Who is Shaquille O’Neal?
Before breaking rims and shattering backboards became rather routine, the NBA rarely saw a phenomenon quite like Shaquille O’Neal. During his 19-year-long career, O’Neal built a reputation around his physical dominance on the court. Standing at 7’1 tall and weighing over 300 pounds during his prime, he was notoriously unguardable.
With 4 NBA championships, an MVP award, 15 All-Star selections, and over 28,000 career points, he is noted to be one of basketball’s most influential big men ever. He ventured into music, entrepreneurship, and entertainment after basketball, which only furthered his worldwide fame.
Shaquille O’Neal’s early life
Shaquille O’Neal was born in Newark, New Jersey, to Lucille O’Neal and Joe Toney. He did not know of his biological father, Joe Toney, who was imprisoned for drug possession when Shaq was very young. Lucille, his mother, then married a military drill sergeant – Phillip A. Harrison, who played a big role in Shaq’s childhood. Shaq has three siblings, Ayesha, Jamal, and Lateefah O’Neal. Ayesha battled with cancer and passed away in 2019.
While O’Neal became a national sensation because of his dominance on the court, his larger-than-life personality and humor made him a popular figure around the world. When he first entered the league, Shaq was not confident with the media. However, he understood its importance and worked on his skills, which helped in ways not many could have imagined.
Shaq studied business at Louisiana State University and played college basketball for the Tigers. His parents were adamant he should complete his college education before testing the league. Be that as it may, as coach Dale Brown was concerned O’Neal could end up with a career-ending injury due to the hard fouls he had been enduring in college games, he suggested O’Neal should declare for the NBA draft.
After completing three years of college, Shaquille O’Neal declared for the NBA draft, where he was selected as the first overall pick by the Orlando Magic in 1992. He received approval for this decision as he had assured his mother that he would return to complete his degree. Shaq fulfilled this promise by earning his bachelor’s degree in 2000 while actively playing in the NBA.
Feeling disrespected due to being overlooked in business meetings by his colleagues, O’Neal pursued an MBA from the University of Phoenix in 2005 to demonstrate his capability as a successful entrepreneur. His mother was overwhelmed with joy upon his graduation and encouraged him to strive for more. Subsequently, in 2012, Shaq achieved his doctoral degree in organizational learning and leadership, with a focus on human resource development from Barry University.
Shaquille O Neal’s wife and children
Shaquille O’Neal is the father of six children. In 1996, he and his former girlfriend Arnetta Yardbourgh welcomed their first child, Taahirah O’Neal. Subsequently, he married Shaunie Henderson in 2002. Shaunie is known as a reality TV star and serves as one of the executive producers for the Basketball Wives television series.
From a prior relationship, she had a son named Myles. Together, O’Neal and Shaunie had four children: Shareef, Amirah, Shaqir, and Me’arah. After nine years of marriage, Shaquille O’Neal and Shaunie separated in 2011. In 2022, she married Pastor Keion Henderson.
Since his divorce, Shaq has not remarried. Among his children, Shareef, Amirah, Shaqir, and Me’arah are actively pursuing basketball, following in their father’s footsteps. At the age of 17, Me’arah is rapidly developing and shows great potential as a player. She has recently committed to play college basketball for the Florida Gators, choosing them over her father’s alma mater, LSU. The four-star recruit is currently ranked No. 33 in the Class of 2024.
Shaquille O’Neal’s net worth 2024
In 1996, Shaquille O’Neal entered into a 7-year contract worth $120 million upon joining the Los Angeles Lakers. This agreement was among the largest of its kind at that time. Over the course of his illustrious career, he accumulated nearly $290 million in NBA salaries and more than $200 million from endorsements.
With a knack for business, the 4x NBA champion has also built an empire. He owns a total of 50 brands in different industries. As of January 2024, Shaq has amassed a net worth of $400 million.
Shaquille O’Neal’s NBA career timeline
Shaquille O’Neal had a remarkable 19-year career in the NBA, during which he played for six different teams. He made a significant impact as a rookie. In his fourth season, O’Neal guided the Orlando Magic to the NBA Finals in 1995. Subsequently, in 1996, he joined the Los Angeles Lakers, coinciding with the Lakers’ acquisition of a young Kobe Bryant on draft day.
Initially, Shaq and the Lakers faced challenges. Nevertheless, the hiring of head coach Phil Jackson transformed the team’s fortunes. Under his leadership, the Lakers achieved a three-peat from 2000 to 2002. Shaq was awarded the Finals MVP title on all three occasions and also secured the NBA MVP award in 2000.
In 2004, O’Neal moved to South Beach and contributed to the Miami Heat’s victory in the NBA Championship in 2006. Nevertheless, Shaq was past his prime and experienced several persistent injuries. From 2007 to 2011, he played for three different teams and announced his retirement while with the Boston Celtics in 2011, at the age of 39.
Throughout his career, basketball rims and backboards were often at risk. Shaq has shattered an impressive total of 19 rims due to his forceful slams. In 2017, O’Neal shared a photo of a sculpture created from all 19 rims he had broken, naming it ‘Broken Rim Tree.
Shaquille O’Neal’s contracts
Here’s a breakdown of Shaquille O’Neal’s contracts and earnings throughout his NBA career:
Year Team Salary Career Earnings
1992-93 Orlando Magic $3,000,000 $3,000,000
1993-94 Orlando Magic $3,900,000 $3,900,000
1994-95 Orlando Magic $4,800,000 $4,800,000
1995-96 Orlando Magic $5,700,000 $5,700,000
1996-97 Los Angeles Lakers $10,714,000 $10,714,000
1997-98 Los Angeles Lakers $12,857,143 $12,857,143
1998-99 Los Angeles Lakers $9,146,341 $9,146,341
1999-00 Los Angeles Lakers $17,142,858 $17,142,858
2000-01 Los Angeles Lakers $19,285,715 $19,285,715
2001-02 Los Angeles Lakers $21,428,572 $21,428,572
2002-03 Los Angeles Lakers $23,571,429 $23,571,429
2003-04 Los Angeles Lakers $24,749,999 $24,749,999
2004-05 Los Angeles Lakers $27,696,430 $27,696,430
2005-06 Miami Heat $20,000,000 $20,000,000
2006-07 Miami Heat $20,000,000 $20,000,000
2007-08 Phoenix Suns $20,000,000 $20,000,000
2008-09 Phoenix Suns $21,000,000 $21,000,000
2009-10 Cleveland Cavaliers $20,000,000 $20,000,000
2010-11 Boston Celtics $1,352,181 $1,352,181
Approximate Earnings $286,344,668 $286,344,668
Shaquille O’Neal’s endorsements and investments
Shaquille O’Neal is recognized as one of the most accomplished former athletes who transitioned into a successful business career. Known as Big Diesel, he possesses a portfolio of 50 brands across various sectors, which includes more than 172 restaurants and 150 car washes. Despite being retired for over ten years, Shaq continues to endorse 30 different companies.
O’Neal was a part owner of an impressive 155 Five Guys Burgers locations. He proudly owns franchises such as Krispy Kreme, Papa John’s Pizza, Auntie Anne’s Pretzels, Car Wash, and 24-Hour Fitness. Furthermore, he has ownership of 9 Papa John’s Pizza restaurants. Shaq has also made investments in major companies like Apple, PepsiCo, Google, and General Electric, with his investment in Google significantly boosting his net worth.
Additionally, O’Neal holds shares in the Authentic Brands Group, which owns JCPenney and Forever 21. This group has the rights to royalties from iconic figures such as Elvis Presley, Muhammad Ali, and Marilyn Monroe. As the second-largest shareholder, Shaq also benefits from a portion of these legends’ royalties.
While Shaq has made several astute investments that have contributed to his business empire, he has also overlooked some significant opportunities, such as investing in Starbucks. His decision not to invest in the coffeehouse chain was based on a rather intriguing reason.
On the basketball court, Shaq was previously a minority owner of the Sacramento Kings, although he has recently divested his shares. Nevertheless, he remains interested in owning a stake in the NBA and has expressed a desire to acquire shares in his former team, the Orlando Magic.
