Shaquille O’Neal’s Net Worth. He is a retired American basketball player, entrepreneur, television host, and product endorser. While he made his fortune as a basketball player, most of his net worth today comes from his business ventures.
Most of his assets are likely in franchises, including Papa John’s, 24 Hour Fitness, Krispy Kreme, and car washes. His net worth is $400 million.
Shaquille O’Neal’s Net Worth
He is one of the most dominant and iconic centers in the history of the NBA. Over his 19-year career, Shaq earned numerous accolades and achievements, including four NBA Championships, three NBA Finals MVP Awards, and 15 All-Star selections. In addition to his prowess on the court, Shaq has also made a significant impact off the court, becoming a successful entrepreneur, television personality, and philanthropist.
Shaquille O’Neal’s Biography and Early Life
Shaquille Rashaun O’Neal was born on March 6, 1972, in Newark, New Jersey, to Lucille O’Neal and Joe Toney. His father struggled with drug addiction and was never an active part of his life. Joe was imprisoned for drug possession when Shaq was an infant and ultimately released his rights to his stepfather, Phillip Arthur Harrison. At the age of two, his mother married Phillip Harrison, who was a sergeant in the U.S. Army.
Shaq was a big kid from an early age, and his early age and his size caused him to stand out from his peers. Shaq was part of the Boys and Girls Club of America while growing up, and he credits the organization for helping to keep him off the streets. The family moved from Newark to Germany and Texas. He attended Robert G. Cole High School in San Antonio, where he excelled in basketball and earned a scholarship to play at Louisiana State University.
During his college career at Lousiana State University, Shaq quickly became a star player. He was named the Southeastern Conference Player of the Year in 1991 and 1992 and was a consensus first-team All-American in both of those seasons. Shaq helped lead the LSU Tigers to the NCAA tournament in each of his three seasons there, and he was the number one overall pick in the 1992 NBA Draught.
Shaquille O’Neal’s Career
In 1992, Shaq became the first overall pick of the Orlando Magic. Within the first week of his debut, he was named Player of the Week, which made him the first player ever to be awarded the title within one week. He went on to make an average of 23.4 points on 56.2% shooting with 13.9 rebounds, including 3.5 blocks, in a game during his first season of play. In 1993, his insane skills and overall performance ultimately earned him the NBA Rookie of the Year Award.
In 1996, Shaq signed a seven-year, $121 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. He teamed up with a young Kobe Bryant, and the two became one of the most dominant duos in NBA history. Shaquille O’Neal won three NBA championships with the Lakers in 2000, 2001, and 2002 and was named the NBA Finals MVP in each of those seasons. He was also named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player in 2000. During his time in LA, Shaq accomplished a lot alongside Kobe, including many broken backboards, MVPs, and single-season records.
Due to several disagreements with his teammate Kobe Bryant, Shaq was later traded to the Miami Heat for $100 million in 2004. While he likely could have demanded more money, he stated that it was another championship that he was after. The team got their chance the very next year, as the Heat beat the Dallas Mavericks to clinch the team’s first-ever title and Shaq’s fourth. During his years with the Miami Heat, he was widely considered the best center and player in the league. He nearly lost the 2004-2005 NBA MVP Award.
In February 2008, the Phoenix Suns signed him from the Miami Heat. The Phoenix Sun was the third NBA team Shaq played for. In his debut game in the same month against his previous team, the Los Angeles Lakers, they lost the game. He soon took the blame for his team’s loss, stating that he was not in tune with his teammates. However, he preferred playing for the Suns over the Heat. In 2009, he emerged as co-MVP along with his former teammate Kobe Bryant in the All-Star Game.
Shaq spent just one season with the Phoenix Suns and his time there was marked by injuries and a lack of success on the court. He was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2009. He played one season with the Cleveland Cavaliers, teaming up with superstar LeBron James. The Cavaliers had a strong regular season but ultimately fell short in the playoffs.
Shaq signed with the Boston Celtics on August 4th, 2010 for $2.8 million. This contract value was the lowest offer Shaq had ever received throughout his career. with the hope of winning another ring to rival Tim Duncan, but he played a limited role and retired in 2011.
Shaquille O’Neal’s Music Career
Shaq’s music career started in 1992 when he began composing rap music. In 1993, he released his first album, titled Shaq Diesel, which was recorded between 1992 and 1993. Some of the hit tracks from the album include Shoot Pass Slam, I’m Outstanding, and Let Me In. This album was a huge success. The Shaq Diesel studio album reached #25 on the Billboard 200.
In 1994, he released his second album, titled Shaq Fu: D Return, which reached #67 on the Billboard 200. In 1996, his third album, You Can’t Stop the Reign, was released and stood at #82 on the Billboard 200. Shaq released his fourth album in 1998, titled Respect, which reached #58 on the Billboard 200.
Shaquille O’Neal’s Acting Career
Shaq kicked off his acting career with the basketball drama Blue Chips, which was released in 1994. He also starred in other movies like Steel in 1997, The Wash in 2001, The House Bunny in 2008, Grown Ups 2 in 2013, and Blended in 2014.
Shaquille O’Neal’s Net Worth – Personal Life
Shaq got married to Shaunie Nelson in December 2002. They have four children together: Shareef, Amirah, Shaqir, and Me’arah. Shaq also has a daughter, Taahirah, from a previous relationship with Arnetta Yardbourgh. Shaq filed for divorce from Shaunie in September 2007. They changed their minds and withdrew their divorce, but in November 2009, Shaunie filed an intent to divorce.
She cited irreconcilable differences. Shaq dated reality star Nicole Alexander from 2010 to 2012. Since 2014, Shaq has been dating model Laticia Rolle.
Shaquille O’Neal’s Achievements and Awards
Collage Player of the Year (1991)
Associated Press College Basketball Player of the Year (1991)
Adolph Rupp Trophy (1991)
First-Team All-American (1991, 1992)
SCE Player of the Year (1991, 1992)
NBA Rookie of the Year Award (1993)
Outstanding Performance by a Sports Personality in an Attempt to Break into Show Business, ESPY Award (1993)
FIBA World Championship MVP (1994)
USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year (1994)
NBA Scoring Champion (1995, 2000)
NBA Most Valuable Player Award (2000)
Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award (2000, 2001, 2002)
Best NBA Player ESPY Award (2001, 2002)
NBA All-Defensive Team (2000, 2001, 2003)
BET Award for Sportsman of the Year (2005)
All-NBA Team Honor (2004, 2005, 2006)
All-NBA Third Team (1994, 1996, 1997, 2009)
NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award (2000, 2004, 2009)
Kids’ Choice Award for Favourite Male Athlete (2000, 2007, 2011)
Sports Emmy Award for Outstanding Sports Promotional Announcement: Institutional (2012)
Frequently Asked Questions
-
How many Rings does Shaquille O’Neal have?
Shaq has four rings. He collected three rings with the Lakers and one with the Heat.
-
When did Shaquille O’Neal Retire?
Shaq retired from the NBA in 2011 after a season with the Boston Celtics.
