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Shaquille O’Neal, also known as Shaq, is a former professional basketball player and current TV basketball analyst who has achieved enormous success both on and off the court. Over the course of his illustrious career, Shaq was known for his exceptional basketball skills and his larger-than-life personality, making him a fan favorite around the world. While he has since retired from the sport, he has continued to build a successful career in the public eye, with a diverse range of ventures that have contributed to build the impressive Shaq net worth we see nowadays.

Throughout his time as a professional athlete, Shaq was one of the highest-paid players in the NBA, earning tens of millions of dollars in salary alone. However, his wealth extends far beyond his time on the court. In addition to his basketball career, Shaq has also become a successful entrepreneur, with a variety of business ventures contributing to his overall net worth. He has invested in a wide range of industries, including restaurants, nightclubs, and real estate, using his wealth and influence to build a diverse and impressive portfolio of assets.

Moreover, Shaq has also enjoyed a successful career in the entertainment industry. He has appeared in a variety of films and television shows, showcasing his humor and charisma on the big and small screen. Additionally, he has been the face of numerous products, partnering with major brands such as Pepsi and Reebok to promote their products to his legion of fans.

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Shaq Net Worth in 2023

All of these factors combine to make Shaq net worth one of the highest of any retired athlete in the world. While exact figures can be difficult to determine, estimates suggest that he is worth hundreds of millions of dollars, a testament to his enduring popularity and success in a wide range of industries. In this article, we will explore the various sources of Shaq’s wealth, providing readers with a detailed understanding of how he has managed to achieve such incredible financial success throughout his life. Whether you are a fan of basketball or simply interested in learning more about one of the most iconic figures of our time, this article is sure to provide valuable insights into Shaq’s net worth and the secrets to his success.

Estimating Shaq net worth is not an easy task, as a variety of factors, such as his investments, income streams, and expenses influenced it. According to different sources, Shaq’s net worth varies widely. Celebrity Net Worth estimates his net worth at $400 million in 2023, while Forbes estimated it to be $350 million in 2021. Meanwhile, The Richest values Shaq net worth at $450 million as of 2022, and Wealthy Gorilla estimates it to be $500 million as of 2022. These figures suggest that Shaq is a highly successful entrepreneur and has a considerable amount of wealth. Nonetheless, it’s important to keep in mind that these estimates are not exact and may fluctuate over time.

Shaq is one of the greatest NBA players of all time. He was selected first in the 1992 NBA draft by the Orlando Magic and reigned as a dominating seven-foot center until 2011. During his career, Shaq won four NBA titles and three NBA Finals MVP awards and was named the NBA Most Valuable Player in 2000. Shaq also became a movie star and a rapper, with his first rap album going platinum. He has since released 5 albums. Some of his film credits include Blue Chips, Kazaam, Steel, and Grown Ups 2. In his NBA career, Shaq accumulated $292 million in salary. He is among the highest paid players ever in the NBA. So where does the rest of Shaq’s net worth come from?

What Brands Does Shaq Own?

In 2018, Shaq founded the brand known as Big Chicken which has a total of 10 locations. The company also ships across the entire United States. He has even partnered with Carnival Cruise Lines to open Big Chicken on some of their cruise ships.

He also owns 40 24-Hour fitness gyms and 150 car washes. Additionally, Shaq owns a movie theater, shopping center, and a Night Club too. He is also the second largest individual shareholder of Authentic Brands Group. Notable subsidiaries of Authentic Brands Group include: Forever 21, Barneys New York, JCPenney, and Reebok. All of these holdings considerably increase his net worth.

Shaquille's Restaurant

Shaq also has a restaurant in Las Vegas known as Shaquille’s. The menu includes filet mignon, shrimp scampi, and chocolate cake.

Majority Agency

In 2021 Shaq founded the majority agency. The agency is a digital marketing firm. The agency has worked with clients such as Google, Dunkin’ Donuts, and Verizon.

Big Chicken

In addition to Shaq, Big Chicken is backed by JRS Hospitality, as well as Authentic Brands Group (ABG) which has helped grow multi-national chains.

JRS Hospitality has earned over $100 million in revenue on the Las Vegas Strip. It is the number one outdoor patio occupant in Las Vegas. This makes the brand a major player for restaurants, casinos, and other hospitality businesses.

Meanwhile, ABG is a major corporation and has earned over $20 Billion in revenue. ABG’s top brands include Forever 21, Juicy Couture, Brooks Brothers, J. Crew, Tapout, and Prince. ABG has also begun the process of acquiring major athletic apparel and sneaker brand Reebok. They have endorsed celebrities including Shaq, explaining the partnership between the two major players.

Big Chicken prides itself on delivering a menu with bold flavors mixed with home-cooked childhood favorites. The Big Chicken menu offers a variety of signature sandwiches. This includes the BIg and Sloppy sandwich, which has onion rings, macaroni and cheese, and a barbecue aioli sauce. For those that like their sandwiches on the spicier side, the Uncle Jerome is a Nashville themed chicken sandwich with lettuce, mayo and pickles.

For those that are beloved fans of Shaq, be sure to order the Shaq Attack, which has pepper jack cheese, jalepeño slaw, and a spicy chipotle bbq sauce. The menu does go far past just sandwiches as there are tenders, popcorn chicken, and salads.

The current 10 locations are spread across

• Arizona,
• California,
• Illinois,
• Louisiana,
• New York,
• Nevada,
• Ohio,
• Texas,
• Washington, and
• Carnival Cruise Line.

Competition

Big Chicken recognizes its demand and limited locations to deliver the flavor and experience so many individuals crave. The brand, as a result, ships across the U.S. for people to enjoy Big Chicken directly at home.

Currently, this brand is looking for new franchisees and with the celebrity backing of Shaq and business expertise between him and JRS Hospitality, it is a great opportunity. However, this is fierce competition in the chicken sandwich industry. Chick-Fil-A has a strong following and their demand is unparalleled.

Their competitor, Dave’s Hot Chicken has currently signed over 500 franchise agreements. This Nashville Chicken themed restaurant has begun to expand across the U.S. and is expected to open another 75 locations this calendar year. Dave’s Hot Chicken already has 61 locations open and with the demand to open additional locations Big Chicken has its work cut out for the brand. Additionally, you can expect to earn $223,000 annually from a Dave’s Hot Chicken franchise. Big Chicken is too young of a brand to report on their annual profit, but it can be expected to be fairly similar. The backing of JRS hospitality, and ABG provide Big Chicken with a major capital and strategic advantage in the chicken sandwich and restaurant industries.

Franchises: What Brands Does Shaq Own?

Shaq owns, operates and sells a variety of franchises.

Five Guys

For example, Shaq has owned and sold 155 Five Guys locations. This accounts for 10% of Five Guys' entire franchise portfolio. That’s a lot of hamburgers that Shaq has made possible.

Five Guys is an American fast casual restaurant chain focused on hamburgers, hot dogs, and French fries. The company was founded in 1986 by Jerry and Janie Murrell as a small, family-operated chain of 30 locations. The chain has since expanded to over 1,500 locations across the United States and international locations. Shaq first became involved with Five Guys in 2008 when he purchased a location in Atlanta. He then went on to open dozens more stores across the country.

Auntie Anne's Pretzel

Shaw also owns 17 Aunties Anne’s Pretzel restaurants. Auntie Anne’s is famous for being in malls, and shopping centers. They offer a variety of pretzels and cinnamon themed bite sized snacks. Truly, a shopping staple in the U.S.

Auntie Anne's is a pretzel company founded in 1988 by Anne Beiler and her husband, Jonas, in the Downington Farmers Market in Downingtown, Pennsylvania. The company is headquartered in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Shaq signed on as a franchisee with Auntie Anne’s in 2010 and currently owns 17 stores across the country.

Papa John's Pizza

Papa John's is the third largest pizza delivery company in the United States. The company was founded in 1984 by John Schnatter. Today, there are over 4,700 Papa John's locations worldwide.

Shaq in 2019, became the spokesperson and director of Papa John’s Pizza. This came directly after the controversial outing of their former CEO Schnatter. Shaq currently owns 9 Papa John franchises. Pizza Shaq seems to be an empire waiting to happen given the success he has had with Five Guys. By being contracted by Papa John’s with an $11 million compensation plan, it is fair to assume that Shaq’s number of locations will continue to grow.

Krispy Kreme

Shaq has also begun franchising opportunities with world renowned donut chain Krispy Kreme. He has already acquired the world famous location in Atlanta.

Krispy Kreme is an American global doughnut company and coffeehouse chain founded in 1937. Krispy Kreme's product offerings include a variety of doughnuts, as well as coffees, beverages, and merchandise. Currently there are over 1,300 Krispy Kreme stores around the world with more to come thanks to Shaq’s involvement.

24-Hour Fitness

Shaq is also an investor in the global health club company, 24-Hour Fitness. Headquartered in San Ramon, California, 24-Hour Fitness is the world's largest operator of fitness centers with more than 430 locations in the United States. Shaquille O'Neal has been involved with 24 Hour Fitness since 2013 when he first became a brand ambassador. In 2016, he became a member of the board of directors and then in 2019 he became a strategic advisor for the company.

Other Shaq Investments

Apple and Google are two of the most well-known companies in the world. So what does Shaq have to do with them? Well, he is an early investor in both companies. 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.

Lyft

Lyft is an American transportation network company based in San Francisco, California and operating in 640 cities in the United States and 9 cities in Canada. The company was founded in June 2012 by Logan Green and John Zimmer to improve people's lives with the world's best transportation.  Shaq first invested in Lyft when it was still a startup back in 2013. He has continued to invest more money into the company as it has grown and become more successful.

Vitaminwater

Vitaminwater is a line of enhanced water products owned by The Coca-Cola Company. The original product was created in 1996 and acquired by Coca-Cola in 2007. Shaq has been a long time fan of Vitaminwater and he even has his own flavor called "Shaq Fu Punch." He first partnered with the company in 2008 and has since appeared in many of their commercials.

Sacramento Kings

Sacramento Kings is an American professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California. The Kings compete in the National Basketball Association as a member of the Western Conference's Pacific Division. The Kings are the only team in the major professional North American sports leagues located in Sacramento.  Shaq has been a minority owner of the Sacramento Kings since 2013. He is part of a group that owns approximately 5% of the team.

Ring

Ring is a home security company owned by Amazon. It was founded in 2012 by Jamie Siminoff. The company's flagship product is the Ring Video Doorbell, which allows users to see and speak with visitors to their door via a smartphone app. Shaq became an investor in Ring in 2016 and he has also appeared in some of their commercials.

Pepsi

Pepsi is an American carbonated soft drink produced and manufactured by PepsiCo. Shaq has been a long time fan of Pepsi and he even has his own flavor called "Shaq Soda".

eSports

eSports is a form of competitive video gaming. The eSports tournaments are often sponsored by companies like Coca-Cola, Red Bull, and Intel. Shaq is a minority owner of NRG eSports, an American esports organization founded in 2015 that competes in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Overwatch, Fortnite Battle Royale, Rocket League, and PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds. He first invested in the company in 2016.

Shaq owns a total of 50 brands in different industries. He certainly knows how to make money. From fitness, to car washes, to restaurants, Shaq has his hands in a little bit of everything.

Shaq Up

Shaq’s legendary NBA career will always be remembered. Shaq’s business aspirations during and after his career are arguably just as impressive. He has the power to turn brands like Papa John’s around following PR nightmares.

Furthermore, he is a major outlier as it is reported that 60% of NBA players go broke following the end of their career. Shaq was an inspiration on the court and is an entrepreneurial icon for anyone aiming to start and operate their own businesses or franchises.

Big Chicken has the potential to be his most successful business to date. Chicken Sandwich restaurants have been a cultural awakening and Shaq has the fast casual experience and celebrity endorsement power to make it a major brand. JRS Hospitality and ABG will also be major players to help ensure its success.

While you might be impressed with the businesses and franchises Shaq owns, be sure to check out the countless other opportunities on Vetted Biz.

Conclusion

One of the most impressive aspects of Shaq’s career is his exceptional management skills and his ability to run successful businesses. As a savvy entrepreneur and businessperson, he knows exactly what it takes to succeed in the cutthroat world of business. With a relentless drive and an unwavering determination, Shaq is constantly working to improve and innovate his brands, ensuring that they remain at the forefront of their respective industries.

But what really sets Shaq apart is his hands-on approach to business management. He is deeply involved in all aspects of his businesses, from the day-to-day operations to the long-term strategy and planning. This level of engagement and dedication is what makes Shaq such a great role model for aspiring entrepreneurs, demonstrating the importance of hard work, dedication, and a passion for success.

Of course, all of this hard work and dedication has paid off handsomely for Shaq, with his net worth skyrocketing over the years, thanks to his many successful business ventures. From his early investments in tech giants like Apple and Google to his more recent foray into the world of fast casual dining with Big Chicken, Shaq’s financial success is a testament to his sharp business acumen and ability to make smart investment decisions.

Overall, Shaq net worth and business success are a testament to his incredible talent and entrepreneurial spirit. Whether you are an aspiring entrepreneur or simply interested in the world of business and finance, his story is sure to inspire and motivate you to pursue your own dreams and achieve financial success.