How Shaquille O’Neal Owns a Portion of Elvis Presley’s Royalties (2024)
Shaquille O’Neal is an institution all on his own. The 50-year-old sports icon and savvy businessman has earned millions through a diverse portfolio of ventures. But not all of that money is from his likeness alone. In fact, some of those dollars come straight from the King of Rock ‘n Roll.
As more attention is put on Elvis Presley in the wake of his recent Baz Luhrmann-directed biopic, questions about Presley’s estate and massive fortune and lucrative royalties have arisen. And that brings up a strange but true fact: Shaq is on the receiving end of some of those dollars.
O’Neal is the second-largest individual shareholder of Authentic Brands Group, the company behind dozens ofbrand and retailer acquisitions—including Forever 21, Barneys New York, JCPenney and Reebok. Though the company is noted in the retail space for reviving struggling brands, it also has ownership to the rights of many celebrity royalties, including Marilyn Monroe, Muhammad Ali, David Beckham and, yes, Elvis Presley.
In a July 2019 interview with Earn Your Leisure, Shaq said, “I don’t like to seem like I’m bragging, but I’m going to ask you a question: Who owns Marilyn Monroe? Who owns Elvis Presley? Who owns Forever 21? Who owns JCPenney? Me.”
O’Neal has owned shares in ABG since 2015, when the sports icon signed an agreement to let the company manage his likeness and marketing rights. In 2019, Authentic Brands Group CEO Jamie Salter told FN that moments before O’Neal closed the deal to sign away half of his brand proceeds to ABG, he turned to Salter with an idea.
“[O’Neal] says, ‘You know all that money you’re going to give me?’” Salter told FN. “I said, ‘Yeah.’ He says, ‘I’d like to invest it in ABG.’ And I said, ‘Hold on, I don’t understand. You need to explain that to me.’ He says, ‘I’m doing a deal with you to sell you 50% of everything I have going on for the rest of my life. Do you think I trust you?’ And I said, ‘I hope so.’ He says, ‘Why wouldn’t I be partners with you? We’re going to build this company together.’ And that’s how he became the second-largest shareholder of ABG.”
ABG acquired Elvis’ royalties in November 2013 from Elvis Presley Enterprises, which was run by the late music icon’s family. This includes a share of all licensing and merchandising related to the star.
“I put money back in the company, and now I own all those other brands,” Shaq told Earn Your Leisure. “So if Shaq ever goes away, s**t, we still got Elvis.”
ABG acquired Elvis' royalties in November 2013 from Elvis Presley Enterprises, which was run by the late music icon's family. This includes a share of all licensing and merchandising related to the star. “I put money back in the company, and now I own all those other brands,” Shaq
Shaq
Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal (/ʃəˈkiːl/ shə-KEEL; born March 6, 1972), known commonly as Shaq (/ʃæk/ SHAK), is an American former professional basketball player who is a sports analyst on the television program Inside the NBA.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Shaquille_O'Neal
Shaq owns part of The General, Gold Bond, Icy Hot, Buick, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, Forever 21, JCPenney, and more. Shaq is an investor, board member, and strategic advisor for several companies. He has served on the board of directors for Papa John's, a pizza chain, and Carnival Cruise Line.
He is the joint owner of 155 Five Guys Burgers restaurants, 17 Auntie Annie's Pretzels restaurants, 150 car washes, 40 24-hour fitness centers, a shopping center, a movie theater, and several Las Vegas nightclubs.
O'Neal is the second-largest individual shareholder of Authentic Brands Group, the company behind dozens of brand and retailer acquisitions, including Forever 21, Barneys New York, JCPenney, Reebok, Vince and Hunter Boots.
ABG acquired Elvis' royalties in November 2013 from Elvis Presley Enterprises, which was run by the late music icon's family. This includes a share of all licensing and merchandising related to the star. “I put money back in the company, and now I own all those other brands,” Shaq told Earn Your Leisure.
RCA Records owned all of Elvis' music recordings. The RCA Records Label was bought by BMG in the 1980s and in 2004 BMG merged with Sony Music Entertainment to become Sony BMG. Sony BMG owns Elvis' recordings and they continue to use the RCA Records label for issuing Elvis releases.
Today, reports confirm that Shaq is the second-largest individual to own shares in Authentic Brand Group, which owns JCPenney, Forever 21, and, ironically, Reebok.
In 2024, Shaquille O'Neal, also known as Shaq, has a net worth of around $500 million. This impressive sum comes not just from his basketball career but also from smart investments, various business projects, and his real estate holdings.
O'Neal only currently owns one location in Atlanta but says he would like to own many more and told The Wall Street Journal that Krispy Kreme is his favorite business endeavor. “I like doughnuts, and Charles Barkley loves doughnuts,” he said. “And he's my biggest customer.
Shaquille O'Neal's off-court accolades rival his athletic accomplishments, having found success in acting, music, television and gaming. Currently, Shaq is an analyst on Inside The NBA. Philanthropically, Shaquille's relationship with the Boys & Girls Club of America dates back to his youth in New Jersey.
Shaquille O'Neal was a partial owner of Pure Nightclub in Las Vegas, a renowned establishment known for its vibrant nightlife scene. His ownership of Pure Nightclub reflects his foray into the nightlife industry and demonstrates his interest in entertainment and hospitality ventures.
Big Chicken is a fast casual restaurant chain in the United States. It was founded by retired Hall of Fame National Basketball Association star Shaquille O'Neal, along with JRS Hospitality and Authentic Brands Group.
From that point on, O'Neal was in business with the company that also has the rights to names like Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, Muhammad Ali, and Michael Jackson. What's more, he is now its second largest shareholder, and the deal provides an opportunity to create wealth for generations to come.
From that point on, O'Neal was in business with the company that also has the rights to names like Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, Muhammad Ali, and Michael Jackson. What's more, he is now its second largest shareholder, and the deal provides an opportunity to create wealth for generations to come.
Later, EPE was wholly owned by the "Elvis Presley Trust" and Elvis' daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, until February 2005, when Robert F. X. Sillerman and his new media and entertainment company CKX acquired an 85% interest in Elvis Presley Enterprises, including its physical and intellectual properties.
In 2005, as the bills mounted, Lisa Marie and Siegel engineered the sale of 85 percent of Elvis Presley Enterprises to a group led by the investor Robert F.X.Sillerman. The deal paid about $50 million in cash.
Jack Soden is President and CEO of Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. Jack grew up in Kansas City, Missouri and attended Regis University in Denver, Colorado. After graduation, he went to work in the investment banking industry.
Introduction: My name is Jeremiah Abshire, I am a outstanding, kind, clever, hilarious, curious, hilarious, outstanding person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.
