After his illustrious NBA career ended, Shaquille O'Neal carried over his dominance to the business world, building an impressive investment portfolio.
The key to O'Neal's success as a businessman can be attributed to the lessons he learned from his investing mistakes and his business philosophy — he must believe in the things he invests in, which has helped him increase his net worth to $500 million today.
One of the most successful investments in O'Neal's business career came at a time when he opted for frugality over luxury after refusing to spend $80,000 on security cameras.
"I got involved with Ring because this was the first time in my life that I stopped being a spoiled brat. What I mean by that is I used to live in neighborhoods where security (is) right around (the) front gate. So in Atlanta, I lived in a regular neighborhood amongst the people. 30 acres… I called up this security firm and said let me get a few cameras. 50,000. I'm not going to pay that. Another one, 30,000. Not going to pay that," the legendary big man said in a 2019 CNBC interview.
"So, I said, let me just go to Best Buy. So I was getting TVs, and I saw this little Ring camera thing. I saw it had doorbell cams and floor light cams. And it worked perfectly," he continued. " So all the other cameras that I have in my house — they are not connected to my phone. And I paid a lot of money for that. So I was like, this is brilliant. So, I bought a few more. And I probably equipped my whole house for about $2,000, like 10 to 15 cameras."
Shaq believes in his investments
Thousand-dollar security cameras may seem minuscule for such a decorated basketball legend like O'Neal, who had amassed up to $292 million throughout his playing career. But his decision to opt for the cheaper yet more innovative Ring security cameras and eventually invest in them is a subtle example of why he remained successful after his career.
"So, I went to a conference in Vegas, I met with Jamie (Ring's CEO). And I said, 'Jamie, I don't think a lot of people know and understand about this technology. I want to invest in your company and I want help get the word out,'" said O'Neal.
At that time, America had not been aware of Ring's cheaper yet more accessible products, not until O'Neal's $1 million investment in the company, which sparked its rise to become a powerhouse in the security camera market, valued at $60 million.
In 2018, Ring was acquired by tech giant Amazon for approximately $1 billion, making it one of O'Neal's most profitable investments to date, although the exact number hasn't been publicly disclosed.
Shaq's success in the business space came not just because he listened to what companies wanted to do, but also because he believed in how they could help other people.
"I have to like the product. I have to understand it. I really have to believe in it," he said.
A mother's question
O'Neal's eagerness to find and invest in companies that can help change people's lives has been echoed by many other successful businessmen . However, it was his mother who truly made him realize the importance of giving back.
"My mother said something that was profound to me when I retired. She said, 'Baby, I love you. You did everything I asked you to do. You went back to school, you won a championship. You're a class act. So, now for the rest of the years on this earth, what are you going to do, lift up other people? People have always been lifting you, and praising you, what are you going to do to lift somebody else's spirits?'" the Hall of Fame center recalled.
Fans have long recognized O'Neal's unique qualities from his time dominating the hardwood. But it's his dedication to becoming an equally impressive businessman who gives back to the community that has truly cemented his status as a bona fide legend.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Dec 14, 2025, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
