Kevin O’Leary has been awarded $2.828 million in damages in a defamation lawsuit against crypto influencer Benjamin “Ben” Armstrong, widely known online as “BitBoy.” The decision stems from a default judgment entered in federal court after Armstrong failed to substantively respond in the case and later sought to undo the default.
The outcome was detailed in an omnibus order filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, while Bloomberg Law separately reported the ruling and the damages breakdown tied to the court’s findings.
Key Takeaways
- A federal court in Miami awarded Kevin O’Leary $2,828,000 in total damages.
- The award includes $750,000 for mental anguish, $78,000 for reputational harm, and $2 million in punitive damages.
- The court denied Armstrong’s motion to set aside the default judgment after he cited incarceration and mental health claims.
- The case centers on social media posts that the court found defamatory, alongside the sharing of O’Leary’s private phone number.
How the case reached a default judgment
According to the court order, O’Leary filed the defamation action in late March 2025. The court record describes multiple missed deadlines and a failure to file an answer or otherwise respond in a timely, substantive way, which led to an entry of default and later proceedings focused on damages.
The order notes the court scheduled an evidentiary hearing to determine damages and that Armstrong did not appear, despite receiving notice.
What the posts allegedly claimed
The dispute traces back to a series of posts on X in March 2025. As described in the federal court filing, the posts repeated false allegations tied to a 2019 boating incident involving O’Leary and his wife and included inflammatory claims about O’Leary’s supposed responsibility.
The court order also references the disclosure of O’Leary’s private cell phone number and encouragement directed at followers to contact him, which the court linked to personal and professional disruption.
Damages breakdown: mental anguish, reputation, and punitive award
The court awarded a total of $2,828,000, consisting of $750,000 in mental anguish damages, $78,000 in reputational damages, and $2,000,000 in punitive damages, as stated in the order.
Bloomberg Law reported that the judge entered default judgment after concluding Armstrong failed to provide a substantive response to the lawsuit, and that the posts and phone-number disclosure significantly affected O’Leary’s professional and personal life.
Armstrong’s attempt to undo the judgment was denied
Armstrong asked the court to set aside the default judgment, pointing to incarceration and mental health issues. The court rejected that request, emphasizing the procedural history and finding the record did not support relief from the default under the applicable standards described in the order.
The ruling also indicates the case was ordered closed, with a final judgment to follow.
Why this matters for crypto creators and public figures
Beyond the individuals involved, the decision highlights growing legal exposure for influencers and content creators whose posts cross into defamation allegations or include private personal information. In practice, the case underscores that courts may treat repeated accusations and targeted harassment-style conduct as more than “online drama,” especially when reputational harm and safety concerns are raised in the record.