When it comes to NBA legends-turned-business moguls, names like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and LeBron James often dominate the conversation. But Shaquille O’Neal’s journey stands out for a completely different reason.
While others carefully plotted their investment moves, O’Neal says some of his biggest wins — including one involving tech giant Google, now worth over $2 trillion — came not through financial foresight, but through chance encounters and everyday kindness.
How Did Shaq End Up Investing in Google?
Before Google became a global tech behemoth, O’Neal already held a stake. It all began with a casual brunch in Los Angeles.
In a candid conversation four years ago, the Hall of Famer shared the surprising, almost unbelievable way he got involved in two major companies, Google and Lyft, long before they became household names. As O’Neal said, “These deals just fell into my lap.”
In the interview, O’Neal describes sitting alone at the Ritz-Carlton when he noticed a group of well-dressed men nearby, dining with their children. What followed wasn’t a business pitch or formal meeting, but simply what Shaq does best — connecting with people.
“I’m at the Ritz-Carlton, having breakfast by myself in L.A., and there’s a bunch of big-time gentlemen eating next to me with their children,” O’Neal recalls. “It’s a Saturday around brunch time, so I just started playing with one of the guys’ kids.”
This friendly gesture turned into something much bigger. One of the men at the table recognized him and saw more than just a sports icon.
“Then, the guy goes, ‘Man, I’ve always loved you and always wanted to meet you. I want to give you an opportunity to invest in something that’s going to change the future,'” O’Neal said.
That “something” was the Google search engine, still in its early stages. O’Neal admits he knew little about the company at the time, but decided to pass the idea to his financial advisor.
“I said, ‘You know what? I’m going to have you call my guy on Monday, and then we’ll talk about it.’ And we talked about it and we did it,” he explained. “That’s how that one came about.”
While exact figures haven’t been disclosed, O’Neal reportedly invested around $250,000 in Google. In 2023, Andrew Petcash, founder of Profluence, analyzed Shaq’s early tech investments and estimated that his Google stake would have brought in a potential return of $112 million for every $100,000 invested at the time.
Though Shaq has never confirmed the full extent of his profits, it’s believed he still holds shares, meaning he may still be cashing in on Google’s explosive long-term growth.
What Business Wisdom Drives Shaq’s Investment Strategy?
Just like Google, O’Neal’s involvement with Lyft came through a similarly unexpected encounter. At a conference for private aviation hosted by Apollo Jets, another opportunity presented itself — again, not through formal channels, but casual conversation.
“This guy is like, ‘Hey, I got something for you, Shaq!’ ‘What do you got?’ ‘It’s called Lyft.’ ‘Okay, I like it. Call my guy…’ And then we did it,” he said.
But luck is not the only factor driving these successes. While O’Neal frames these deals as incidental, he emphasizes the importance of humility, openness, and surrounding himself with experts. That combination, he says, is the real strategy.
“A lot of these deals have been just by being nice to people and being respectful,” he said. “I would like to sit here and say, ‘I’m an expert, do this and do that,’ but that’s not really the case with me.”
He even credits his early business knowledge to The Dummies Guide to Starting Your Own Business, a book he picked up at the beginning of his post-NBA financial journey. From there, he set up an S-corporation, hired his parents, and began learning the value of tax structures and business write-offs.
O’Neal also keeps a team of seasoned advisors close, who aren’t afraid to challenge him. He described how they talked him out of buying a $570,000 Rolls-Royce. “I’m just glad I got good people around me,” he said.
O’Neal’s business empire has grown far beyond tech. At one point, he owned 155 Five Guys franchises (which he later sold), 40 24 Hour Fitness gyms, 150 car washes, nine Papa John’s stores, and 17 Auntie Anne’s locations.
He also held a stake in the smart doorbell company Ring, which was acquired by Amazon in 2018 for $1 billion, and maintains investments in real estate, Las Vegas nightclubs, and Apple. Shaq is also the co-founder of the fast-growing restaurant chain Big Chicken and currently serves as President of Reebok Basketball.
His approach may not be technical, but it’s deeply personal, built on emotional intelligence, timing, and relationships. “I heard Jeff Bezos say one time he makes his investments based on if it’s going to change people’s lives,” O’Neal once told The Wall Street Journal. “Once I started doing that strategy, I think I probably quadrupled what I’m worth.”
With an estimated net worth of $500 million and a 19-year NBA career that earned him $286,344,668 in salary, O’Neal’s business legacy is as towering as his basketball one.
