Shaq’s net worth has blown up from his basketball career to the commercials, business ventures, and post-career analyst jobs. Unsurprisingly, the man called “The Big Diesel” is worth millions, even well after his playing career.
He was a Hall of Fame legend on the court, and we continue to see him everywhere off the hardwood. Shaq has remained in the spotlight long after his retirement, as the four-time NBA champion continues to work hard to grow his bank account. But how much is Shaq worth right now?
You’ve come to the right place if you’re curious about Shaquille O Neal’s net worth. We’ll explain exactly how he built his empire and spent his money!
The Beginning of the Legend
Shaquille O’Neal was born to Lucille O’Neil and Joe Toney in 1972. Although Toney played basketball in high school and was offered a basketball scholarship, he was imprisoned for drug possession and relinquished his parental rights.
Shaq’s dad stood 6’1″, and his mom stood 6’2″. At 12, Shaq was already 6’6″ and showed no signs of slowing down. When he reached 6’10”, he started playing basketball in high school, and his team achieved a 68-1 record during his reign.
College Basketball
Once he started playing college ball at Louisiana State University, Shaq was a two-time SEC player of the year, two-time All-American, and the Adolph Rupp Trophy as the player of the year.
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Many players focus on basketball in college and let their education slip. Shaq, on the other hand, prioritized his education. He studied business at LSU, a degree that would help build his net worth. Although he left school early to go to the NBA, he continued his education while playing pro ball.
Shaquille O’Neal’s NBA Career & Contracts
Shaquille O’Neal was the first pick in the 1992 NBA draft. His first team was the Orlando Magic, and his first mentor was Magic Johnson. In his 19-year NBA career, Shaq played for six teams, including the Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Boston Celtics.
The Orlando Magic
In his rookie season, he displayed natural talent. During his first week in the NBA, he was named Player of the Week, a rookie player’s first.
After the season, he was also awarded the Rookie of the Year and All-Star Starter. He was the first All-Star Starter rookie since Michael Jordan. With Shaq on the team, the Magic increased their win rate by 20 games.
Until his departure from the Magic, Shaq set records, won awards, and laid the groundwork for his legacy — and his future net worth.
The Los Angeles Lakers
Shaquille O’Neal soon became a free agent and joined the 1996 Olympic team, which went on to win the gold medal. On the first day of the Olympics, Shaq announced that he was joining the LA Lakers for a seven-year contract.
The contract was worth more than $121 million, making it the biggest NBA contract in history at the time. Shaq’s first season with the Lakers was a mixed bag. He missed many games due to repetitive injuries, and the Lakers were eliminated in the playoffs. Shaq was also almost suspended for fighting Dennis Rodman on the court!
Following the fight, Shaq commented, “It’s one thing to talk tough and one thing to be tough.” This confidence and eagerness to fight stayed with him for the rest of his career.
The Lakers signed teenage prodigy Kobe Bryant, and the two had a contentious relationship. Kobe and Shaq came close to fistfights on multiple occasions! These conflicts were driven by innate confidence, which drove both to become better players. These were arguably Shaq’s golden years, and he left the Lakers with three championship rings.
The rest of Shaq’s pro basketball player career was plagued with injuries and team changes but was no less successful. Shaq was signed to the Miami Heat for more than $100 million and soon extended the contract for a further $100 million.
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Then, he was moved to the Phoenix Suns and then the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he made more than $20 million every year. His last team was the Boston Celtics, for a modest sum of $2.8 million. After 19 years in the NBA, he announced his retirement in 2011.
How Does Shaq’s Net Worth Compare to Michael Jordan
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Shaq has an estimated net worth of $500 million, including all his investments, contract deals, basketball salary, and endorsement deals. At one point, he was the highest-paid player in the league and earned an estimated total of $292,198,327.
And he wasted no time spending that money. One hour after signing his first contract, he had already spent one million dollars! First, he bought a Mercedes Benz for $150,000. Then he bought a matching one for his dad and the third one for good measure. After that, he bought a house for his mom.
Then, in under an hour, he bought himself jewelry and clothes for a total of one million. He said he had no regrets about these expenditures, but he soon learned how to manage his basketball player salary.
While Shaq racked up a huge amount of money through his NBA contracts, Jordan made gigantic off-court deals. Despite having half a billion net worth, Shaq is nowhere near Michael Jordan, the richest athlete of all time, with over $3.7 billion net worth.
Shaquille O’Neal’s Successful Business Ventures
After his business education, Shaquille O’Neal used his income for investments. He owns more than 155 Five Guys locations, making up over 10% of the company’s franchises. He also invested in Auntie Anne’s pretzel company.
He also invested over $20 million in Fruity Pebbles, Vitamin Water, Muscle Milk, and AriZona. It’s worth noting that he’s rejected opportunities with Starbucks and other high-profile companies because he doesn’t use their products. He wants to be able to personally stand by all his investments.
He also owns several 24-hour Fitness locations and became a Google investor before the company went public. He also owns a big share of The General Auto Insurance and several car wash companies. This diverse portfolio of investments brought Shaq’s net worth from $200 million in basketball salary to more than $500 million.
Shaquille O’Neal’s Income Source After Retirement
Shaquille O’Neal has had a truly amazing career that has spanned decades. His dominance off the court is mirrored in his dominance in the business world, and he plays just as hard as he works. After retiring from a hall-of-fame career spanning 19 years, Shaq is now a professional basketball analyst on Inside the NBA on TNT and a global brand representative.
Following the Authentic Brands Group’s acquisition of Reebok in 2022, Shaq was appointed as the President of Reebok Basketball in October 2023. Moreover, O’Neal owns a share in the Sacramento Kings, while he has made significant investments in multiple franchises of Auntie Anne’s Pretzels, Five Guys Burgers, and several other businesses.
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