Shaquille O'Neal reveals how Jeff Bezos' advice turned him into a successful investor: "He said that he invests in things that are going to change peoples' lives"
Shaquille O'Neal is undoubtedly one of the guys who instilled fear in entire opposing lineups, even days before they would actually meet him on the hardwood. At his peak, the man was a wrecking ball, a walking mismatch, and arguably the most physically dominant force the league has ever seen. But apart from his brilliance with the ball in his hands and, more often than not, in opponents' baskets, O'Neal has also built a reputation as a top-of-the-class businessman.
But as the story usually goes, it wasn't until he met someone far more successful that Shaq fully understood what it really takes to operate at that level. Someone who gave him a deeper understanding and life-changing tips that reshaped his entire approach.
Bezos' advice propelled Shaq in the business world
There's hardly anyone who doesn't have The Big Aristotle somewhere in their Top 5, at worst, Top 10 lists of the greatest players ever. He was a 15-time All-Star, a four-time NBA champion, league MVP and a three-time Finals MVP (in consecutive seasons!). The things he did on the court at his size, especially when he first came into the league, were different, to say the least.
During his 19 seasons in the Association, the Los Angeles Lakers icon pocketed around $286 million. It was enough for even his kids' kids, as the saying goes. However, O'Neal knew it wouldn't be wise to stop there. So he began diversifying his portfolio.
In that process, as Shaq openly admits, someone much more experienced played a crucial role — a man who's consistently among the five richest people on the planet, the Chairman and Founder of Amazon, Jeff Bezos.
Before meeting Bezos at the world's most powerful tech event, CES , O'Neal approached investing with one purpose only: making money. He wanted more, and in his words, if something sounded good, he would invest. However, that tactic was unsustainable in the long term, and he ultimately lost more than he gained. That's when Bezos' advice changed everything.
"Then, later, when I started going to CES in Vegas, I met a young, beautiful man by the name of Jeff Bezos. And with all the (business ventures) going fully online, he explained what the future holds. And he said that he invests in things that are going to change peoples' lives. And I said, you know what, I'm gonna start doing that. And when I did that, every time I invest in something, it works," O'Neal pointed out via Forbes.
"So, I don't always think about just the money, but instead, 'Is this going to help people in their lives?'" he explained.
And honestly, who wouldn't listen to a guy worth north of 240 billion (Yes, with a "B") dollars? That shift in perspective worked wonders for the retired big man.
O'Neal learned from his longtime head coach
But even though the Amazon CEO delivered advice that was truly life-changing in this type of business, there was another figure Shaq spent far more time with, someone who fed him countless pointers throughout his playing career — pointers that later paid off in the business world too.
That man is none other than legendary coach Phil Jackson.
Jackson and O'Neal shared their fair share of success on the blazing hardwood of the Association, and with The Zen Master at the helm, the Shaq-powered Lakers won three consecutive championships. It was a time when The Diesel sat at the absolute peak of his powers. And who knows — if he and Kobe Bryant had gotten along better, maybe they would have collected a couple more rings together.
Still, whether it was during stretches of dominance or moments when it felt like tragedy struck Los Angeles, Jackson's calm approach and wisdom kept that team together. And O'Neal still vividly remembers the kind of advice he got from the legendary tactician, and he still applies it to this day wherever his ventures take him.
"Yeah, he always taught us to think positive, and to see a maximization of your potential. For example, if I'm looking to open another 10 pizza stores, I'm thinking about not just the idea but realizing it in terms of the look and decor, putting in the neon lights and signs, and all the little things that makes it work and become super successful," he admitted. "And also — don't worry or think negative. If, say, one of your stores was flooded, you don't freak out about shutting down and losing business for two weeks, but you look for where the problem is to fix it."
That type of positivity is still something Shaq radiates everywhere he goes, and it seems it was implanted long before by The Zen Master himself.
"Phil would talk about waiting to see what happens and then reacting to it. And he always talked about facing the moment of truth. And when you face the moment of truth, then you act," the Hall of Fame big man added.
Shaq turned into a business mogul
It seems that the combination of Jackson's philosophy and Bezos' futuristic investment mindset created the perfect blueprint, as O'Neal's net worth is currently hovering around $500 million, ranking 4th on our list of the Top 10 richest NBA players in 2025 . Even deep into his well-deserved retirement, he still hauls in roughly $60 million per year from deals, investments and various business ventures.
On top of that, everybody knows that Shaq is a real business mogul and owns multiple franchise investments, ranging from restaurant chains to fitness centers, making him an absolute giant in that department as well. Few former athletes have blended personality, star power, smart partnerships and long-term planning the way Shaq has.
From a legendary center who made his presence felt across the Association, to an analyst who speaks without sugar-coating a single thing about modern basketball, to a highly successful business owner, it seems O'Neal is thriving wherever he sets foot. And will continue to do so as long as he is willing to listen to the advice he receives from those who have been in business longer than he has.
Nowadays, he is flipping the script and helping all the players with both on-court issues and their interests off the court. Because once their career ends, a new life, with a whole different set of challenges, begins.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Nov 28, 2025, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
