'Center of the universe': Investor and reality TV star skips Davos summit for Mar-a-Lago

15 January

Davos, Switzerland used to be one of the world's top hotspots for the wealthy elite to hobnob with global heads of state. But one investor is skipping this year's Davos summit to be in President-elect Donald Trump's orbit.

The Daily Beast reported Wednesday that Shark Tank star Kevin O'Leary — who has a net worth of roughly $400 million — isn't planning to go to Switzerland for this year's gathering at Davos, which will take place between January 20th and 24th. Instead, the Canadian businessman views Mar-a-Lago as the most worthwhile destination to represent his interests.

"It’s the new Davos but with much warmer weather," O'Leary wrote for the Daily Mail. "This is where America's business is now being transacted."

To attend Mar-a-Lago, a potential visitor has to either purchase a membership for $1 million, or be the invited guest of a current member. O'Leary wrote that when he visited Trump's Palm Beach County, Florida estate on January 4, he rubbed elbows with Alberta, Canada Premier Danielle Smith, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Trump himself.

O'Leary wrote that he attended Mar-a-Lago earlier this month as a guest of wealthy philanthropist Bill Pulte, who Trump was considering to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development (he ultimately nominated retired NFL player and former Texas state representative Scott Turner). He noted that upon entering the 17-acre, 126-room mansion, maitre'd Carmen de Oliveira — who he called "the most powerful woman in America you've never heard of" — will decide where a guest will sit, and how close that guest will be to the president-elect. O'Leary referred to Trump's table as "the center of the universe, the sun" and that all the other tables "rotate around it."

"If you don't yet know Carmen, she may seat you on Pluto," he wrote. "But if you're in good standing with her (I was fortunate that she is a fan of Shark Tank), then you get to sit close to the center and rub shoulders with the men and women, who will determine the direction of the country for the next four years."

The Shark Tank star sarcastically referred to as "Mr. Wonderful" has made a bid to buy TikTok in conjunction with billionaire investor Frank McCourt, as the popular short-form video app will be banned in the United States on January 19 unless it's sold to an American company. He argued that his bid "offers the best opportunity to purchase TikTok and keep it operational."

"[E]veryone that I need to speak to about my plans – from Secretary of State nominee Marco Rubio to incoming national security adviser Mike Waltz – is there at Mar-a-Lago," O'Leary wrote.

"You couldn't pay me to get on a plane to Davis[sic] right now," he added. "I'm just hanging around southern Florida, and when I'm invited, I'll drive up to Winter White House."

Click here to read O'Leary's Daily Mail essay, and click here to read the Beast's full report in full (subscription required).

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