Finally, Shaquille O’Neal can feel a little more satisfied reading Forbes. Just last month, Shaq made it no secret that he wasn’t thrilled about being left off the Forbes World’s Billionaires List (2024). With an estimated $500 million net worth, the 4x NBA champion couldn’t help but think, “I gotta be number one, two, or three.” But when you stack him against Michael Jordan’s $3.2 billion or LeBron James’ $1.2 billion, there’s still some catching up to do. However, things just took a promising turn. Shaq may not be on the Billionaires List yet, but his name is finally in Forbes—and for all the right reasons.

Forbes introduced its inaugural ForbesBLK 50 list, spotlighting some of the wealthiest and most influential Black entrepreneurs, innovators, and visionaries. And guess who made the cut? Shaquille O’Neal. This acknowledgment wasn’t just another accolade—it was a step towards a long-time dream. Forbes shared a detailed profile of the NBA legend, affirming why he deserves this recognition.

“At 7 foot 1, Shaquille O’Neal stands above many on ForbesBLK 50 list, primarily as a basketball Hall of Famer but also as an entrepreneur who has used his celebrity to build a robust portfolio of fast-food franchises and other businesses,” Forbes noted. Alongside Shaq, NBA greats like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Junior Bridgeman, and LeBron James also secured spots on the list.

It was only a matter of time before Shaq made waves on a list like this. His investment strategy has been nothing short of impressive. His early bet on Google turned out to be a goldmine, and his Big Chicken franchise is spreading its wings rapidly. Plus, his portfolio is as diverse as it gets—from Papa John’s and Hershey’s to tech giants like Ring. And Shaq’s ambitions don’t end there.

He’s also making bold moves as the President of Basketball Operations at Reebok, taking on the challenge of competing with Michael Jordan’s iconic Jordan Brand. On top of that, he’s investing in educational ventures like Campus by Tade Oyerinde, which aims to reshape the learning landscape. So yes, with this much hustle, if Shaq sees that he is yet to make the billionaire list, being a little unhappy was justified.

Shaquille O’Neal felt Forbes left him hanging

Shaquille O’Neal doesn’t spend much time tracking his net worth. So he might not even know where he stands right now. But one Forbes article reminded him of that. “I want to be on that Forbes list…” Shaq confessed during a talk with the Houston Texans.

He wasn’t shy about his reaction, either. “Because when I seen the article, I was like… ‘Well, I gotta be number one, two, or three.’ I wasn’t in that thing at all. I’m like, ‘Damn I shoot 100 commercials a month.’” The realization even had him second-guessing his finances. “I had to call my accountant. ‘You sure you ain’t stealing from me?’” Turns out, he’s worth exactly what his accountant said, but that didn’t ease his frustration.

Though Shaq didn’t specify which Forbes article caught his attention, it’s easy to assume he was talking about the Forbes World’s Billionaires List (2024). While his name wasn’t there, it’s worth noting Shaq made Forbes’ The Highest-Paid Athletes Of All-Time back in 2016. Ranking 10th with career earnings of $700 million.

DJ Whoo Kid gave him the billionaire title in advance, saying, “This guy is so tall. I can’t even zoom in on him. The next billionaire right here.” Shaq is confident his billionaire moment is just around the corner.