Kevin O’Leary: Gen Z stays poor by spending $28 on lunch making $70K

A resurfaced clip of Kevin O’Leary tearing into Gen Z over $28 lunches has gone viral, reigniting the same debate that defined the avocado toast era. The short clip from his sit-down with Steven Bartlett has racked up over 62 million views on X.

What O’Leary actually said

“I can’t stand when I see kids making $70,000 a year spending $28 for lunch. I mean, that’s just stupid. Think about that in the context of that being put into an index [fund] and that making 8% to 10% a year for the next 50 years,” O’Leary told host Steven Bartlett.

O’Leary explained that investing $28 per week in a low-cost index fund earning an average annual return of 8% would yield close to $800,000 in half a century. The argument is less about the sandwich and more about compounding.

The math behind the takeout

A $28 weekly lunch habit represents $1,456 a year. Invested once a year for 50 years, that same annual amount would grow to about $835,409 at 8%, or about $1.69 million at 10%, before taxes, fees, and inflation.

That is the trader-friendly version of the pitch: opportunity cost, not moralizing. The harder question is whether a $70K earner actually has $1,456 of slack to redirect.

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The pushback

A $70,000 salary is gross income, not usable cash. Payroll taxes, rent, transportation, insurance, student debt, utilities, and grocery costs all hit before a young worker decides whether lunch is an indulgence or the only practical option between shifts.

Several users also questioned the salary assumption behind the comment. While O’Leary cited workers earning $70,000 annually, commenters pointed out that many Gen Z workers earn far less. Estimates for median Gen Z income vary widely by age and career stage, but many younger workers fall well below that figure.

Critics also flagged that O’Leary, who is 71 and worth approximately $400 million, is out of touch with the economic situation the average young person faces.

Other voices weigh in

Investor and entrepreneur Anthony Pompliano said he agrees that people do waste money, but he claims O’Leary’s comment doesn’t offer an “abundance mindset” of trying to grow the pot. “Don’t try to spend less, make more,” Pompliano said in a video posted to Instagram.

Nalin Haley, the 24-year-old son of former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, responded to O’Leary by sarcastically pitching “a reality show but it’s successful boomers living on $70k a year in 2026.”

Options market and stocks to watch

If the debate is really about discretionary spending and index-fund compounding, a few tickers are worth watching:

• CMG: Chipotle is the poster child for the $15-plus fast casual lunch. Watch traffic data and average ticket for signs that younger consumers are trading down.
• SBUX: Starbucks is the other obvious tell on Gen Z discretionary cuts. Watch same-store sales and afternoon traffic.
• MCD: McDonald’s benefits if the trade-down narrative wins. Watch the value menu commentary on the next call.
• VOO and SPY: The vehicles O’Leary is implicitly pitching. Watch retail inflows if the clip actually moves behavior.
• DASH: DoorDash is the direct line to the $28 lunch. Watch order frequency among younger cohorts.

For more market reactions and macro commentary, see additional coverage in other news.

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