Despite being one of the best players in NBA history, at the twilight of his professional career, Shaquille O’Neal had his eyes fixed on his retirement. In his 19-year-old NBA career, he accrued wealth through contracts totaling $300 million. Now he makes millions of dollars per year thanks to his businesses and other endorsement deals with companies such as Icy Hot, Gold Bond, Buick, Zales, and others.

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Five Guys Burgers was started by four Murrell brothers in the 1980s. Today, it is one of the most well-known businesses Shaq has been interested in. It is one of the first investments the NBA legend made. He came to have about 155 locations across America and a 10 percent cut of the Murrells’ hamburger with french fries. He would later sell the franchises, according to reports.

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Shaq founded Big Chicken restaurant, which fuses his home-cooked childhood favorites with today’s trending flavors. Shaq opened his restaurant in Las Vegas in 2018 after retiring from the NBA and later expanded to a location in Glendale, California. CNBC reports that the NBA star has personalized his business. One of the sandwiches on the Big Chicken menu is called Uncle Jerome, named after Shaq’s uncle.

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Charles Barkley is another offering on the menu named after the former professional basketball player and Shaq’s broadcasting partner on “Inside the NBA.”

Another business Shaquille O’Neal has an investment in is Auntie Annie’s Pretzels restaurant. He is a franchise owner of 17 Auntie Annie’s Pretzels restaurants. He has been a franchisee since 2010. While in college, Shaq fell in

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love with Krispy Kreme Doughnuts and made a vow to own a franchise. He eventually became a franchise owner when he was nearly 60 years old. In January this year, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts and its partner Shaq announced that construction of a new shop on the site of its historic Ponce de Leon location in Atlanta is ongoing. This comes almost two years after the original shop built about six decades ago was destroyed by arson in February 2021.

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The NBA legend also owns several Papa John’s locations in and around Atlanta. Not only that, but he has also been featured in several commercials for the brand. He initially acquired nine locations and later sold the company the right to use his likeness and voice for $8.5 million.  He is also a board member and a brand ambassador for the restaurant franchise.

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’ Shaquille O’Neal’s business interest is not only limited to the restaurant space. It includes the fitness space. He owns 40 24-hour fitness centers mainly found in the Atlanta area. He became the owner of 150 car washes, a shopping center, a movie theater, and several nightclubs in Las Vegas. He also has a hand in brands like Lyft, JC Penney, Gold Bond, Icy Hot, The General Insurance, and Forever 21.

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