Crypto company FTX managed to feature four-time NBA champions Stephen Curry and Shaquille O’Neal in an advertisement earlier this year. Fans instantly approved of this commercial. The company’s website announced Curry and O’Neal as their ambassadors. There have been spucalations that they had also invested in the company. However, now O’Neal’s money along with Curry’s seems to be in deep trouble.
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The commercial was part of the FTX “not an expert” campaign. Curry was on the screen while O’Neal narrated the advertisement. O’Neal’s narration claimed that Stephen Curry was “not making pasta, he is printing crypto”. He also stated that Curry was an expert in the field of cryptocurrency. Curry vehemently denied the claims. The advertisement ended with them promoting FTX after Curry claimed that he is no expert in the matter but trusts the judgement of the company. The commercial ended with O’Neal hilariously requesting Curry to teach him how to shoot free throws.
FTX, once valued at $32, billion bagged the big bucks with endorsements from Curry and O’Neal. However, those good times didn’t last for long.
Shaquille O’Neal and his money are drowning with FTX
Early this year, O’Neal via a video posted online said, ?I?m excited to be partnering with FTX to help make crypto accessible for everyone. I?m all in. Are you???However, this now seems to be turning out to be a costly bet for him as his money is under threat.
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Last week, it was reported that FTX is in a crisis. To save themselves, they decided to sell the company to their rival, Binance, at a marginal rate. However, Binance left the table on Wednesday refusing to buy FTX. It is believed that FTX’s issues are very difficult to resolve, if not impossible. This meant that all its investors, including Shaquille O’Neal have to worry about their investments.?
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Previously, FTX launched itself into the sports world pretty swiftly. Most of their investors and ambassadors were sports personalities like seven-time NFL champion Tom Brady, NFL star Trevor Lawrence, Tennis star Naomi Osaka, and NBA champions Shaquille O’Neal and Stephen Curry. They also sponsored the Miami Heat team. It’s important to note that the Heat’s home stadium is called the FTX arena.?
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However, all this glory is now falling apart. The CEO of FTX, Samuel Bankman-Fried, tweeted that he was sorry about the whole thing. This is a developing situation and the above-mentioned stars including O’Neal are yet to make a statement.
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However, the exact amount Shaq lost from his FTX investment is uncertain.