Shaq O’Neal’s career is just as impressive as his towering height.
The larger-than-life NBA legend has built a fortune from the ground up and is now considered one of today’s most influential athletes and businesspeople.
In this article, I’ll discuss Shaq’s net worth, income streams, and business ventures that contribute to his staggering net worth.
What Is Shaq’s Net Worth?
Shaq, full name Shaquille Rashaun O’Neal, is an American entrepreneur, product endorser, television host, and former NBA player. As of 2024, he has an estimated net worth of $500 million.
According to Shaq, he’s always been a businessman more than he was an NBA star.
Shaq earned $292 million from his salary alone when he played in the NBA. This figure is enough to make anyone raise an impressed eyebrow, but Shaq wasn’t entirely satisfied with that amount. As he played, he made an additional $200 million from endorsements and sponsorships.
Shaq retired from the NBA in 2011 during the 2010-11 season, likely due to an Achilles tendon injury that severely limited his play. He amassed a career total of 28,596 points, securing the seventh spot on the NBA’s all-time scoring list upon retirement.
NBA Career
Shaq’s NBA career began with Orlando Magic in 1992, where he signed a 4-year contract worth $17.4 million. He then joined the Los Angeles Lakers in 1996, signing a lucrative seven-year contract valued at $120 million.
O’Neal’s financial peak came during the 2004-05 season as a member of the Miami Heat, earning an annual salary surpassing $27.7 million. He was one of the top-paying athletes of that season.
Endorsements and Investments
After retiring in 2011, Shaq ventured into various endorsements and investments.
He’s partnered with fast-food chains like Taco Bell and Burger King, athletic brands like Reebok, and beverages like PepsiCo.
Shaq also has a diverse investment portfolio covering technology, sports, fashion, and beauty sectors. His most notable investments include Google, Apple, Ring, and Vitaminwater.
He likewise owns many shares in the Authentic Grand group, which owns Forever 21, Reebok, and JCPenny. He also has ownership stakes in dozens of franchise businesses, such as Krispy Kreme, Auntie Anne’s Pretzels, and Five Guys Burgers.
Businesses and Brands
Alongside his many investments and shares, Shaq owns several businesses.
Among these businesses is a fast-food chain called Big Chicken, which serves burgers, sandwiches, and chicken in extra large portions. The fast-food chain makes no less than $80 million annually in sales revenue.
In early 2021, Shaq started accepting applications for franchising Big Chicken. Franchising costs between $450,000 and $1.4 million, plus a one-time fee of $40,000 and ongoing royalties of 5% of sales and 2% for marketing.
Another one of Shaq’s many successful businesses is Shaq, a shoe and clothing brand. Given his basketball background, it isn’t surprising that the line mainly focuses on athletic wear, like basketball shoes, sports shoes, training apparel, and branded Shaq t-shirts.
Real Estate
Shaq owns several real estate across the United States.
He currently lives in a 100,000-square-foot mansion in Windermere, Florida, which he has no plans to sell.
However, he recently listed his sprawling 171,000-square-foot property in Windermere, Florida, for an eye-twitching $19.5 million.
His other properties include a 5,270-square-foot mansion in Texas, three homes in the Atlanta suburb of McDonough, 4,635 square feet to 7,400 square feet, and a 4,824-square-foot Vegas estate. And this doesn’t include his various homes in Florida, California, and Nevada.
The most recent home he sold was the “Shaq-apulco” estate in October 2021. The nearly 29-square-foot, eight-bedroom, 12-bath estate was initially listed for $28 million, but after several price cuts, it was sold for $11 million.
Philanthropy And Social Contributions
In 2019, Shaq established the Shaquille O’Neal Foundation (TSONF), which empowers underserved youth through education and family support programs.
TSONF has partnered with several non-profit organizations in Las Vegas and Atlanta to build and refurbish athletic facilities like basketball courts, turf fields, and tennis courts.
In June 2024, Shaq O’Neal, alongside the Boys & Girls Club Alumni Hall of Fame and Communities In Schools (CIS), announced a multi-million-dollar project to build a 17,000-square-foot CIS Alumni Center.
The goal of this center is to provide youth in grades K-12 with emotional, social, academic, and tech-related resources needed for youth development. It also aims to help former CIS students further their educational, professional, and personal lives.
Outside the Shaquille O’Neal Foundation, Shaq regularly hosted charity programs to help those in need.
In 2021, he launched the “Shaq Gives Back” NTF collection that reportedly raised $1 million in just 24 hours. He also partnered with fast food franchises like Papa John’s, donating $1 for every Shaq-a-Roni pizza sold for some time. The event raised more than $760,000.
Not many people know this, but Shaq has a doctorate in Education from Barry University in Miami. Helping children in need has always been his goal.
“A lot of people are going through a lot of tough times,” Shaq once said in an interview with People Magazine. “I want to be the guy to make them smile. I want to help people get back on track.”
How Does Shaq Make Sure His Kids Earn Their Own Money?
During an appearance on the “Earn Your Leisure” podcast, Shaq stated that his kids don’t get a free pass just because their dad is rich and famous. He tells them, “We ain’t rich, I’m rich.” He insists they earn bachelor’s or master’s degrees and, if they want him to invest in their companies, they must present a solid business plan. “Boom boom boom, bring it to me,” he said. “I’ll let you know, I’m not giving you nothing.”
“I don’t care if you play basketball. I don’t care about none of that,” he added. “Listen, I got six kids. I would like a doctor, somebody to own a hedge fund, a pharmacist, a lawyer, someone that owns multiple businesses, someone to take over my business. But I tell them I’m not going to hand it to you. You gotta earn it.”
Final Thoughts
Shaquille O’Neal is one of the most successful Americans of his time. At only 52 years old, he amassed an income of over $500 million.
A businessman at heart, Shaq’s income streams come from several avenues. These include brand endorsements, company and real estate investments, and sponsorships.
