“I’m licking my chops on that place” – Shark Tank's Kevin O’Leary on North Dakota’s energy boom

When Kevin O’Leary gets excited about a business opportunity, you know it’s serious. The Shark Tank star recently shared his growing interest in North Dakota’s booming energy sector.

“I’m licking my chops on that place,”

O’Leary said during a Fox Business segment, hinting at major potential for investors and entrepreneurs alike. With an unlimited supply of stranded natural gas, a strong local banking system, and a pro-business environment, North Dakota might just be America’s next big wealth story.

O’Leary compared the state's future to that of Norway, famous for its trillion-dollar national wealth fund fueled by offshore oil drilling. It's a bold comparison, but as he broke it down, the pieces started fitting together. And when someone from Shark Tank says “Yippee” over a business prospect, it's probably worth paying attention.

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Kevin O’Leary's Shark Tank instincts spot gold in North Dakota

Kevin O’Leary, known for his sharp instincts on Shark Tank, pointed out that North Dakota has been "really overlooked for decades." With only about 750,000 residents and a virtually unlimited supply of stranded natural gas, the state offers a rare opportunity.

"The more Nat gas you find a use for like electricity, the more oil you can take out of the ground with fracking,"

O'Leary explained. It's a cycle that could unlock massive wealth. Plus, North Dakota is one of the few states with its own banking system, which gives it even more financial strength.

"No question, they’re going to be the richest Americans four or five years from now,"

he said. It's a big statement, but when a Shark Tank veteran like O'Leary says it, ears tend to perk up.

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The Norwegian comparison: A future national wealth fund?

The conversation took an interesting turn when Fox Business anchor Stuart Varney brought up Norway. With its national wealth fund nearing a trillion dollars, thanks to offshore oil drilling, Norway has set a global benchmark.

Varney asked,

"Are you suggesting virtually the same thing in North Dakota? Drill baby drill and put that money into the state?"

O'Leary’s answer was clear.

"That is the plan of the governor Kelly,[...] he’s the new sheriff in town and he loves that idea and that’s exactly what he’s going to do,"

he said. It's a bold plan that sounds right out of a Shark Tank pitch, with the whole state playing the role of a startup.

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Big tech, big energy, and big potential

One of the major selling points for O'Leary is North Dakota's potential for data centers. Thanks to abundant energy resources and a growing infrastructure, tech companies could find a new home there.

O'Leary mentioned a recent development:

"They just green lighted a pipeline that gets Nat gas on its way to Fargo, which has a massive campus of Microsoft there. You got the engineers."

For a businessman who spends his days analyzing deals on Shark Tank, this kind of synergy is too good to ignore.

He’s not just casually interested either.

"I’ve been spending a lot of time there and there’s a really interesting opportunity for data centers for all their energy,"

O'Leary said.

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The national energy grid crisis and the solution

America's national energy grid is facing a serious shortage. According to O'Leary,

"The grid is completely wiped out in America, you can’t find any more gigawatts of power."

That’s where North Dakota comes in.

"You’re gonna build these pipelines, find states like this where they are pro-business,"

he said. For a Shark Tank mind like O'Leary, it's all about solving problems and filling gaps in the market.

Building new pipelines and expanding energy production could be the answer to America's power problems. And with North Dakota leading the charge, investors are taking note.

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Final thoughts: Kevin O'Leary's North Dakota play

Kevin O'Leary's enthusiasm for North Dakota isn't just talk. His comments reflect a deep belief in the state's future — one that’s rooted in energy, technology, and smart financial planning.

With Shark Tank experience behind him, O'Leary knows a promising venture when he sees one. And right now, North Dakota looks like a wide-open frontier for opportunity. It’s not every day that a Shark Tank mogul starts scouting an entire state as his next big investment.

For teens dreaming of their future startups and adults looking for where the next big opportunity might be, O'Leary’s North Dakota energy bet might be one story to watch closely.