Shaquille O’Neal went several years without spending a dime of his first NBA paycheck.

O’Neal’s glory days in the league date back to June 24, 1992. He was drafted by the Orlando Magic as a first-round draft pick, according to ESPN. His initial contract was a four-year deal valued at $17,400,000, notes Spotrac.

O’Neal’s talent and charisma made him a sought-after player among companies looking to endorse the young player. In fact, he sustained himself solely through his endorsements until he had his first child, Taahirah, in 1996.

“I didn’t spend my first NBA check until I started having children. I had so much coming in, I was like, ‘NBA money over there, and I’ll just live off endorsement money,'” he said during a 2022 interview with Gayle King on “CBS Mornings.”

When he became a free agent, he signed with the Los Angeles Lakers, ultimately leading to three national championship rings. He earned his fourth with the Miami Heat in his 14th career year.

Beyond his success on the court, O’Neal realized that as his time in the game was coming to an end, he needed to focus on his future. He shares the core principles he lives by.

“I wanted to work. I still wanted to be around the business. I wanted to continue business and I wanted to make smart investments,” he mentioned to King.

O’Neal has remained true to his word. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, he was an early investor in Google and it paid off.

“The newspaper told me how much I made and I couldn’t believe how much I made,” he said, according to TechCrunch.

O’Neal’s diverse business ventures include ownership of numerous Papa John’s franchises and a highly successful Walmart sneaker line, boasting over 400 million shoes sold. In 2018, O’Neal introduced Big Chicken Shaq, a bold and flavorful fried chicken concept that has delighted customers across multiple states, including Texas, Arizona, and Massachusetts. The brand’s reach has even extended overseas through a partnership with Carnival Cruise.

O’Neal also hosts ESPN’s “Inside the NBA” alongside Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson. He also has his own podcast and revived his relationship with Reebok, serving today as the brand’s first president of basketball.

“It’s all about product, players and the community and having the confidence to do things our own way,” O’Neal told Footwear News.