Kevin O'Leary said to the Rising morning show on Thursday that Gen Z's habit of spending $28 [1] on lunch is financially reckless.
The comments highlight a growing generational divide regarding cost-of-living adjustments and the spending habits of young professionals entering the U.S. workforce.
During the broadcast from a Washington, D.C. studio, O'Leary spoke with host Robby Soave about the fiscal health of the youngest generation of workers. O'Leary said that Gen Z is "financially cooked" due to these spending patterns [2].
He specifically questioned the logic of those earning a moderate professional salary who prioritize expensive daily meals over saving. "I cannot understand why young professionals earning around $70,000 are spending $28 [3] on a single lunch," O'Leary said [2].
O'Leary said young people should stop this habit to avoid long-term financial instability. He said that such expenditures are unsound when compared to the overall income of early-career professionals [2].
The discussion on Rising occurred as part of a broader conversation on economic discipline and the pressures facing the current workforce. While O'Leary focused on individual choice and budgeting, the conversation touched upon how these habits contribute to a lack of wealth accumulation among Gen Z [1].
O'Leary's critique centers on the idea that small, recurring luxuries can derail a financial future. He said that the cumulative effect of these daily costs prevents young earners from building the capital necessary for stability [2].
“Gen Z is 'financially cooked' spending $28 on lunch.”
This critique reflects a tension between traditional fiscal conservatism and the modern 'lifestyle inflation' experienced by young professionals. By focusing on a specific $28 price point, O'Leary is framing the struggle of Gen Z not as a systemic failure of wages, but as a failure of personal budgeting and discipline in the face of consumerist trends.
