Kevin Harrington

Kevin Harrington (born October 15, 1956) is an American entrepreneur, investor, and television personality who is widely credited as the inventor of the infomercial and a pioneer of the direct response television industry. He is the founder of the As Seen on TV brand and served as one of the original "Shark" investors on the ABC reality television series Shark Tank during its first two seasons (2009–2011).

Throughout his career, Harrington has launched over 20 businesses that have each grown to over $100 million in sales and has been involved in more than 500 product launches generating over $5 billion in global sales. His portfolio of famous products includes the George Foreman Grill, Ginsu Knives, the FoodSaver, OxiClean, The Flying Lure, and The Great Wok of China. He has worked with celebrity endorsers including George Foreman, Jack LaLanne, Tony Little, and Billy Mays.

Harrington is a co-founder of the Electronic Retailing Association (ERA) and the Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO), and was named one of the 100 best entrepreneurs in the world by Entrepreneur Magazine in 1990.

Early life and education

Kevin Harrington was born on October 15, 1956, in Cincinnati, Ohio, into a middle-class family as one of eight children. His father owned a successful Italian restaurant, which served as Harrington's early introduction to business ownership and instilled in him the values of hard work and entrepreneurship.

Harrington's entrepreneurial spirit emerged early in life. At age nine, he began selling newspapers. By age 15, he had launched his first business, a driveway sealing company. The venture was successful enough that by the time he was a university student, he had established two profitable businesses: the original driveway sealing operation and a heating and air conditioning company. Harrington built his first million-dollar business while still in college.

He attended Purcell Marian Catholic High School in Cincinnati and later enrolled at the University of Cincinnati, though he did not complete his degree. His practical business success during this period convinced him that hands-on entrepreneurship was more valuable to him than formal education.

Career

Invention of the infomercial

In 1984, while watching television late at night, Harrington noticed that cable networks often displayed color test bars during off-hours when they had no programming to air. Recognizing an untapped advertising opportunity, he conceived the idea of producing extended-format commercials to fill this "dead air" time.

In 1985, Harrington created what is widely credited as the first modern infomercial—a 30-minute direct response television program that combined entertainment and education with product sales. While companies like Vitamix had been producing long-form television sales programs since 1949, Harrington's innovation was to systematically purchase late-night and early-morning airtime across multiple cable networks, creating a scalable business model for direct response marketing.

His first major venture was Quantum International, which he founded in the mid-1980s with an initial investment of $25,000. The company became enormously successful, reaching $500 million in annual sales and trading on the New York Stock Exchange, with its stock price rising from $1 to $20 per share.

National Media Corporation

Quantum International merged with National Media Corporation in 1991, with Harrington serving as president. Under his leadership, National Media reached $500 million in annual sales, distributing products in over 100 countries and 20 languages. The company's success has been chronicled in a case study at Harvard Business School and MIT for over a decade.

Harrington left National Media in 1994 to pursue new opportunities.

HSN Direct International

From 1994 to 1998, Harrington served as CEO and president of HSN Direct International Inc., a joint venture company he co-founded with The Home Shopping Network. Under his guidance, HSN Direct achieved hundreds of millions of dollars in sales, leveraging the growing cable television industry to reach consumers directly.

As Seen on TV and TVGoods

Harrington became synonymous with the "As Seen on TV" brand, serving as CEO of the internet company TVGoods and as senior executive officer and chairman of the board of As Seen On TV, Inc. The distinctive red oval logo became one of the most recognized marketing symbols in American retail.

Throughout his career, Harrington launched a portfolio of products that became household names:

• George Foreman Grill: Harrington's involvement with this product helped generate over $1 billion in sales, making it one of the most successful direct response products in history
• Ginsu Knives: The famous knife set known for its television marketing
• FoodSaver: Vacuum sealing system for food preservation
• OxiClean: The cleaning product famously promoted by Billy Mays
• The Flying Lure: A fishing lure that became a direct response success
• The Great Wok of China: A wok marketed through infomercials

Harrington collaborated with celebrity endorsers who became direct response television icons, including George Foreman, Jack LaLanne, Tony Little, and Billy Mays.

Shark Tank

Mark Burnett, the producer of Shark Tank, selected Harrington to be one of the original "Shark" investors when the show launched on ABC in 2009. His experience in direct response television and product development made him a natural fit for evaluating consumer products pitched on the show.

Harrington appeared as a regular Shark during the first two seasons, filming over 175 segments. He reportedly earned $50,000 per episode when he returned for a guest appearance in season four. Notable investments during his tenure included A Perfect Pear, a gourmet food company in which he invested $250,000 for a 25% stake.

Harrington departed from Shark Tank after the second season to focus on other ventures, though he has remained active in the direct response and entrepreneurial communities.

Industry leadership

Harrington has played a significant role in organizing the direct response television industry:

• Electronic Retailing Association (ERA): Harrington co-founded this industry trade association, which has grown to operate in 45 countries
• Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO): He co-founded this global network for entrepreneurs, which now boasts more than 10,000 members worldwide

Philanthropy

Harrington is involved in various philanthropic organizations, including the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the National Parkinson Foundation.

Controversies

InventureX lawsuit

In 2021, Harrington and fellow Shark Tank investor Kevin O'Leary were named as defendants in a lawsuit filed by 20 entrepreneurs from across the United States. The plaintiffs alleged that the two television personalities had steered investors and entrepreneurs to hire companies called InventureX or Ideazon to handle crowdfunding for their startups.

According to the lawsuit, Harrington was "a partner and primary executive of InventureX," while O'Leary allegedly endorsed and recommended both companies. The plaintiffs claimed they were promised help raising funds for their businesses, with some alleging that the prospect of appearing on Shark Tank was dangled before them. After paying fees to the companies, the plaintiffs claimed they received little to nothing in return. The lawsuit sought damages for economic losses, emotional distress, and legal fees.

Harrington denied the allegations. A statement from his representatives noted: "Kevin has been a proponent of entrepreneurs globally. Kevin never had any business arrangement or contract with any of the plaintiffs. This should be a dispute between the plaintiffs and InventureX, Kevin simply did a video for this company."

Personal life

Harrington married his wife, Crystal, though he has maintained significant privacy regarding his family life. The couple has at least one daughter together.

Harrington also has a son, Brian Harrington, from a previous relationship with Amy Fineman Harrington. Brian has followed in his father's entrepreneurial footsteps, becoming a partner at Kevin Harrington Enterprises and working as a consultant helping businesses with product launches. Brian has helped generate over $100 million in sales and is married to Alyssa Harrington, with whom he has three children, making Kevin a grandfather.

When asked about his passions, Harrington has said: "My wife's happiness, children's futures, and breaking 85 on the golf course!"

The Harrington family resides in Florida.

Net worth

As of 2024, Harrington's estimated net worth is between $400 million and $450 million. His wealth derives from his founding stakes in multiple direct response television companies, product royalties and licensing deals, his Shark Tank investments, speaking fees, and consulting arrangements.

External links

• Official website
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• Kevin Harrington at ABC's Shark Tank