Sports and businesses collide. And The NBA Hall Famer Shaquille O’Neal is an excellent example of that statement.
Shaq has proven that besides being one of the heaviest basketball players on the court, he is also a heavy businessman.
But what does Shaq own? Are there Shaq brands? How many businesses does Shaq own?
You’re about to find out that and more.
Who Is Shaquille O’Neal?
O’Neal is one of the most famous NBA centres of all time. And most fans, even today, connect his name to the LA Lakers team.
His cabinet contains numerous awards, trophies, and recognitions. Among the many, you’ll find 4 NBA champion rings, three consecutive championships, 15x NBA All-Star, a name in the Hall of Fame, etc.
But, besides being a basketball player, Shaq also owns a PhD in education and a master’s in business. As always, he played it smart and became a well-known business venture man, a franchisor, an investor, and a brand owner.
In the meantime, he also tested the entertainment and advertisement waters, appeared in several television shows and movies (Blue Chips, Kazaam), and released five rap albums (Shaq Diesel, Respect, etc.).
Businesses Shaq Owns: How Many Businesses Does Shaq Own?
Big Shaq says that having many businesses is his primary business. But, even before he retired from the NBA, this superstar was already deeply involved in different industries.
He starred in commercials and TV shows and led some of his own, like ‘Shaq’s Big Challenge’ on ABC.
And that’s not all, because he took his fair share of the music industry too. O’Neal had several appearances in music videos of others and his.
Interestingly, the NBA rapper first album, Shaq Diesel (1993), went platinum. His music career is still ongoing; you can see him play music under Dj Diesel.
O’Neal’s business portfolio currently counts more than 50 brands, businesses, franchises, various investments, etc.
Are you interested in knowing which are Shaq-owned businesses or what brands does Shaq own?
Here’s a small portion of Shaquille O’Neal’s businesses and companies:
Auntie Anne’s
Auntie Anne’s is one of the many fast-food Shaq franchise investments. The athlete owns 17 Auntie Anne’s Pretzels restaurants across the USA.
Anne’s beginnings date from 1988 as a family business dedicated to freshly baked pretzels. And Shaq has been one of their franchisees since 2010. You can visit 8 of them in Buffalo, New York, or one of the nine suited in various Michigan areas.
Five Guys
Five Guys is a hard-to-miss fast food restaurant when in the States. And it’s one of O’Neal’s most well-known franchises.
Their humble start dated from 1986 when the four Murrell brothers were given a choice to open a business or go to college.
Today, Shaquille has his name on 155 Five Guys locations throughout America and a 10 per cent cut of the Murrell’s hamburger with french fries.
Papa John’s
This pizza business was started in 1984 by John Schnatter and spread not just across the US but internationally too (the UAE, the UK, China, etc.).
However, Papa John’s received their new board member, investor, and brand ambassador in 2019 – Shaq.
Papa John’s was licensed to use Shaq’s name for various marketing purposes. This move consequently brought O’Neal a handsome sum of $8.5 million. Additionally, he invested as much as $840.000 in 9 restaurants in different parts of Atlanta.
Amusingly – as soon as the news about Papa John’s and Shaquille’s business deal leaked, their shares went up 5 per cent.
24 Hour Fitness
Shaq is one of the investors of 24 Hour Fitness centres which have existed for 36 years, and you can find them in 11 states.
There are 300 fitness centres, and at least 40 belong to Shaq (24-Hour Fitness Shaq Sports Clubs), and each of them comes with an original design.
He initially joined the chain of fitness centres in 2013 as their brand ambassador. Gradually, he entered the board of directors (2016) to eventually become a strategic advisor for 24 Hour Fitness in 2019.
Car Washes
Among the companies Shaq owns, you’ll also find 150 car washes. Following his business advice, car washes are a highly profitable business to enter.
For instance, one of the 150 car washes he’s involved with is Auto Spa Bistro. In 2020, O’Neal entered their board of directors. The brand’s founder said that O’Neal was among his first customers when he started the company.
CityPlex12
Among Shaq companies, there are also theatres. For example, in 2012, the former basketball player opened a movie theatre in his hometown, Newark, New Jersey. The theatre was opened in co-ownership with the town’s mayor Cory Booker.
Consequently, they fully renovated it to become a state-of-the-art movie theatre. Additionally, the theatre consists of a 47-foot wide screen and the latest 3D digital projection — the whole project required around $7 million in funding.
Big Chicken
Shaquille has invested in many fast-food restaurants, but Big Chicken is his brand. A family dinner primarily serves chicken sandwiches, side dishes and ice cream in large portions.
He established the food brand with other big-shot partners like RS Hospitality (a Las Vegas-based ownership group) and Authentic Brands Group (ABG) in 2018.
So, if you want to taste some of Shaq’s favourite childhood food, you should visit some of the 10 Big Chicken locations in Las Vegas.
In 2022, Shaq made a deal with a Texas-based owner for more extensive Big Chicken outreach. That said, apart from the Las Vegas area, now, you can try his bold-flavoured menu in Austin, Phoenix, Dallas, and San Antonio.
Krispy Kreme Doughnuts
Shaq added his favourite Krispy Kreme doughnuts to the long list of franchises under his name. In 2016, he established himself as a go-getter businessman and purchased the 60-year-old Krispy Kreme cafeteria in Atlanta — an investment of $2.75 million.
However, Shaq’s not stopping just yet. He stated his goal is to own at least 100 Krispy Kreme cafeterias.
Related: How many 3-pointers did Shaq make in his career?
What Companies Did Shaq Invest In?
The former NBA star is determined to establish himself as a business giant and leader across the US. For that matter, he’s also an investor in numerous brands and companies.
Here’s a list of some of the biggest brands he has invested in:
- NRG eSports
- Apple
- Lyft
- Pepsi
- Ring
- Vitaminwater
- General Electric
- FORTO Coffee Shots
- ŌURA
- Forest Road Acquisition
- Beachbody & Myx Fitness
- Maxpro Fitness, and others.
Total Franchise Worth: What Is Shaq’s Net Worth?
According to the latest calculations and business projects, Shaq’s net worth is skyrocketing $400 million – and is expected to grow.
When Shaq called it quits from the highest-paid basketball league, he left with a salary of $290+ million. In addition, the numerous commercial and advertising endorsements throughout his NBA career brought him another $220 million (at the very least).
By diversifying and carefully choosing his business moves, O’Neal made his hard-earned incomes grow even more.
Bottom Line
We brought you up to speed with Shaq’s wide range of businesses. The former NBA star didn’t let his finances dry after he exited the most profitable basketball league.
Instead, he decided to assess the business market and make the most of it by wisely distributing his $292 million NBA salary.
Nowadays, Shaq’s name is on various brands and franchises like Papa John’s, Big Chicken, CityPlex12, 150 car washes, etc.
FAQ:
How much did Shaq earn in his NBA career?
Shaq retired from the NBA with a heavy load of $292 million in 2011. This is the sum without the extra earnings from advertisements and sponsorship deals.
Is Shaq a billionaire?
No, Shaquille is not a billionaire – he’s a millionaire. His estimated net worth is $400 million and is set to go up.
Does Shaq own Papa John’s?
Shaq owns 9 Papa John’s franchise units scattered across the US.
What is Shaq Life?
Shaq Life is a peek into O’Neal’s life, i.e., a reality series that showcases his life after exiting the NBA.
For instance, if you’re a regular follower of the series, you’ll see how many businesses Shaq owns, his plans for the future, etc.
Shaq seems pretty busy, even without ball games or play-off preparations.
How many businesses does Shaq own around the world?
The Hall Famer’s name is labelled on 50+ different businesses spread in various parts of the USA.
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