When one thinks of Shaquille O’Neal, they imagine a 7ft 1″ big man weighing north of 350 lbs. However, he wasn’t always this big. Back in his senior year of high school, Shaq was a 7ft tall big man who weighed around 250 lbs. While that’s a big difference from his NBA and LSU days, but still, it was good enough for him to dominate in High School. He joined Robert G. Cole High School for his final two years of school and led them to a 68-1 record. Diesel also led them to a State Championship. Apart from being an incredible player at such a young age, Shaq knew what he wanted in life and had set lofty goals for himself.
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Growing up in a modest household, Shaq knew he wanted to give his mom all the luxury she could dream of. Basketball was his avenue to do so, and Shaq did not mess up his chance.
17-year-old Shaquille O’Neal wanted to earn $6,200,000 a year
We all know how successful Shaquille O’Neal is now. However, even when he was 17, Shaq had big dreams for himself. In an unseen High School Dunk Compilation video, we can see Shaq being interviewed. 17 y/o Diesel talked to the camera and said, “I want to make $6.2 Million a year!”
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Shaq must have run across this video on his Instagram, which led to him resharing the same on his stories.
Big Shaq knew what he wanted, right from when he was 17 pic.twitter.com/WGO5E8wVBx
— What are NBA Celebs Upto? (@NBACelebsUpdate) June 16, 2023
After his successful high school career, Shaquille O’Neal joined LSU, where he played for three years. While LSU did not win any Championships, Shaq earned tons of accolades. He was a two-time All-American, two-time SEC Player of the Year, and NCAA men’s basketball player of the year in 1991.
At the 1992 NBA Draft, Shaq was selected as the #1 pick by the Orlando Magic. This led to O’Neal signing a 4-year, $17.4 Million rookie deal(via Spotrac). On top of that, he also signed a multi-year $15 Million deal with Reebok as a rookie. While Shaq did not get the $6,200,000 a year from his NBA salary till he joined the Lakers in 1996, with his endorsements, we’re sure O’Neal earned that amount right from his rookie season.
Shaq created a $400+ Million empire
Right from his years in school, Shaq knew he had to be the breadwinner for his family. Sure, there was reckless spending by Big Diesel during his initial years in the NBA, but that’s what happens when you give a young kid that much money.
Over the years, his wisdom grew, and the big man started showing his business acumen. Through his NBA Contracts, business deals, investments, and endorsements, Shaq has now created a $400 Million empire for himself.
