Kevin O’Leary wins $2.8M defamation suit against BitBoy

Kevin O’Leary won $2.8 million in a defamation suit against Ben Armstrong, who falsely accused him of murder and posted his private number, leading to reputational and emotional damages.

Kevin O’Leary has secured a $2.8 million judgment in a defamation lawsuit against crypto influencer Ben Armstrong, known as BitBoy. The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida issued a default judgment after Armstrong failed to respond or appear in court. The case stemmed from Armstrong’s March 2025 social media posts, where he falsely accused O’Leary of murder related to a 2019 boating accident and published O’Leary’s private phone number, urging followers to harass him. Damages awarded include $78,000 for reputational harm, $750,000 for emotional distress, and $2 million in punitive damages. The court found Armstrong acted with actual malice, justifying punitive damages. Armstrong’s attempts to overturn the ruling, citing incarceration and mental health issues, were denied. This case underscores that online influencers can face significant legal consequences for defamation and harassment.