows How Billionaires Really Think] But so have a lot of things. And unlike stocks, you can't just liquidate a house with a click of a button.
The "Grounded" Myth
They call him "grounded" and "genuine" among the Sharks? [Source Title: Robert Herjavec’s Bold $1M Answer Shows How Billionaires Really Think] Please. The guy owns a grand Federation-style estate in Sydney and a four-bedroom apartment on Manhattan’s Billionaires’ Row. [Source Title: Robert Herjavec’s Bold $1M Answer Shows How Billionaires Really Think] I'm sure he's a lovely person, but let's not pretend he's just one of us.
He started with simple goals, they say. [Source Title: Robert Herjavec’s Bold $1M Answer Shows How Billionaires Really Think] Well, good for him. Most of us start with simple goals like "not dying of student loan debt" or "finding affordable healthcare." It's a different world when your "simple goal" is to give your parents a "kickstart" in Canada.
So, What's the Real Story?
Look, I'm not hating on Robert Herjavec for being rich. I'm hating on the fact that these kinds of pronouncements are so out of touch with the struggles of everyday people. Telling someone struggling to make rent that real estate is the "only safe bet" is like telling a drowning man to "just breathe." It's tone-deaf, unhelpful, and frankly, insulting. And offcourse, it sells clicks.