Shaquille O’ Neal is well-known for his storytelling, and one of his most recent tales follows the motto “When one person eats, we all eat.”
In an interview with the “Be Better Off Show,” the businessman discussed his early experiences entering rooms where deals were being made.
“I noticed that every time I’d go to a business meeting that the guys who we’re doing deals with would be like, ‘Hello Shaq, how are you doing?’ And then they would turn away and look at my lawyers and my accountants and all those guys,” he shared during the interview. “So, I said, ‘Oh, you guys don’t think I’m in charge. You guys don’t think I understand the lingo. So I went and got my master’s [degree] from the University of Phoenix.”
The basketball legend earned an online MBA from the University of Phoenix, as previously reported by AfroTech. However, he expressed his determination to pursue an education that was not solely online.
“University of Phoenix is an online program mostly. But I went to the head officials and said, ‘I don’t want to do it online. I want somebody to teach me in a class. And they came back and said, ‘Unfortunately, we can’t set up a classroom for one guy. You need 15 people. So, I paid for 15 of my friends to get their masters.”
The story exemplifies what it means to encourage those in your circle to step up and take charge.
Shaq taking the initiative to learn the ins and outs of business has played a factor in his $400 million net worth.
AfroTech previously shared Shaq’s financial portfolio includes being a joint owner of several Auntie Anne’s Pretzels restaurants, over 100 car washes, and 40 24-hour fitness centers. Additionally, he owns parts of Playboy, Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, and JCPenney.