As the 2022 International Franchise Association convention kicks off in San Diego, attendees may be surprised to see former NBA star Shaquille O'Neal as a keynote speaker for the conference.
But O'Neal has been in the business game for a long time. The 7′1″ former basketball player actually studied business when he was a college student and has been able to put his knowledge to use with business ventures that include being Carnival Cruise Ship's "chief fun officer" and a celebrity spokesperson for a variety of brands endorsem*nts. Many of his business experiences come from the franchising world, and his reported net worth of $400 million speaks to his success in the industry.
Here's what you should know about Shaquille O'Neal, franchisee and franchisor extraordinaire.
Shaquille O'Neal the franchisee
Franchises seem to have a special place in the 49-year-old's heart. When the Wall Street Journal asked O'Neal why he found franchising so attractive, the entrepreneur said, "It's just partnering up with another reliable, excellent brand. Being in business with people, and just owning stuff." At one point, it was reported he owned 40 24-Hour Fitness gyms and 150 car washes.
But O'Neal also has experience franchising for several famous restaurant brands. He has owned and sold 155 Five Guys Burgers restaurants — which totaled 10% of the company's entire franchise portfolio. He also owns 17 Auntie Anne's Pretzels restaurants and nine Papa John's franchise units. In fact, O'Neal is a brand ambassador for Papa John's and has been on the pizza company's board of directors since 2019.
Time for a pizza party! I'm excited to join @PapaJohns as a member of the Board of Directors and investor in 9 stores in #Atlanta. Excited to work with Papa John's team members and customers - more here: https://t.co/PRXG7ORtFk pic.twitter.com/c5uj5BRuQ1
— SHAQ.ETH (@SHAQ) March 22, 2019
Out of O'Neal's franchise ventures, Krispy Kreme seems to be his current favorite. According to his WSJ interview, the celebrity was introduced to the donut in college and wants to be a large part of the business. The celebrity says he owns a few Krispy Kreme franchises and is on the lookout for more.
Related: Frantastic Collaboration: How Franchisors and Franchisee Associations Can Partner for Brand Greatness
Shaquille O'Neal the franchisor
O'Neal also knows what it's like to be on the other side of the franchising relationship as a franchisor of his own food brand. In 2018, O'Neal founded chicken sandwich brand Big Chicken. The Las Vegas-based chain has 10 locations, with partnerships that include Toronto-based Ghost Kitchen Brands and Carnival Cruise Ships. Big Chicken started franchising in 2021 and is looking to expand in cities like Austin and Phoenix.
LET'S GO ISLANDERS! Wishing our friends the @NY_Islanders good luck on their first home game at @UBSArena! pic.twitter.com/T4VL0tFETN
— Big Chicken (@BigChickenShaq) November 21, 2021
While a startling 60% of former NBA players go broke within five years of leaving, O'Neal's desire to diversify his career portfolio seems to have helped him steer in the other direction. So no matter whether IFA conference attendees identify him with his former athletic pursuits, franchise ventures or even his DJ career (yes, he's a DJ), it's clear O'Neal can't be defined by any success metric other than his own.
Related: 23 Questions to Ask a Franchisor When You Meet Face to Face
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FAQs
The big man then used some of the proceeds to start up his own restaurant named “Shaquille's.” Shaq bought 155 Five Guys locations (worth ~$100M). It was more than 10% of the company's entire franchise portfolio. In 2016, he sold all 155 to start his own restaurant, Shaquille's.
How many businesses does Shaq Shaquille O Neal own? ›
Shaq can be seen in commercials for brands such as The General, Gold Bond, Icy Hot, and more. These are not the only brands/companies that Shaq owns a share in, he recently said in an Earn Your Leisure interview that his real business is owning 50 brands.
Who has the highest Walmart purchase? ›
Shaq says that he went to Walmart at around two or three in the morning and made the biggest purchase in the store's history. "$70,000," he said on The Late Late Show with James Corden. "I'm the type of guy, I have no patience."
What is Shaquille O Neal business story? ›
He's a big believer in franchising, and over the years has owned 40 24-Hour Fitness gyms, 155 Five Guys restaurants, at least one Krispy Kreme doughnut shop, 17 Auntie Anne's pretzel stands and nine Papa John's pizza places.
What all do Shaquille O Neal own? ›
It includes 155 Five Guys Burgers franchises, 40 24-Hour Fitness franchises, 17 Auntie Annie's Pretzels franchises, 150 car washes, several nightclubs in Las Vegas, a shopping center, a movie theater, and his own restaurant, Shaquille, apart from owning the Big Chicken restaurant chain.
Does Shaq own JCPenney and Forever 21? ›
JCPenney and Forever 21 are included in Shaq's list of business interests. JCPenney and Forever 21 are under the Authentic Brands Group together with other retail brands such as Reebok (which Shaq was a former endorser), and Barneys New York. Since 2015, Shaq has owned interests in the Authentic Brands Group.
How many Krispy Kreme does Shaq own? ›
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.
How many different restaurants does Shaq own? ›
Shaq owns around 200 companies, 172 restaurants, and 40 fitness centers and has a net worth of $400 million. Interestingly, he finally broke his silence on the team that is behind his success. How Shaq Built A $400,000,000 Empire (155 Five Guys, 150 Car Washes, etc.)
What kind of car does Shaq drive? ›
Shaquille O'Neal is known around the world for his once-in-a-lifetime talent on the basketball court, but his collection of over 30 cars—including a custom Jeep Wrangler, Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat, and Lamborghini Gallardo—might just be the only thing that can rival his collection of basketball achievements.
What is Shaq invested in? ›
You might know of O'Neal's impressive portfolio of franchises from his regular appearances in various commercials. O'Neal has owned as many as 40 24 Hour Fitness gyms, 150 car washes, 155 Five Guys Burger & Fries, nine Papa John's, 17 Auntie Anne's pretzels and a few Krispy Kreme restaurants.
Amazon and Walmart have both seen strong financial growth in the last few years. Walmart brought in $573 billion in revenue in 2022, an increase from $595.15 billion in 2021. In the first quarter of 2023, Walmart's total revenue was up 7.6%. In 2022, Amazon had $514 billion in revenue, up from $469.8 billion in 2021.
What did Shaq buy at Walmart for $70 000? ›
“So when I get to Phoenix, they have an apartment for me, [but] nothing's in it.” So Shaq went to Walmart at 3 a.m., dropping $70,000 on five TVs, printers, laptops, appliances, linens, and even underwear. Problem is, when he hit the checkout, his card was declined — and then declined again.
Does Shaq own a car dealership? ›
WELCOME TO SHAQ MOTORS INC
SHAQ MOTORS INC is dedicated to providing the ultimate automobile buying experience.
How is Shaq a billionaire? ›
Shaquille O'Neal's net worth sits around $400 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Shaq began to build up his massive net worth during his playing days in the NBA, where he cashed out over the course of his illustrious career. Shaq made an estimated $286 million as an NBA player, per Spotrac.
Does Shaq own 24 Hour Fitness? ›
He also owns 40 24-Hour fitness gyms and 150 car washes.
He is also the second largest individual shareholder of Authentic Brands Group. Notable subsidiaries of Authentic Brands Group include: Forever 21, Barneys New York, JCPenney, and Reebok. All of these holdings considerably increase his net worth.
Does Shaq own any Five Guys restaurants? ›
Some of the franchises Shaquille owns include Papa John's, Auntie Annie's, Five Guys, 24-hour Fitness Centers, Car Washes, and Krispy Kreme. He has other business ventures outside of franchising, such as Lyft and JCPenney.
Does Shaquille o neal own Five Guys Burgers and Fries? ›
Five Guys. For example, Shaq has owned and sold 155 Five Guys locations. This accounts for 10% of Five Guys' entire franchise portfolio. That's a lot of hamburgers that Shaq has made possible.
What companies has Shaq invested in? ›
O'Neal has owned as many as 40 24 Hour Fitness gyms, 150 car washes, 155 Five Guys Burger & Fries, nine Papa John's, 17 Auntie Anne's pretzels and a few Krispy Kreme restaurants. He has sold some of these holdings, including all of his Five Guys holdings. Potentially more impressive is O'Neal's venture portfolio.
