Shaquille O’Neal is a four-time NBA champion, a Hall of Famer, a television icon, and now, one of the fastest-growing entrepreneurs in the restaurant business. His food franchise, Big Chicken, is booming, with over 350 locations currently in development across the United States.
What started as a bold side hustle has turned into a nationwide movement, and Shaq is showing the world that his post-basketball empire is just getting started.
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Big Chicken first opened in Las Vegas in 2018 and quickly became a fan favorite. The concept is simple: bold flavors, big portions, and that signature Shaq flair.
Menu items like the “Big Aristotle” (a fried chicken sandwich with bacon, macaroni & cheese, and crispy onions) and the “Charles Barkley” (featuring fried chicken, crispy fried onions, roasted garlic BBQ aioli, and more) don’t just satisfy cravings, they make a statement. The brand’s mission? Combine Shaq’s larger-than-life personality with comfort food that leaves customers coming back for more.
But this isn’t just about chicken. Shaq is building an empire.
The NBA legend has investments in everything from Auntie Anne’s, Five Guys, and Papa John’s to 24-Hour Fitness gyms and car washes. He owns hundreds of franchise units, including Krispy Kreme and Papa John’s, and has his own signature lines in apparel, shoes, and tech products.
His net worth? Estimated at $400 million and climbing. Yet despite all the wealth, O’Neal remains grounded, and that’s what sets him apart.
Shaq’s business acumen is only rivaled by his generosity. He’s been called a “walking blessing” for his constant acts of kindness. Whether it’s buying a house for rapper Peter Gunz’s mother, helping families with furniture purchases, or gifting PS5s, iPhones, and laptops to strangers, he gives without expecting attention.
He’s donated thousands of sneakers to kids in need through his shoe line and made headlines again by giving 2,000 pairs of new shoes to underprivileged children at Camp Grace, part of his broader mission to uplift underserved communities. His charitable efforts extend far beyond random gifts; they’re consistent, thoughtful, and come from a place of deep empathy.
From paying off an entire family’s restaurant bill to surprising a YouTuber with a stack of cash for helping others, Shaq has made giving back his personal brand. His philanthropy isn’t calculated or performative; it’s real. He doesn’t broadcast every good deed, but the stories always seem to emerge because they’re impossible to ignore.
Shaquille O’Neal isn’t just winning off the court; he’s redefining what it means to be a business mogul with a heart. Big Chicken may be growing faster than any franchise in America, but it’s Shaq’s even bigger humanity that makes the brand and the man truly unstoppable.
