Kevin O'Leary Says New York Mayor Deserves 'Real Estate Agent of the Year Award' for Driving People Out of…

August 24, 2026 - 03:14

Florida real estate agents might want to send a thank-you card to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. "Shark Tank" investor Kevin O'Leary says the mayor is doing the heavy lifting for them, and he's not being entirely sarcastic.

During a recent appearance, O'Leary joked that Mamdani deserves the "Real Estate Agent of the Year Award" for his policies that are driving people out of the city. The comment came as part of a broader critique of the mayor's approach to housing, taxes, and business regulations. O'Leary argued that the cumulative effect of these policies is making New York less attractive for middle-class families and entrepreneurs, who are then looking to relocate to states with lower costs and fewer hurdles.

While the award was clearly a jab, the underlying point is a serious one. O'Leary pointed to the steady outflow of residents to places like Florida and Texas, noting that this trend is not accidental. He suggested that the mayor's focus on certain progressive priorities is coming at the expense of economic practicality. For those in the moving and real estate business down south, the influx has been a boom. But for New York, O'Leary warns, the loss of talent and capital is a long-term problem that no amount of political posturing can fix. He stopped short of offering a solution, but the message was clear: the city needs a course correction before it empties out further.