He's Built A $400M Fortune, But There Was Still A Time ... - AfroTech

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Venture CapitalJosh Rodgers

Jul 6, 2022

1 min

He's Built A $400M Fortune, But There Was Still A Time Where Shaquille O’Neal Thought 'D-mn, I'm Broke'

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They say comparison is the thief of joy, and for NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal, that sentiment became true when he checked his net worth.

AfroTech has previously reported that O’Neal has an estimated net worth of $400 million. Although this number is nothing to downplay, the former Los Angeles Lakers center was shocked that he wasn’t the wealthiest NBA player to ever do it.

A Moment of Clarity

In a recent interview with Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings on the Earn Your Leisure Podcast, Shaq recalled the moment he realized he wasn’t among the top NBA earners.

“You know it’s crazy because I was at the airport, too, like ‘NBA Richest Players’ … I was like, No. 7?” Shaq said. “Damn, I’m broke — compared to these dudes. It’s just motivating.”

He continued: “And it’s just like the crazy thing is I never wanted to be rich. I just wanted to buy my mother anything she wants,” O’Neal explained on the podcast.”

Holding His Own

O’Neal has earned a sizeable income beyond his former NBA salary. You can find the four-time NBA Champion as a sports analyst for TNT. He also has an array of endorsement deals, including his discount sneakers, Icy Hot, Papa Johns, and The General Car Insurance.

Additionally, Shaq is the joint owner of several franchises including Papa John’s, plus over 100 car washes, 24-hour fitness centers, and more.

And of course, Shaquille O’Neal owns his 50 brands. As AfroTech previously reported, he owns parts of Playboy, Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, and JCPenney.

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Josh Rodgers

Lover of Culture. Curator of Motivation. Advocate for Equity. Josh Rodgers is a writer and content creator originally from Memphis, TN. Along with AfroTech, Josh's work can be seen on Blavity News, Travel Noire, Shadow & Act, and Buzzfeed. When he isn't writing, he can be found on the mic as the co-host and founder of The Jigsaw Podcast - a platform dedicated to helping Black millennials attempt to navigate the craziest puzzle piece ever created, life.

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