"She was so upset"— When Shark Tank's Robert Herjavec recalled the moment he paid off his mom’s mortgage

Robert Herjavec, a beloved investor on Shark Tank, overcame a childhood shaped by poverty and adversity. At just eight years old, his family immigrated to Canada in search of a better life, however, it was filled with a lot of hardship. His father used to work at a factory while his mother was a receptionist.

In a March 26, 2024, interview with The CEO Magazine, Robert Herjavec reflected on his childhood and revealed that his relentless drive for success stemmed from witnessing his parents’ tireless efforts to provide for him.

He recalled a heartfelt moment when he tried to repay his mother’s hard work by paying off her mortgage. However, his mother returned the money, explaining that they didn’t want anything from him—only his happiness.

“At one point, I actually paid off my mom’s mortgage and she was so upset. She got the mortgage back, brought the money to my house and told me, ‘We never needed anything from you except for you to be happy,’” the Shark Tank star shared.

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Shark Tank investor Robert Herjavec felt that he had to justify his parents' sacrifice

In an interview with The CEO Magazine, Robert opened up about his early life and shared the factors that motivated him, emphasizing that he has never been particularly driven by money.

He revealed that his primary motivation stemmed from witnessing his parents' hard work to provide him with the opportunity for a better life.

“My overarching drive was how hard my mom and dad worked to give me an opportunity. And as I got older, I began to appreciate and understand that ‘Wow, these people sacrificed everything to give me an opportunity. And I’m just going to become a middle manager at some company?" he continued.

Robert shared that witnessing his parents' hard work made him feel a deep sense of responsibility to justify their sacrifice, even though they never pressured him to do so.

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Robert reflects on making time for his family

Later in his interview, Robert discussed the importance of carving out time for his family, despite his hectic schedule.

Robert explained that while entrepreneurs need to dedicate long hours and work hard at their jobs, they have the luxury of choosing when they work. He noted that this flexibility allows him to spend quality time with his family and attend all the important events in their lives.

“Do I work less than I did before? Probably not, but I get to do it on my schedule so I have never missed something that was important for my kids. You also learn as things get faster that you have to be more fully immersed in the moment – you can’t be everywhere,” the Shark Tank star said.

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Robert comments on raising his kids

Considering he had a struggling childhood and had to work hard to get out of poverty, Robert was asked in the interview if he was worried that his kids wouldn't have the same drive he had.

The Shark Tank star responded that he was initially worried about it, however, after having a conversation with one of his friends he realized that he was instead able to give them a sense of joy and wonder.

“I ask a lot of questions and I am continually fascinated by the world, by human potential, how things work, and I’m always trying to find a different way to do things. I find great joy in life. I find that it’s a privilege to be here and my life is a privilege – there is so much joy I feel for all of that," he continued.

In the end, Robert hoped that his children lived their lives with joy and wonder and he believed that without that kind of perspective, a person wouldn't be able to live a fulfilling life.

The Shark Tank star further explained that without the joy in life, a person won't be able to find happiness and if they don't have happiness in their life then achieving any level of greatness would become a significant challenge for them.

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Shark Tank season 16 episodes air every Friday on ABC.