Shaquille O’Neal vs Magic Johnson – Who Has Had a Bigger Impact on America’s Fast Food Industry?

Shaquille O’Neal and Magic Johnson are two of the most prominent personalities linked to the NBA. Not only are they two of the greatest players to ever step onto an NBA court, but they are also among the richest basketball stars in the world. Over the past few years, the two icons have made various investments in different sectors. While Johnson has made use of his money to acquire ownership stakes in MLB, NFL, and WNBA teams, Shaq has focused his net worth on acquiring over 40 gyms, 150 car washes, and more. There is, however, one place where the interests of both former players align: the food and beverage industry.

Keeping the above statement in mind, we shall be drawing a comparison and finding out who currently has a bigger impact on America’s Fast Food Industry: Shaquille O’Neal or Magic Johnson.

Shaquille O’Neal: The “Big Aristotle” of Fast Food

Shaquille O’Neal has been a big foodie since his childhood. Shaq’s crown jewel is his very own ‘Big Chicken’ franchise. Launched in 2018, the restaurant chain is known to serve food items that fuse the former player’s childhood favorite delicacies with the flavors of today. The portions and arrangements are of a similar nature that Shaq himself experienced when growing up.

From “Lucille’s Mac and Cheese” to “Uncle Jerome’s Hot Chicken”, many of the food items pay tribute to the people who have shared a close association with the basketball great. ‘Big Chicken’ was recently in the news as it was announced that the former NBA star released a huge expansion plan that will extend to various cities across numerous states. This will allow the franchise to be easily accessible to people from around the world.

Other than ‘Big Chicken’, another food brand that Shaquille O’Neal is closely associated with is the iconic pizza chain Papa John’s. Given that he formed a partnership with the brand during one of its most tumultuous times, Shaq would later go on to say that he “took a lot of heat for that” from members of his “community”. Despite this, the investment has allowed Shaq to not only earn holdings up to $7 million but also serve on the board of directors and act as one of the fast food chain’s official brand ambassadors.

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Shaq has earlier been associated with the renowned burger joint Five Guys, owning around 155 franchises. After selling his ownership stake, Shaq went on to open his very own Southern Cuisine restaurant, which, unfortunately, failed to reach the success ceiling. Even today, the 51-year-old continues to hold a stake in Krispy Kreme and Auntie Anne’s restaurants.

Magic Johnson helped bring Starbucks to a whole new level

Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson retired from the NBA almost 27 years ago. Since then, he has worked hard to create a diverse portfolio of investments. In 2004, Johnson entered into an agreement with Burger King to launch over 30 restaurants across America. Magic has most notably made his mark in the food and beverage industry through his decades-long association with Starbucks.

Forming a partnership with the renowned coffee brand in 1998, Johnson is known to be the one who convinced CEO Howard Schultz to bring Starbucks to the urban areas. During a past interview, Johnson recalled the exact moment that took place after the former player took a plane to Seattle and arrived on the CEO’s doorstep. “I went and knocked on his door and said, ‘You know, Mr. Schultz, minorities like coffee too.”

Johnson was able to convince Schultz to invest in franchises and lo-and-behold, Starbucks today has become one of the most recognized brands in the world. The opportunity allowed the Lakers icon to purchase 125 franchises himself. After a fruitful relationship, Johnson sold his 105 Starbucks franchises back to the company in 2010.

Who reigns supreme?

Without the effective contribution of Magic Johnson, Starbucks might not have been as renowned as it is today. However, when it comes to the author’s opinion, he will have to side with Shaquille O’Neal.

Not only does the 51-year-old have a hold on more fast food brands than Johnson, but he has more efficiently worked alongside them to create a better experience for the customers. Shaq’s work with Papa John’s and Big Chicken has allowed him to bring a new brand image and create unusual but exciting dining experiences.

Shaq’s association with Papa John’s allowed the brand to not only move past its reported incident with founder John Schnatter but also create a new customer demographic of NBA fans by letting them indulge in the iconic Shaq-a-Roni pizza. By making use of O’Neal’s certain intellectual property rights, Papa John’s has managed to report a whopping $2.79 billion in sales last year.

While Big Chicken definitely helps to add more money to Big Aristotle’s pockets, it also provides more locations to be considered by fast food enthusiasts. The recent expansion of ‘Big Chicken’ will bring over 20 new restaurants to Michigan, 50 to the Greater Houston area, and mark their debut in cities like Miami and Memphis. Thanks to this effort, over 10,077,311 more people will be able to get a new fast food experience.

It is no secret that both Shaquille O’Neal and Magic Johnson have made great strides in making their mark in the fast food industry. However, when the stick of favorability has to be pointed at someone, then there is no doubt upon whom the same will be pointed.

Editorial Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of EssentiallySports.

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