Shaquille O'Neal entered the public eye as a 7'1″ behemoth NBA superstar for the Orlando Magic. Over his NBA career, he quickly became one of the most well-known and charismatic NBA players in history. He is a platinum-certified rapper, NBA Champion, and current TV Analyst on Inside the NBA. But what is Shaquille O'Neal's net worth?
Shaquille O'Neal's net worth is estimated to be $400 million. Shaq earned most of his money from his NBA contracts and post-career business endeavors. His career NBA salary earnings total $286 Million according to Spotrac.
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Shaquille O'Neal Net Worth Facts & Figures
- Shaquille O'Neal once held the record for the most lucrative contract signed in NBA history after the Lakers gave him $120 million for seven years. This has since been broken.
- Shaquille O'Neal has released four studio rap albums. His first album Shaq Diesel is RIAA Certified Platinum. His second album, Shaq-fu: Da Return, is RIAA Certified Gold. He earned a top-25 spot on the US Billboard Charts with his first album.
- Shaq released a song with The Notorious B.I.G.
- Shaquille O'Neal kept a promise to his mother by earning a degree and a doctorate in education from the University of Miami.
- Shaq has at least 34 credited nicknames, including The Big Aristotle, Superman, Shaq Diesel, and even The Big Shaqtus.
Shaquille O'Neals Early Life & Upbringing
Born in Newark, New Jersey, Shaq was always the biggest kid on the block. With a father that measured 6 ft 1 in (1.85m) and a mother that was 6 ft 2 in (1.88m) tall, Shaq grew quickly. He was 6 feet 6 in (1.98m) tall by age 13.
Shaq's father struggled with drug addiction and was imprisoned when Shaq was still a baby. His mother eventually remarried, and parental rights were given over to Shaq's stepfather. Sergeant Phillip A. Harrison was a military man that imposed strict rules of respect and integrity for Shaquille O'Neal growing up. O'Neal credits his success and discipline to his stepfather's tutelage and teachings.
Because of Shaqs stepfather's military work, the family moved around a lot during his childhood. He spent a long period of his life living in Germany and briefly in Texas.
Shaq was a dominant high-school player. He led his team to a 68-1 record over the two years he played. Louisiana State University liked what they saw in the young big man and offered him a full scholarship which he gladly accepted. He dominated in the NCAA, becoming a two-time All-American, two-time SEC Player of the Year, and more accolades. He was drafted #1 overall by the Orlando Magic when he declared for the draft in 1992.
Shaquille O'Neals NBA Career
Shaquille O'Neal played for many teams during his 19-year NBA career. He is a heavily decorated NBA player. O'Neals individual accolades include the 1999-2000 Most Valuable Player Award, the Rookie of the Year, 14 All-NBA First Team Selections, 3 NBA All-Defensive Team, and 15 All-Star game selections. He also won five championships and three NBA Finals MVP awards. Shaq's name is in the history books as one of only three players to have won the regular season MVP, Finals MVP, and All-Star game MVP awards in the same season. He was an easy Hall of Fame selection and was inducted in 2016.
Shaq's most extraordinary years were with the Los Angeles Lakers. He became synonymous with another NBA legend Kobe Bryant, and they went on to win their first ring together in the 2000 NBA season. This wasn't the only time the duo would win an NBA championship. They would win back-to-back-to-back rings, cementing themselves in NBA history. They also had one of the most notable NBA feuds in history, with both Kobe and Shaq arguing about each other to the NBA media during practice and even during games. This NBA feud is so legendary it even has a dedicated Wikipedia page detailing its history. Eventually, this feud led Kobe Bryant to demand that the Lakers pick himself or Shaquille O'Neal. The Lakers ultimately chose to stick with Kobe and traded Shaq to the Miami Heat, where he helped the team pick up its first-ever championship ring.
The rest of his career saw Shaq play for the Phoenix Suns, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Boston Celtics before retiring. Shaq is now alongside Charles Barkley, Ernie Johnson, and Kenny Smith on Inside the NBA, where Shaq has been awarded a large yearly salary.
Shaquille O'Neals Post-NBA Entrepreneurial Career
Shaq is one of the wealthiest NBA players in the world. Alongside being a dominant presence on the court during his career, Shaq has made waves as an entrepreneur and businessman. Taking advice from players like Magic Johnson, Shaq has been a highly successful post-NBA career.
Shaquille O'Neal has an extensive investment portfolio. He was an early investor in Google. Other brands include Apple, Ring, Lyft, and plenty more. Shaq also owns ~150 car washers, 17 Auntie Annie's, 40 gyms, and over a hundred Five Guy's Franchises.
But the list continues. Shaq is also involved with Gold Bond, Icy Hot, Buick, The General, JCPenny, and Forever 21. He owns movie theaters, Las Vegas Nightclubs, and a shopping center. Shaq has made bit appearances in movies and TV shows and is also a successful DJ. He really branches out to all types of genres.
Shaq has jokingly been said to “put his name on anything,” even inspiring an Inside the NBA bit titled “The Big Shill,” where the crew tries to guess what Shaq products are real and which are fake. You can watch the video down below.
Famous Shaquille O'Neal Quotes
“Me shooting 40% at the foul line is just God’s way to say nobody’s perfect.” – Shaquille O’Neal
“I don’t believe that I personally have been changed by the money. The bad thing is people assume you’ve changed because now you have money.” – Shaquille O’Neal
“I’m tired of hearing about money, money, money, money, money. I just want to play the game, drink Pepsi, wear Reebok.” – Shaquille O’Neal
“I’m a combination of the Terminator and Bambi.”– Shaquille O’Neal
“If I were a painter, you’d be calling me Shaqcasso.”– Shaquille O’Neal
“The biggest thing that will define my legacy is how I’ve done it, and what I’ve done, and who I am. I’m a weird big guy. Doing rapping, doing movies. Do a lot of stuff. But always do things the right way. Went to the police academy to become a police officer. Get his master’s in criminal justice, stayed out of trouble. Played for three different teams. Changed three different franchises around. This is a guy who they would have secret meetings about to change the rules. So, that’s going to be my legacy: the most dominant player ever. – Shaquille O’Neal
Frequently Asked Questions about Shaquille O'Neal
How old is Shaquille O'Neal?
Shaquille O'Neal was born on March 6th, 1972.
How tall is Shaquille O'Neal?
Shaquille O'Neal is 7 ft 1 in (2.16m) tall.
Is Shaq still part-owner of the Sacramento Kings?
No, Shaq had to sell his stake in the Sacramento Kings NBA franchise because of other business opportunities. He officially sold his stake in early 2022.
