Ahead of NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal’s upcoming tour of Australia, we’re sharing some of the four-time NBA champ’s most incredible stories.
O’Neal pocketed $292m USD in wages during his decorated NBA career and is now valued at $400 million USD ($A570m), having invested smartly (including in Google even before it went public) and signed a host of other endorsement and business deals.
He is also one of the NBA’s most popular pundits and a world-famous DJ to boot.
Order ‘An Evening with Shaquille O’Neal’ PPV – an uncensored interview live on stage in Australia 7PM AEST 25 Aug on Main Event on Kayo Sports and Foxtel!
But Shaquille O’Neal says his “best” business story is the time he walked away from a $40 million USD ($A57m) Reebok sneaker deal.
While on the “Full Send” podcast last year, the four-time NBA champion recalled cutting ties with the brand he repped throughout his playing career after “a lady ripped me a new a – hole while leaving the arena one day.”
O’Neal said the woman called him a “motherf – ker” for charging young kids so much money for shoes.
“I had $2,000 in my pocket. I said, ‘Lady I don’t make the prices. Here you go, and she smacked the money out of my hand, [and said], ‘Why don’t you motherf – kers make a shoe that’s affordable?’”
The scolding was a moment of realisation for O’Neal, who decided to turn down his $40 million, 5-year deal with Reebok.
Warning: Graphic Language
“I was like, ‘You know what, she’s right.’ So that day, I cut ties with Reebok and started my own brand,” he recalled. “I said keep the money … this ain’t right. I’ll still wear the shoes I wear during the season, but I’ll be looking to do my own thing. So, I started the Shaq brand.
“I went to my favourite store, Walmart, and we did a deal. I was in all stores and my price point for the shoes was $29-$19 and since then we sold over 400 million pairs. It’s not kids that don’t want to wear $20 shoes, they don’t want to wear shoes that look like they cost $20.”
There was no bad blood between O’Neal and Reebok after he turned them down. He said he brought along designers from Reebok with him to join his Walmart deal.
Order ‘An Evening with Shaquille O’Neal’ PPV – an uncensored interview live on stage in Australia 7PM AEST 25 Aug on Main Event on Kayo Sports and Foxtel!
O’Neal’s relationship with Reebok began in 1992, when he signed a $15 million multi-year deal with the brand upon his entry to the NBA. He went on to launch his popular Reebok Shaq Attaq and Shaqnosis shoes — and sported Reebok throughout his entire NBA career.
Earlier this year, O’Neal was part of a mega deal with Reebok, after the brand’s sale to Authentic Brands Group (ABG), in which he has been the second-largest stakeholder since 2015.
This story originally appeared on the NY Post and is reproduced with permission.
FAQs
Who is Shaq's baby mommas? ›
He shares five children with his ex-wife Shaunie Henderson. The two are co-parenting Shareef O'Neal, Shaqir O'Neal, Myles B. O'Neal, Amirah O'Neal, and Me'arah O'Neal. Shaq also has a daughter with Arnetta Yardbourgh.
What did Shaq buy his mom? ›After battling poverty for years, the “Diesel” finally had a chance to give back to her mom earlier in his career with the Orlando Magic. Shaq bought Lucille O'Neal a house that was worth $1 million. He called it an “affordable mistake.”
Did Shaq's mother pass away? ›ET Shaquille O'Neal's sister Ayesha Harrison-Jex has been in the news as of late. Just keep listenin to me. , Everything he said would happen in my life, from 2 years old on, happened, ONeal said. His mom passed away while we were in training camp in New York.
Was Shaq's mom a single mom? ›The Big Diesel has seen his mother deal with a lot of turbulent times in order to raise him and his siblings as a single mom.
How many kids does Nick Cannon have? ›Let's just talk about the kids first. Because that's what everyone knows about Nick Cannon — he has a lot of kids. He's fathered 12 — five of whom are less than 1 year old — with six women.
How many businesses does Shaq own? ›Shaq can be seen in commercials for brands such as The General, Gold Bond, Icy Hot, and more. These are not the only brands/companies that Shaq owns a share in, he recently said in an Earn Your Leisure interview that his real business is owning 50 brands.
How is Shaq so rich? ›While Shaquille O'Neal made his fortune as a basketball player, most of Shaquille O'Neal's net worth today comes from his business ventures. Most of his assets are likely in franchises, including Papa John's, 24 Hour Fitness, Krispy Kreme, and car washes.
How much Shaq shoes sell? ›So, I started the Shaq brand. “I went to my favourite store, Walmart, and we did a deal. I was in all stores and my price point for the shoes was $29-$19 and since then we sold over 400 million pairs.
Did Shaq buy his mom a car? ›Shaq once gave his mom Lucille $ car as a present
From his golden days in the NBA to his second career as a broadcaster and commercial actor, the Laker legend continues making his money. Shaq once gifted his mom Lucille O'Neal a Mercedes Benz worth over $100,000.
So when he came face to face with his sister's passing to cancer, the Big Diesel was shattered. According to his co-host Ernie Johnson, the former NBA MVP was in a world of pain. Fast forward three months, and he had to deal with the loss of arguably his most precious teammate, Kobe Bryant.
Did Shaq buy his mom at home? ›
Shaq loves his mother. He has been known to profess his love for her on many occasions. In fact, Shaq used his first $1 million paycheck to buy his mother a house.
Does Shaq take care of his parents? ›Roberts podcast, the LA Lakers legend revealed how he spent his first million back in 1992. O'Neal noted that he took care of his parents by buying them cars and a brand new house. It was also at this time that he learned to be careful with his money. "My mom and dad never had a brand new car.
Is Shack married? ›"My Wife and Kids" Perfect Dad (TV Episode 2001) - Shaquille O'Neal as Shaquille O'Neal - IMDb.
What shoe size does Shaq wear? ›O'Neal, who is 7 foot, 1 inch tall, and wears a size 22, said when he was the same age it was hard to find shoes that fit too. The four-time NBA champion said had a special delivery coming, and he also had some words of wisdom to share.
What celebrity has the most kids? ›Surprisingly, Mel Gibson has 9 children, Mia Farrow had a whopping 14. DMX has had addiction issues, but has managed to have 15 kids along the way. And of course, Bob Marley spread his love all over the world, mainly in Jamaica, as he had 11 kids.
What rapper has the most kids? ›1. DMX - 15 children. What rapper has 17 kids? Earl Simmons, professionally known as DMX, is the rapper alleged to have 17 children.
Does Nick Cannon have 13 kids? ›As you already know, Nick has a whopping 12 kids by six different women. His latest child, Halo, came into the world in Dec. 2022.
Who owns JCPenney Shaq? ›O'Neal is the second-largest individual shareholder of Authentic Brands Group, the company behind dozens of brand and retailer acquisitions, including Forever 21, Barneys New York, JCPenney, Reebok, Vince and Hunter Boots.
How much of Google does Shaq own? ›In 2014, Shaq revealed that he had invested $1 million each into both Google and Apple back in 2004. He also invested on Lyft, Vitaminwater, Sacramento Kings, Ring, Pepsi, and eSports.
How many gyms does Shaq own? ›
Shaquille O'Neal Owns 155 Five Guys Restaurants, 40 Fitness Centers, And 1 Movie Theater Among Other Businesses. Shaquille O'Neal is one the most dominant players in NBA history, but also one of the smartest. The Big Diesel always liked to have fun, but he knew that money isn't made to just spend it.
What brand does Shaq own? ›Some of the franchises Shaquille owns include Papa John's, Auntie Annie's, Five Guys, 24-hour Fitness Centers, Car Washes, and Krispy Kreme. He has other business ventures outside of franchising, such as Lyft and JCPenney.
What Las Vegas nightclubs does Shaq own? ›Chateau Nightclub & Rooftop, Las Vegas.
How many restaurants does Shaq own? ›The way he got there was mainly due to smart business decisions. Shaq owns around 200 companies, 172 restaurants, and 40 fitness centers and has a net worth of $400 million.
How many Shaq shoes sold at Walmart? ›Shaquille O' Neal - Laugh all you want, the Shaq brand has sold over 120 millions pairs of affordable shoes for kids @Walmart | Facebook.
Who has the highest Walmart purchase? ›O'Neal said in an interview with HBO that he once spent $70,000 at Walmart in a single visit. When the Miami Heat traded Shaq to the Phoenix Suns, his apartment wasn't furnished, so he went to Walmart to buy all of his essentials.
How much did Michael Jordan shoes sell for? ›The sneakers from the historic season known as Jordan's "Last Dance" are now the most valuable sports footwear ever sold, according to auction house Sotheby's. Sotheby's pre-sale estimate predicted $2 million as the low end, and Tuesday's final $2.2 million sale came in well below the predicted high of $4 million.
What car can Shaq drive? ›Although Shaq drives a Ford pickup truck on a daily basis, he still owns luxury and sports cars from brands like Rolls-Royce, Lamborghini, and Land Rover. So here's a list of Shaquille's car collection, with each car worth several million dollars.
What did Shaq buy from Walmart? ›Shaquille O'Neal's credit card got declined
And what better shop for a one-stop destination than Walmart? He said, “So two or three in the morning, I gotta go to buy four or five TVs, I got to get printers, I got to get laptops, I got to get appliances, sheets, towels, underwear, t-shirts.” Some shopping spree Shaq!
Talking during an interview, Shaq said, “Who owns Marilyn Monroe? Who owns Elvis Presley? Me!” The former NBA champion spent around $135,000,000 to buy the rights to royalties from stars like Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe. This deal was possible due to Shaq's smart business investment.
How much is Shaq ex-wife net worth? ›
What is Shaunie O'Neal Net Worth? Shaunie O'Neal is the ex-wife of NBA star Shaquille O'Neal, as well as an American TV personality and producer. Shaunie O'Neal has a net worth of $35 million. Shaunie O'Neal has earned her net worth through her marriage to Shaquille and from a rising career as an entrepreneur.
Who is Shaq's ex? ›BASKETBALL wife, Shaunie Henderson, was formerly married to NBA legend, Shaquille O'Neal. The mother of five has since remarried and is focused on herself and her family.
Where does Shaq get his money? ›Much of Shaq's money came through his NBA career. He earned $292 million from his NBA contracts and an estimated $200 million in endorsements while he was playing. Today, much of his wealth comes from his new business endeavors and a multiyear television deal with Warner Bros.
Did Shaq give his dad money? ›“So, [the] first thing I did was incorporate 'Shaq' and then I put my mom on salary and put my dad on salary. And you know, we had a fan club. I got 'em an office and got 'em a car and they were so proud. Cause the best day of my life was when I got drafted.
How did Shaq buy Marilyn Monroe? ›Technically speaking, Shaq isn't the owner of these brands. However, he signed a deal with Authentic Brands Group back in 2015, which awarded him the licensing rights to these brands. According to Essentially Sports, the Lakers legend spent $135,000,000 to make this deal happen.
Does Shaq have a doctor? ›The Hall of Famer received his Ed. D. degree from Barry University, Florida, in 2012. This happened shortly after his NBA career ended, which is why the big man had a lot of time to focus on his studies.
Did Shaq grow up rich or poor? ›Coming from a military background, Shaq did not grow up in a rich household. He opened up about how he was always bullied as a kid and had to go through tough times.
Does Shaq donate money? ›The former MVP has a long list of charities he's donated money to. Starting with his own foundation, the Shaquille O'Neal Foundation, which is also of his newest charities.
Does Shaq have a gf? ›Who is Shaq's girlfriend, Annie Ilonzeh? As per various reports, Shaquille O'Neal's girlfriend is actress Annie Ilonzeh.
How rich is Shack? ›Shaquille O'Neal's net worth sits around $400 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Shaq began to build up his massive net worth during his playing days in the NBA, where he cashed out over the course of his illustrious career.
Does Shack have kids? ›
Why did My Wife and Kids end? ›In May 2005, ABC decided to end the show, citing declining ratings. ABC officials, according to the Futon Critic and tv.com felt the show played itself out. Wayans was also on record stating that ABC had ensured him a spot in the 2005–2006 television season hence the cliffhanger.
How old is My Wife and Kids? ›My Wife and Kids is an American television sitcom that aired on ABC from March 28, 2001, to May 17, 2005. The series was produced by Touchstone Television in association with Wayans Bros. Entertainment and Impact Zone Productions.
How many kids are in My Wife and Kids? ›Michael and Jay are a loving and married couple who have three children: Junior, who wants to go to a concert to see MC Murder Death; Claire, who wants some privacy in her life; and little Kady, the cutest child in the house. Junior gets some tattoos; Michael annoys Kady.
What is the biggest shoe size ever? ›While Hernández holds the record for largest feet among the living, the record for the biggest feet ever goes to Robert Wadlow, who wore a size 37AA shoe (his feet measured at 18.5 inches each).
Who is the 14 year old with 23 shoe size? ›Eric Kilburn is a 14-year-old student at Goodrich High School. He is 6′10″ with size 23 feet, and he says he's had trouble finding a good pair of shoes that will fit him. O'Neal heard about Eric's problem and reached out with a phone call last Wednesday. “I was flabbergasted,” Eric told Hometown Life.
How big is a size 23 shoe? ›| Heel to toe Length (in inches) | Size (USA) | Wide Width (2E) |
|---|---|---|
| 14 5/16 | size 21 | 5 3/4 |
| 14 11/16 | size 22 | 5 7/8 |
| 15 | size 23 | 6 |
| 15 5/16 | size 24 | 6 1/8 |
Shaquille O'Neal has six children, Taahirah, Myles, Shareef, Amirah, Shaqir, and Me'arah O'Neal. The Los Angeles Lakers legend welcomed his kids Shareef, Amirah, Shaqir, and Me'arah during his marriage with his ex-wife Shaunie.
Are all Shaquille O Neal's kids from one woman? ›The former NBA player has five biological children and one stepchild. One of his children is from his ex-girlfriend, Arnetta Yardbourgh and five from his ex-wife, Shaunie O'Neal, who he married in 2002 and divorced in 2011. Below is what is known about Shaq's kids.
Who is Myles O Neal's biological father? ›Who are Nick Cannon's kids? ›
Does Shaq have a PHD? ›
Shaquille O'Neal, also known as Shaq, is not only a superstar NBA athlete and one of the best centers of all time in basketball but also holds a doctorate degree as well as many other advanced degrees. He earned his Doctorate in Education (Ed.
How much is Shaq ex wife net worth? ›What is Shaunie O'Neal Net Worth? Shaunie O'Neal is the ex-wife of NBA star Shaquille O'Neal, as well as an American TV personality and producer. Shaunie O'Neal has a net worth of $35 million. Shaunie O'Neal has earned her net worth through her marriage to Shaquille and from a rising career as an entrepreneur.
Who is Shaquille married to now? ›Shaunie O'Neal - Wikipedia.
How many kids Michael Jordan have? ›The former Chicago Bulls player is a father of five and a grandfather of one. Through his first marriage to Juanita Vanoy, he has three older children: Jeffrey, 34, Marcus, 32, and Jasmine, 30, who are all involved in the business side of basketball and their dad's Air Jordan line.
How tall is Amirah Oneal? › How old is Shaqir? › Who is Myles O Neal biological mother? ›| Born | Myles Nelson May 8 1997 () (age 26) Los Angeles, California |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Model |
| Years active | 2018–present |
| Parents | Shaunie O'Neal (mother) |
| Relatives | Shareef O'Neal (half-brother) Amirah O'Neal (half-sister) Shaqir O'Neal (half-brother) Me'arah O'Neal (half-sister) |
Surprisingly, Mel Gibson has 9 children, Mia Farrow had a whopping 14. DMX has had addiction issues, but has managed to have 15 kids along the way. And of course, Bob Marley spread his love all over the world, mainly in Jamaica, as he had 11 kids.
How many kids does Rihanna have? ›How many children does Rihanna have? Rihanna is a proud mom of one but will soon be a mom of two. She welcomed her son on May 13, 2022, after revealing she was pregnant during a photoshoot in New York City four months earlier.
How many kids does future have? ›
Future currently has eight children with eight different women.