Shaq Net Worth

Shaq Net Worth

Have you ever wondered what the net worth of Shaq is? If you’re a fan of basketball, odds are you have heard of this Hall-Of-Famer and NBA legend.

Shaq is arguably the greatest center that has ever lived. Despite winning multiple championships, the star actually made a lot of his net worth through investments and business.

Additionally, he’s even tried his hand at mixing electronic dance music records!

As of May 2023, Shaq has a net worth of $400 million. This post will show you how he amassed his wealth and what you can take away from his story.

Early Life

Shaquille O’Neal was born in Newark, New Jersey, on March 6, 1972. His mother was named Lucille O’Neal, and his father went by Joe Toney.

When Shaq was an infant, his father struggled with drug addiction and quickly fell into prison.

After being freed from prison, he forfeited parental rights to Shaq.

However, Shaq’s stepfather, Phil Harrison, took his role and helped the young boy stay away from trouble and nurture his talents.

Shaq came from a naturally tall family. His mother was 6’2, and his biological father was 6’1.

Consequently, the young boy had reached a staggering height of 6’6 by the time he was only thirteen!

During this time, the neighboring streets of Newark were filled with crime and bad influence. Thankfully, Shaq accredits his local Boy’s and Girl’s Club for keeping him off the streets.

Instead of following this path, he would practice basketball daily.

By the time the boy turned 16, O’Neal had grown to 6’10! He began playing basketball at Robert G. Cole High School his freshman year.

Shaq led his team to an incredible 68–1 record over two years and he helped the team win the state championship during his senior year. 

His play earned him a basketball scholarship to Louisiana State University.

Career

Basketball stars Ron Artest with Shaq O'Neal
 

By the time Shaq had graduated from Louisiana State University, there was no doubt the young star was ready for the league.

The Orlando Magic drafted O’Neal with the 1st overall pick in the 1992 NBA draft that same year, and his NBA career began.

O’Neal was named the Player of the Week in his first week in the NBA, the first player to do so! At the end of his rookie season, the star would average 23 points and 14 rebounds per game!

O’Neal quickly became a league-wide threat and was feared by several teams. At the end of the 1996 season, Shaq became a free agent for the first time since being drafted.

The Los Angeles Lakers quickly picked him up and gave Shaq the biggest NBA salary and he took full advantage and became a Lakers legend.

From 2000 to 2002, Shaq and the LA Lakers collected three NBA championships in a row along with teammate Kobe Bryant, some say they are the greatest duo in the history of sports

Following this incredible championship reign, Shaq made his move to the Miami Heat in 2004.

He claimed one of the main reasons for going to Miami was to play with the up-and-coming star, Dwyane Wade, to whom he gave the nickname “Flash.”

Shaq would return to the NBA finals in 2006, facing the Dallas Mavericks led by star power forward Dirk Nowitzki.

The Mavericks won the first two games at their home stadium in a dominating fashion.

The Heat, led by a young Wade, would go on to win all four of the next four games to deliver the first NBA title for the Miami Heat franchise and give O’Neal his fourth title.

Following his last title, Shaq spent time on the Boston Celtics, Phoenix Suns, and Cleveland Cavaliers, before retiring from the NBA in 2011.

Business Ventures

Shaquille O'Neal attends WarnerMedia Upfront 2019 arrivals outside of The Theater at Madison Square Garden

Following his career in professional basketball, Shaq had amassed quite a net worth. Like many smart businessmen would do, Shaq decided to take his salary earnings and multiply his wealth.

On March 22, 2019, it was announced that he would be joining Papa John’s board of directors.

Shaq would earn $8.25 million in salary and stock compensation over a three-year period by taking on this role.

Additionally, he invested $840,000 of his own money to buy 30% of a 9-unit franchise of Papa Johns in Atlanta!

In 2013 Shaq paid $5 million dollars for a 1% stake in the NBA’s Sacramento Kings. Through an 8-year period, this investment more than doubled in value to $11 million!

In August 2021, Shaq sold his stake in the team. Consequently, he took the earnings and became the primary endorser of an online gambling company known as “WynnBET.”

Shaq earns $22 million annually via endorsement deals with Arizona Cream Soda, Icy Hot, Gold Bond, Buick, The General, Pepsi, Reebok, and Zales.

In addition, he is not hesitant to make significant financial decisions, such as collaborating with a real estate firm to build a $79 million apartment tower in New Jersey.

As well as ownership of successful companies such as Auntie Anne’s pretzel shops, Five Guys Burgers & Fries franchises, Muscle Milk, and Krispy Kreme.

Shaq Earns Education Doctorate

O’Neal received his Ph.D. in teaching alongside 1,100 other students during commencement ceremonies at Barry University in 2012.

The former All-Star and MVP had a total grade-point average of 3.813 while completing 54 credit hours at Barry, primarily through online classes and video conferencing.

O’Neal’s doctoral capstone project looked into CEOs’ and corporate executives’ use of humor in the workplace.

Shaq Becomes DJ Diesel

Following his sons’ collective interest in EDM music, Shaq decided it was his turn to start mixing. What had started as a side hobby quickly became a paid career for Shaq.

Soon, he took on the stage name “DJ Diesel” and began performing at some of the world’s biggest EDM festivals.

These festivals would net hundreds of millions in dollars, alongside millions of raving fans.

Shaq quickly grew popular within the EDM community. He even began working on side projects with major industry names like Insomniac and World Wide Records.

Shaq Net Worth 2023

As of May 2023, Shaq has a $400 million net worth He has earned much of his wealth from his successful career on the basketball court.

While Shaq may have retired from the NBA years ago, he still earns up to $60 million annually from endorsement deals and other personal business ventures.

Shaquille O’Neal has been an active trader in the real estate and stock market since the 90s. He has since invested in global brands like PepsiCo, General Electric, and Apple.

In terms of real estate, Shaquille O’Neal has developed several projects in Newark, New Jersey.

His property development initiative is a joint partnership with Boraie Development, and some of the projects he has realized so far include One Riverview and CityPlex12.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How Big Is Shaq?

Shaq is 7 feet tall and, during his playing career, weighed as much as 330 pounds making him a nightmare for opposing defenses.

Despite his frame, he had exceptional footwork and was very mobile. All of these factors made him one of the greatest basketball players of all time.

How Much Did He Earn As A Player?

For most of his career, Shaq was among the best players in the league and got paid.

Throughout his career, he earned around $300 million through multiple contracts, the biggest being $27 million a year.

How Many Kids Does Shaq Have?

Shaq has 6 kids, three girls Taahirah, Me’arah, Amirah, and three boys, Shareef, Shaqir, and Myles B.

Shareef O’neal recently debuted in the NBA Summer League, playing alongside Scottie Pippen’s son, Scottie Pippen Jr.

What Does Shaq Do Now?

On top of being an investor and having various endorsement deals. Shaq is also a broadcaster for Inside The Nba, alongside Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Charles Barkley.

Key Takeaways

Now that you know what the net worth of Shaq is and how he built it, let’s take a look at some of the most important lessons we can take from his journey.

Let Your Roots Become Your Inspiration

Despite having an incredibly hard childhood, Shaq always remained both positive and hopeful.

This positive outlook on his life allowed him to push through the difficult times and still ultimately find success.

Similarly, we should aim to let our roots serve as our own inspiration. This way, we can always have a motivational anchor.

Leverage Your Brand

Shaq carefully leveraged his brand to build his net worth.

Whether through endorsement deals or actual ownership in large companies, Shaq never stopped leveraging his brand.

Like Shaq, we should try to use our online brand to help open doors of opportunities.

Assets Over Liabilities

Since his early 20’s, Shaq has never stopped investing.

This has certainly reaped its benefits helping Shaq get close to half a billion in net worth.

Similarly, it’s important that we purchase more assets than we do liabilities. These assets will appreciate over time, and many times compound.

This is the secret to a massive net worth that all the wealthy know!