Adding $5,625,000 to His Hefty Nine Figure Net Worth, Shaquille O’Neal Revives Mega-Collab With American Fast Food Venture

What does Papa John’s have in common with the Terminator? They came back with a blockbuster. But instead of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Papa John’s has an NBA legend to drive it forward. Shaquille O’Neal and Papa John’s partnership is symbolized by the Shaq-a-Roni pizza. Much like the NBA legend, it’s larger-than-life and generous in every way. Shaq upped the spokesperson game with his latest commercial, which is making more than a few people hungry.

His multi-faceted partnership with the global pizza chain makes him bank. But the reason he wants to sell more of it is to help as many people as he can.

A Shaquille O’Neal-sized feast returns

It’s not Halloween season until Shaquille O’Neal is pulling his ominous voice for a commercial. But nothing spooky about his newest Papa John’s ad. In fact, it’s back bigger and better. This one revives his signature dish.

In a combined Instagram post, Shaq and Papa John’s announced the Shaq-a-Roni is back on the menu. “Everyone’s favorite XL pepperoni pizza is BACK! Papa Rewards members can order the Shaq-a-Roni today at papajohns.com,” the post’s caption read.

O’Neal stars in the commercial, walking through to hallowed halls of pizza goodness, and talking in a Halloween-esque faux whisper, “It’s time to tell some people about the Shaq-a-Roni. I’m back.” 

As much as he tried, this was no secret. Pizza maniacs had guessed his signature dish was going to be available once more. The Lakers legend and $2 billion pizza titans have been teasing it in a series of posts. Previously they dropped a “big” hint with Shaq turning the Papa John’s kitchen into a mosh pit.

O’Neal introduced the staff behind your Shaq-a-Roni order, including the guy who has the responsibility of spinning out a massive pie of dough. He also displayed those 60 pepperoni slices getting meticulously placed edge to edge as advertised. But this entire comeback gets sweeter with Shaq’s role in it.

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Being a franchisee and signing on to the Papa John’s board of directors was not enough. Shaquille O’Neal also inked an endorsement deal. They renewed the contract in 2022 for three years. The total returns would amount to $11 million in cash and stock, including $5.625 million over the span of the contract and a royalty on the Shaq-a-Roni.

There’s a reason he endorses the Shaq-a-Roni with this dedication. This particular dish also supports his philanthropic pursuits.

Shaquille O’Neal’s delicious deal

Shaq is gunning for the employee of the month at Papa John’s. He’s a hardworking spokesperson for the company, even flying to China to celebrate the 300th Papa John’s store opening in that country. There have been times he publicly refused to eat any pizza if it was not Papa John’s.

The recent announcement even gave a tour of the kitchen to show how the Shaq-a-Roni is made. To the uninitiated, this super-size pizza as big as the 7’1″ pizza lover himself is made of eight foldable Shaq-sized slices. Because the big man has a preference for his pies, his signature dish also comes loaded with more cheese and pepperoni. Papa John’s touts the Shaq-a-Roni is covered in over 60 pepperoni slices from edge to edge.

The Shaq-a-Roni is generous in other aspects too. $1 from the $13.99 pizza sold went to the company’s charity wing. Over three years, it has raised over $6.6 million towards hunger relief programs and other causes. O’Neal’s beloved Boys and Girls Club is also a benefactor from this pizza’s sales.

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Now that the Shaq-a-Roni is back, Shaquille O’Neal and Papa John’s are hoping to make this partnership more fruitful. What do you think about this deal?