Robert Herjavec is one of the best examples of a rags to riches story. From making a living waiting tables at a posh Yorkville restaurant, Herjavec today seats at the helm of the Herjavec Group; a multi-million dollar company. 

The thought of becoming his own boss had never crossed his mind and all he ever tried to be was a great employee who worked hard to earn a little bit more money year after year.

Today our focus is on the Canadian investor whose journey to wealth first began when he got fired.

Robert Herjavec’s Bio

Name:Robert Herjavec

Born:September 14, 1963

Nationality: Canadian

Spouse: Diane Plese

Children: 3

Occupation: CEO-The Herjavec Group, Investor, TV personality (Dragons’ Den and Shark Tank)

Net Worth: $100M

Robert Herjavec’s Early Life

Robert Herjavec was born in Varaždin, Croatia in 1963. His family moved to Canada when he was eight years old.

They settled in the Toronto neighborhood of Rexdale and Herjavec attended New College at the University of Toronto. His dad was a factory worker and his mom worked as a receptionist.

When he was young, his mother (who could barely speak in English) lost their family savings to a smooth talking vacuum salesman and since then, Herjavec vowed to never allow his family to be taken advantage of again.

Robert Herjavec’s Business Ventures

Robert Herjavec‘s first company was Avis Rent a Car; a car rental company which he started together with Warren Avis. 

When he left the company at the age of 25, Robert Herjavec got a $60,000 payout. This was the biggest paycheck he’d ever received and he remembers saying to his wife;

“I’m really happy but I’m really sad, because I’m never going to make this much money again”

In 1990, Robert Herjavec founded BRAK systems, a Canadian integrator of internet security but he later sold it to AT&T Canada in 2000. He then became the VP of internet security at the same company. BRAK systems is now worth $100 million.

In October 2000, Robert Herjavec became the VP of sales at RAMP Networks and two months later, RAMP announced that it had agreed to be acquired by Nokia in a tender offer for $5.80 per share.

Robert Herjavec who facilitated the acquisition was granted options which relied on RAMP’s acquisition by Nokia and in January 2001, Nokia completed the acquisition of RAMP Networks.

Robert Herjavec And The Herjavec Group

After RAMP was acquired by Nokia, Robert Herjavec became a stay at home

dad for three years after which he founded the Herjavec Group in 2003.

The Herjavec Group is an IT security integrator and reseller specializing in computer security and information storage for governments and enterprises; a sort of like a mini IBM.

Robert Herjavec credits the Herjavec Group as being his best company yet and he’s not keen on selling it any time soon. He instead intends to build it into a billion dollar company.

The Herjavec Group currently has 160 staff members (as of 2012) and this is up from three people nine years ago.

They did $52 million in Q1 of 2012. He is currently the CEO of the Herjavec Group.

Robert Herjavec: The Dragons’ Den And Shark Tank Investor

Robert Herjavec was an investor in Dragons’ Den, a Canadian reality show where entrepreneurs pitch their

ideas to investors in an effort to make them become their business partners.

The show was aired on CBC television and Herjavec was present in the show from season 1 to season 6.

In 2009, Robert Herjavec was selected to be an investor in the Shark Tank Show. 

Shark Tank is an American Reality TV show produced by Mark Burnett and aired on ABC television.

The show basically involves entrepreneurs presenting their business ideas to a group of five investors better known as the “Sharks” who are willing to invest in start-ups that they see as promising. They’ll even fight each other for a piece of the cake (in monetary terms of course) if they see an idea that they like.

The show first premiered on August 9th 2009. It’s the U.S version of Dragons’ Den.

Robert Herjavec is currently a predominant Canadian businessman, investor and TV personality. His most prevalent role in TV is his role as a shark tank investor, who’s known for coining the term “Good Guys Don’t Finish Last”.

“If you’re emotional and you’re great at something, the money will follow”–Robert Herjavec