Shaquille O’Neal has garnered a fortune through his prowess on and off the court. The big man is regarded as one of the greatest players in NBA history. Countless individuals fell victim to his brute strength since there was no counter to his unrivaled dominance.
Shaq is a true role model since he continues to pursue his passions to this day. He retired from basketball 11 years ago; however, he continues to enthrall crowds as DJ Diesel. He has also positioned himself as a renowned media figure and analyst. Shaq is a powerhouse in the corporate world as well, as seen by his successful investments and business ventures.
What’s remarkable is that his business moves in the business world have earned him more money than he did as a player. O’Neal has been sticking his hands into various pots and reaping millions for a while now. However, comedian Chris Rock once argued that the big man is rich, not wealthy.
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In 2003, in one of his comedy specials “Rich Vs Wealthy”, Rock said, “Shaq is rich but the white man who signs his check is wealthy.” The comedian then went on to explain the difference between the wealthy and the rich. According to him, wealth is something that can be passed down through generations and will set one free. While being rich is something one can easily lose.
Rock said this in 2003. Shaquille O’Neal suited for the Lakers at that time. 2003 marked the final year of his seven-year, $120 million contract with the franchise, which he signed as a free agent in 1996.
It’s clear that he met Chris Rock’s “rich” description at the time. However, Shaq has unquestionably transitioned to the “wealthy” tier through his off-court endeavors over the years.
Shaquille O’Neal has climbed into the “wealthy” category owing to his investments and business ventures
Shaquille O’Neal was a menace on the court for the opponents. However, after he hung his jersey, he became one in the corporate world as well. With a series of fascinating investments and highly lucrative businesses, he became a prolific businessman.
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The legend is worth a whopping $400 million. Shaq is well aware that money does not sleep. That is why he entered the corporate world and made several sound decisions.
He owns 155 Five Guys Burgers restaurants and 17 Auntie Annie’s Pretzels restaurants. It was previously reported that he owned 150 car washes, 40 24-hour fitness centers, a shopping complex, a movie theatre, and many nightclubs.
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But that is not the end of the story. He previously mentioned that he owns more businesses, but he doesn’t like to brag about it.
Given all of this, Shaq fits Chris Rock’s description of “wealthy,” which means he has earned a fortune that can be passed down through generations. Shaq, however, has often said that he wants his children to make a future for themselves.
.@SHAQ spoke about how he instills the importance of hard work to his children. pic.twitter.com/JZ2vAdunQ6
— ESPN (@espn) October 28, 2021
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Nonetheless, it has been 11 years since Shaquille O’Neal retired from the basketball court. However, he has continued to make splashes off it since then.