What Franchises Does Shaq Own?

Shaquille O’Neal, known commonly as Shaq, is one of the biggest names in sports and is regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. But what many people may not know about the 7’1” basketball legend is that he is also the proud owner of a handful of franchises. 

O’Neal studied business in college and has since put his education to work through all types of business ventures. Not only is he the franchisee of the six businesses, but he is actually the franchisor of his own food brand called Big Chicken, which opened in 2018. 

This past August, Big Chicken opened its first franchised location in Dayton, Ohio. “My inspiration was always in sharing delicious food with family and friends, and seeing our first franchise opening feels like we are accomplishing just that,” O’Neal said.

With a net worth of over $400 million, much of that the star’s wealth comes from franchising, according to Wolf of Franchises. These are the chains Shaq has invested in so far. 

Five Guys

Five Guys was Shaq’s first serious franchise investment. He first became involved with the company in 2008 when he bought a location in Atlanta, eventually going on to open dozens more around the U.S. 

There was a point in time when he even owned 155 Five Guys restaurants — equivalent to 10% of the burger company’s entire franchise portfolio. In 2018, the athlete told CNBC that he had since sold his stake but reported that the business had been “very good” to him.  

Papa John’s

Shaq owns nine Papa John’s locations in or around Atlanta. He is also on the company’s board of directors and serves as a brand ambassador. 

This past April, Papa John’s and Shaq agreed to a new endorsement deal worth $5.63 million, according to QSR Magazine. Like the previous contract signed in 2019, the agreement gives Papa John’s the right and license to use O'Neal's name, nickname, initials, autograph, voice, video, or film portrayals, photograph, likeness, and other intellectual property rights in advertising, promotion and sale of products. 

Krispy Kreme

In 2016, Shaq bought into the Krispy Kreme franchise. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, he said that he became a fan of the donut chain in college and that it is his current favorite of his franchises. 

A fun fact about the Atlanta location owned by O’Neal is that it is the city’s original Krispy Kreme and has occupied its place on Ponce de Leon Avenue for around 60 years. 

24-Hour Fitness Centers

Shaq owns 40 fitness centers in the Atlanta area. However, not much else is known about this franchise endeavor other than the number and that ??O’Neal has been involved with 24 Hour Fitness since 2013, when he first became a brand ambassador. In 2016, he also became a member of the board of directors, and in 2019 he became a strategic advisor. 

Auntie Anne’s

Shaq was also the owner of 17 Auntie Anne’s pretzel restaurants in Michigan and New York. The mall classic represented a significant investment for O’Neal at around $300,000 per location.

However, in October, it was reported that he decided to sell off all his Auntie Anne’s franchises. 

Car Washes

Shaq owns 150 car washes, which are some of his most lucrative businesses. However, it is unclear how many of these are considered franchises.