In 1996, NBA superstar Shaquille O’Neal joined the Los Angeles Lakers and signed a massive 7-year, $120 million contract. This deal was a huge one back then. Throughout his career, he made $292 million from playing in the NBA and more than $200 million from endorsements. Shaquille O’Neal, a 4-time NBA champion, made smart business moves. As of February 2023, Shaquille O’Neal Net Worth reached a whopping $400 million.
Shaquille O’Neal Early Life
Shaquille Rashaun O’Neal was born in Newark, New Jersey on March 6, 1972. His father, Joe Toney, faced drug problems and wasn’t around much. Joe went to jail when Shaq was a baby and later gave up his rights to his stepdad, Phillip Arthur Harrison.
Shaq was a big kid from the start, and his size made him stand out from other kids.
Education
He went to Robert G. Cole High School in San Antonio. He did really well in basketball and got a scholarship to play at Louisiana State University.
Shaq studied business at Louisiana State University and played college basketball for the Tigers. His parents wanted him to finish college before going pro. But Coach Dale Brown worried about injuries in college, so he advised Shaq to enter the NBA draft.
After three college years, Shaq joined the NBA when the Orlando Magic drafted him first in 1992. He had promised his mom he’d finish his degree, and he kept his word by getting his bachelor’s in 2000 while playing in the NBA.
Feeling disrespected in business meetings, Shaq got an MBA from the University of Phoenix in 2005 to show he could be a successful entrepreneur. His mom’s tears of joy after his MBA inspired him to go further. In 2012, Shaq earned a doctoral degree in organizational learning and leadership with a focus on human resource development from Barry University.
Shaquille O’Neal Family
Shaquille O’Neal has six children. In 1996, he and his ex-girlfriend Arnetta Yardbourgh had their first child, Taahirah O’Neal.
Later in 2002, he married Shaunie Henderson, who’s a reality TV star and one of the executive producers of the Basketball Wives TV series.
Before marrying Shaquille O’Neal, Shaunie had a son named Myles from a previous relationship.
During their marriage, they had four children together: Shareef, Amirah, Shaqir, and Me’arah.
They got divorced in 2011 after nine years of marriage. Later in 2022, Shaunie married Pastor Keion Henderson.
Shaquille O’Neal Current Marital Status
Since his 2011 divorce,
. Of his children, Shareef, Amirah, Shaqir, and 15-year-old Me’arah are all into basketball, following in their dad’s footsteps.
Me’arah, at a young age, is showing great potential and growing quickly as a player.
Shaq’s : NBA Career
During his 19-year career, Shaquille O’Neal played for six NBA teams. He made a big impact as a rookie and led the Orlando Magic to the NBA Finals in his fourth season. In 1996, he moved to the Los Angeles Lakers, the same year they got a young Kobe Bryant on draft day.
In 2004, O’Neal went to the Miami Heat and helped them win the 2006 NBA Championship. But he wasn’t in his best shape and had many injuries. From 2007 to 2011, he played for three teams. He retired at 39 while with the Boston Celtics in 2011.
Shaq’s Achievments and Accolades
- 4× NBA champion (2000–2002, 2006)
- 3× NBA Finals MVP (2000–2002)
- NBA Most Valuable Player (2000)
- 15× NBA All-Star (1993–1998, 2000–2007, 2009)
- 3× NBA All-Star Game MVP (2000, 2004, 2009)
- 8× All-NBA First Team (1998, 2000–2006)
- 2× NBA scoring champion (1995, 2000)
- 2× All-NBA Second Team (1995, 1999)
- 3× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2000, 2001, 2003)
- 4× All-NBA Third Team (1994, 1996, 1997, 2009)
- NBA Rookie of the Year (1993)
- NBA All-Rookie First Team (1993)
Shaq’s Companies and Business Portfolio ;
Shaquille O’Neal, a successful former athlete turned businessman, owns 50 different brands across various industries. He’s got more than 172 restaurants and 150 car washes. Even though he retired over a decade ago, Shaq still endorses 30 companies.
Among his many ventures, Shaq was part owner of 155 Five Guys Burgers restaurants. He owns franchises like Krispy Kreme, Papa John’s Pizza, Auntie Anne’s Pretzel, Car Wash, and 24-Hour Fitness. Plus, he has 9 Papa John’s Pizza restaurants. Shaq invested in big companies like Apple, PepsiCo, Google, and General Electric, which really boosted his net worth.
He’s also the second-highest shareholder in the Authentic Brands Group, which owns JCPenney and Forever 21 and controls royalties for legends like Elvis Presley, Muhammad Ali, and Marilyn Monroe. So, Shaq gets a piece of those legends’ royalties.
Despite his smart investments, Shaq did miss out on some big opportunities, like Starbucks. He chose not to invest in coffeehouses for a unique reason.
While he was once a minority owner of the Sacramento Kings, he’s sold his shares. But Shaq’s still interested in owning part of an NBA team and has expressed a desire to invest in his former team, the Orlando Magic.
Shaquille O’Neal Net Worth
In 2023, Shaquille O’Neal is estimated to have a net worth of about $400 million. He’s one of the richest former athletes globally, and most of his wealth came from his NBA career, where he made $292 million in salary alone.
