Did you know that NBA legend Shaquille O’ Neal owns a number of restaurant franchises? Yes, you read that right. The famous basketball player has successfully transistioned from court into the world of business. Shaq now owns several famous franchises such as Krispy Kreme, Papa John’s Pizza, and Five Guys.
Want to know what Shaq is investing in right now? Read on to know more about the many restaurants Shaquille O’Neal owns and how you can apply these lessons to your investing strategy. You can learn more about franchise investing by taking our 8-minute quiz to get matched with an opportunity.
List of Restaurants that Shaq Invests In
Shaquille O’Neal owns a number of restaurants. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Shaq answered what he found so attractive in franchising. He said, “It’s just partnering up with another reliable, excellent brand. Being in business with people, and just owning stuff.” Here are some of the restaurants Shaq has invested in.
Some of Shaq’s business interests.
Krispy Kreme
Krispy Kreme is a brand known for their doughnuts and coffee. They are a multi-national chain with over 1,400 locations all over the world. They have been operating since 1937 and have sold over 20 million donuts a year. Their revenue is $ 1.53 billion in 2022.
Shaquille O’Neal has cited Krispy Kreme as one of his favorite franchises. He owns one Krispy Kreme location at Ponce de Leon, Atlanta which was destroyed by arson in February 10, 2021. The construction of a new store in the same location is underway and is set to open in the summer of 2023.
Auntie Anne’s
Auntie Anne’s is an American chain of shops that sells different kinds of pretzels from sweet to savory ones. They also sell different kinds of dips with their pretzels such as caramel, cheese, marinara, and honey mustard. Started in 1988 in a Pennsylvania farmer’s market, the brand has grown from just a stand to over 1,900 locations around the globe. Auntie Anne’s global sales have reached $682,180,204 in 2022.
Shaquille O’Neal franchised Auntie Anne’s in 2007 and has owned 17 stores. However, in recent news, the former basketball star said that he sold his store although it is unclear if he sold all of them. As for the reason for letting the franchise go? “I sold my Auntie Anne’s because Black people don’t like pretzels that much. So I had to switch it up,” Shaq said.
Papa John’s Pizza
Papa John’s is an international pizza chain with over 5,700 stores. They started in 1985 in a broom closet in Jeffersonville, Indiana and the owners, John Schnatter and his partner Bob Ehringer, started the business with only $1,600 at that time. At present, Papa John’s can be found in areas like South Korea, China, Spain, Egypt, Qatar, France, and many more. Their global sales in 2022 have reached $4.778 billion.
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After John Schnatter’s racist remarks in 2017 and 2018, the man resigned as chair from the company. In an interview, Shaquille O’Neal said that Papa John’s called him to be on the board and Shaq replied that he’ll be involved as long as “old boy” is not involved. And that’s how Shaq got to be a part of the Papa John’s Board of Directors.
Shaquille O’Neal has a 3-year contract with the brand that earns him $8 million in stocks and salary. Aside from being part of the board, Shaq also owns 9 Papa John’s stores in Atlanta. He also signed to be an original endorser of the brand.
Five Guys
America is filled with major burger players in the food industry and one of them is Five Guys. The brand is known for their hamburgers, hotdogs, sandwiches, milkshakes, and fries. Five Guys started in 1986 in Arlington, Virginia by the Murrell Family. Today, the business has over 1,700 stores and is located in the United States and internationally. The business is run by the five Murrell brothers at present and has seen global sales of $2,790,474,334 in 2022.
Out of all the franchises that Shaquille O’Neal signed up, Five Guys was the most number of stores he owned. He franchised 155 of them starting in Atlanta in 2008. He has since sold his shares so it is unclear whether or not he still owns a few or has sold all of them. In an interview with CNBC, he said that the Five Guys business had been “very good” to him.
Have you tried Big Chicken?
Big Chicken
Big Chicken is a fast-casual chain specializing in chicken burgers. Shaquille O’Neal is the founder of this restaurant. Big Chicken started in 2018 with a menu that features Shaq’s “childhood favorites”. The menu includes chicken burgers, sides, and desserts such as their Big Cookie that has the size and circumference of a basketball. Big Chicken currently has over 150 locations with their first location in Las Vegas reaching more than $100 million in revenue.
In addition to investing in all these restaurants, Shaq often serves as the pitch man or spokesperson for the brand. This sets Shaq apart from other investors who might only offer financial support to a brand. Shaq is able to leverage his likeness to promote a company and immediately increase sales.
Other Businesses Shaq Invests In
Shaquille O’Neal isn’t just an entrepreneur when it comes to the food business industry. He also invests in other franchises and brands. Here are some of them:
Health Clubs
Considering that Shaquille O’Neal is an athlete, it would just make sense that the man would own 40 health clubs. In 2004, Shaq was reported to own 24-Hour Fitness clubs though the exact locations of every single one of them were unknown. The only confirmed health club location that Shaq owns are in Florida.
Beachbody Company
Beachbody is a subscription-based fitness platform to which Shaquille O’Neal serves as an advisor. Think of it as like Disney+ but catered to fitness. The company went public in 2021 on the New York Stock Exchange and was expected to see a successful growth. However, recent news have reported that there was less demand for it now that the pandemic is over and people have gone back to gyms and exercising outside.
The Shaq Line (Sneakers)
Shaq used to have a contract with Reebok and he also had shares with them. But he ended it when he apparently met a woman who complained that his shoes were so expensive. Shaq ended up breaking things off with Reebok and made his own Shaq Line of sneakers which he sold at Walmarts. He has sold over 200 million pairs of his Shaq sneakers.
The Alkaline Water Company
The Alkaline Water Company is the owner of Alkaline88, a purified and ionized water drink that’s added with Pink Himalayan Rock Salt. The drink is said to bring more hydration to consumers and is available at more than 80,000 retail outlets nationwide. The business has seen over $60.6 million in revenue for the fiscal year of 2022.
In 2021, it was reported that Shaquille O’Neal would become Alkaline88’s brand ambassador. In addition, Shaq will also join The Alkaline Water Company as an equity partner and member of the Board of Advisors.
Shaq said this in joining the company: ““Alkaline88 is an innovative product in the water category and I am so excited to partner with The Alkaline Water Company to help raise their game to new heights. I am humbled by the opportunity to join the Advisory Board while also being a brand ambassador.”
Google is a multinational technology company most known for its intricate search engine technology and is owned by Alphabet. At present, Google is more than just its search engine. The company is also into cloud computing, e-commerce, advertising, artificial intelligence, and more. They’re considered as “the most powerful company in the world” and Alphabet sees over $282.836 billion in revenue.
While Google has been around since 1998, it was in 2004 when it went public. Shaq has revealed that he was introduced to Ron Conway, a Google investor, and that’s when he decided to invest in the company. Shaq has not disclosed how much he invested on Google but he did say this about his investment: “My only regret is that I wish I would have bought more.”
Ring
Ring is a home security system company which is popularly known for their doorbell with cameras that can function as a surveillance system. The company is owned by Amazon and has seen revenue of more than $400 million in 2021.
Before Amazon bought Ring, Shaquille O’Neal bought an equity stake in the company and became their spokesperson. Shaq was able to profit off an amount when Amazon bought the company.
Car Washes
It is reported that the NBA star owns about 150 car wash centers. There are no exact details as to what the names of these car wash centers are except for one that was reported as Auto Spa Bistro which Shaquille O’Neal is also part of the board.
About Big Chicken.
NRG eSports
NRG eSports is a professional esports organization based in Los Angeles, California. They compete in video games and are known to win national and international titles.
Shaquille O’Neal invested in NRG when he took his kids to watch a League of Legends Season 3 World Championship at the Staples Center in 2016.
Other Investments
Shaq has made other investments but information regarding these business ventures weren’t put into detail. These businesses are:
- Lyft
- Apple
- Starbucks
- Vitaminwater
- Authentic Brands Group (JCPenney, Reebok, Forever 21)
- Movie Theaters
- Nightclubs
Shaquille O’Neal Net Worth
Being a basketball star and a businessman has made Shaquille O’Neal a high profile celebrity. He has a net worth of $400 million from all his investments and from his endorsements to which he receives $60 million every year. His salary in the NBA used to be $292 million. He also received $200 million from endorsements while he was still an active NBA player.
Shaq once shared in an interview that he spent $1 million in one day. He initially started with just one car, a black Mercedes, but he bought two more cars for his parents and a few jewelries and accessories as well. After that experience, Shaq was able to get a financial advisor that helped him with his savings.
Shaquille O’Neal is considered one of the wealthiest NBA players. He’s also a successful businessman since he knew where to put his investments. Hi finds ways where to grow his money, something that he was already doing before he retired. So it won’t be a surprise when someday in the future Shaq’s net worth might reach more than just $400 million.
Shaquille O’Neal’s Nicknames
Shaq is just one of the many nicknames that Shaquille O’Neal is known for. As you can see, Shaq is also a branding and marketing expert.
The Big Aristotle
The Big Shamrock
Shaq
Mayor McShaq
Diesel
Wilt Chamberneezy
The Big Cactus
The Big Shaqtus
Manny Shaq-iaou
The Big Leprechaun
Shaq Fu
The Big Felon
The Big Baryshnikov
The Big Conductor
The Big Field General
Shaqovic
Superman
The Big Maravich
The Big Banana
Dr. Shaq
The Big Cordially
The Big Galactus
The Big Agave
L.C.L. (Last Center Left)
MDE (Most Dominant Ever)
The Big Twitterer
The Big IPO
The Big Equotatious
The Real Deal
Osama Bin Shaq
Witness Protection
Shaq Daddy
The Big Daddy
Hobomaster
Shaq-a-Claus
Shaquille O’Neal Family
Shaq is a man of many things. Aside from being an athlete, businessman, DJ, rapper, and actor, Shaq is also a father to six children.
From his ex-wife Shaunie O’Neal, Shaq has four kids: Shareef, Shaqir, Amirah and Me’arah. He also has a stepson Myles from Shaunie’s previous relationship. He also has a daughter Taahirah with his ex-girlfriend, Arnetta Yardbourgh.
According to People, Shaq is still in good terms with Shaunie and Arnetta. He also continues to co-parents his children with them.
Shaquille O’Neal By The Numbers
There’s a whole lot more to Shaquille O’Neal and his life. The man is big in name, in size, and in numbers. Here are some more interesting quick facts to get to know Shaq:
- He was born in March 6, 1972.
- Shaq entered the NBA draft in 1992. He was 20 years old.
- Shaquille O’Neal was 39 years old when he retired.
- The numbers that Shaq wore on his jersey were 32, 33, 34, and 36.
- Shaq weighs 315 pounds (143 kg) and stands 7 feet 1 inch (2.16 meters) tall
- Shaq has a 17-car garage in his home.
Shaquille O’Neal Quotes
Here are some quotes from Shaq that cover broad subjects about business, investing, and life. You can learn a lot about how Shaq thinks by reviewing these statements.
- “Me shooting 40 percent at the foul line is just God’s way of saying that nobody’s perfect. If I shot 90 percent from the line, it just wouldn’t be right.”
- “Some things you just can’t question. Like you can’t question why two plus two is four. So don’t question it, don’t try to look it up. I don’t know who made it, all I know is it was put in my head that two plus two is four. So certain things happen. Why does it rain? Why am I so sexy? I don’t know.”
“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.”
- “The only person who can really motivate you is you.”
- “My message to little kids who aspire to be anything they want to be is to listen to their parents.”
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- “I had an awful first quarter but I picked it up. To all you single guys out there, it’s not how you start the date, it’s how you finish it sir. A lot of people can, you know, start the date with flowers and candy, but if you don’t finish the date – you know what I mean?”
- “For all my friends in the media who like quotes, mark this quote down. From this day on I’d like to be known as ‘The Big Aristotle’ because Aristotle once said, ‘Excellence is not a singular act; it’s a habit. You are what you repeatedly do.'”
- “I’m a combination of the Terminator and Bambi.”
“I don’t get nervous in any situation. There’s no such thing as nerves when you’re playing games.”
- “Everything happens for a reason. I’m used to it, I prepare for it. Like I say, at the end of the day, those in charge of their own destiny are going to do what’s right for them and their family.”
- “One lucky shot deserves another.”
- “David Stern should get with the mothers of the NBA and let the moms decide what the dress code should be. I asked my mother if I could wear a chain, and she told me yeah. So I do stuff that my parents allow me to do.”
- “I’m a weird big guy. Doing rapping, doing movies. Do a lot of stuff. But always do things the right way.”
- “I’m a mama’s boy above all.”
- “My job has always been to entertain people. I want people to laugh.”
- “Being here feels like I’m out of prison. This is the right place, the right time, the right team.”
Shaquille O’Neal Biography
Before we dive into the many businesses that Shaquille O’Neal owns, let’s get to know a little bit about the man who’s known for many things in and outside of the basketball court.
NBA Life
Shaquille O’Neal, also famously known as Shaq, is a renowned basketball player in the NBA who plays center. He has played for different teams through the years:
- Orlando Magic (1992 to 1996)
- Los Angeles Lakers (1996 to 2004)
- Miami Heat (2004 to 2008)
- Phoenix Suns (2008 to 2009)
- Cleveland Cavaliers (2009 to 2010)
- Boston Celtics (2010 to 2011)
Shaq has won many awards including the Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award, All-Star Game MVP, and is a 4-time NBA Champion. In fact, Shaq made history in 2000 as one of the players to win MVP, All-Star Game MVP and Finals MVP in the same year.
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In 2011, Shaquille O’Neal retired from basketball with 28,596 points. It was considered the 7th highest total in the history of NBA at the time he retired. In his interview with SportsCenter, Shaq said the reason for his retirement was because “Father Time has caught up with (him)”. He also added “I’m going to miss the competition. I’m going to miss, you know, the chase for the ring. You know, I’m actually going to miss everything.”
Actor, Artist, and Businessman
Though Shaquille O’Neal has made a name for himself as a basketball player, he is also widely known for many things. He is an actor who has starred in several films such as Blended, The Lego Movie, and Hubie Halloween.
Shaq is also an artist having released a rap album and performs as a DJ. Shaq is also mostly known as a businessman. He has invested in stocks, dealt with real estate, and owns a number of franchises particularly Krispy Kreme, Auntie Anne’s, Five Guys and more. He has also created Big Chicken, a fast-casual place that features chicken burgers that are larger in size than average.
Education
Shaq graduated in Barry University with a doctoral degree in organizational learning and leadership with a specialization in human resource development in 2012. He also has a master’s degree in business administration which he graduated from in the University of Phoenix in 2015.
Shaquille O’Neal continues to be a big player in the business side of things now that he’s retired from basketball. Even with his massive investments, Shaq doesn’t seem like he’s stopping anytime soon. I’m looking forward to continuing to follow Shaq’s post NBA career to find out what other businesses – particularly food investments – that Shaquille O’Neal will get involved in.
