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Shaquille O'Neal is one of the greatest centers in NBA history, who was the face of the L.A. Lakers' dynasty in the early 2000s. Shaq was an inevitable force during his prime, who, despite his predictable style of play, was completely unstoppable. O'Neal went on to win three straight NBA Finals MVPs in Los Angeles and another title shortly after with Miami Heat, before eventually ending his 19-year career in 2011. In addition to his on-court accolades, the first-ballot Hall of Famer has always had a very successful and lucrative career off the court. Along with his roles in several movies, O'Neal has accumulated a net worth of around $500 million, due to various successful ventures. Shaq hasn't always been as financially savvy, and he's acknowledged some of the spending mistakes he's made in the past. But O'Neal's business acumen is a model for many young athletes to aspire to. And surprisingly, Shaq credits his jealousy of a fellow all-time great and Laker legend for his financial savvy. Shaquille O'Neal's jealously of legendary point guard fueled his business career On an episode of the Straight Game podcast, Shaq revealed the driving force behind his off-the-court success. It was none other than Magic Johnson, who O'Neal acknowledges, was a mentor in his long-term financial approach. The 15-time All-Star detailed how the legendary point guard guided him and why Magic's success drove a healthy envy in Shaq, motivating him to build a business empire. “I got it (business acumen) from Magic Johnson. I went to one of his events. I’m the type that jealousy motivates me. So, like when I first got to L.A., I’m not Shaq yet. I’m watching Magic do his thing. I’m like, ‘Damn, I want his spot.’ That’s going to be me one day. So, I’m watching him and you know, he’s nice to people. He’s smiling. He’s doing business deals. He’s giving his phone off to people. So, I definitely watch that. I always tell people it’s okay to be jealous sometimes, but don’t turn that jealousy into envy. Turn it into motivation...I’ve just always tried to take advantage of opportunities. And, you know, again, he says, uh, you need something to fall back on cuz basketball is not going to live forever." Magic Johnson has built a billionaire dollar empire Over the course of several decades, Magic Johnson has put together an incredibly diverse portfolio that is now reportedly worth up to $1.5 billion. After earning about $40 million during his playing days, the five-time NBA champion founded Magic Johnson Enterprises in 1987. Johnson initially focused on developing underserved urban communities, launching Magic Johnson Theaters and buying T.G.I. Friday’s and Burger King franchises. The Laker legend's most famous deal came with Starbucks, where he opened stores in minority neighborhoods that traditional corporations ignored. Magic was eventually able to sell this partnership for tens of millions in profit. In addition, through Canyon-Johnson Urban Funds, Johnson invested more than $2 billion in urban real estate developments, blending profit with social impact. Magic gradually expanded his empire into sports ownership, first buying a small stake in the Lakers, before joining ownership groups for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles FC, Los Angeles Sparks, and Washington Commanders. All of these franchises have surged in value since Magic became involved. Meanwhile, Shaq's financial portfolio has largely relied on long-term investments in high-performing food franchises as well as business ventures in both the tech and the entertainment worlds. O'Neal and Johnson therefore have gone down different paths to accumulate their wealth, but what they both share in common is an attempt to use these financial resources to help the underprivileged. The two basketball icons have their own charitable foundations which specifically focus on education, youth development, and combating food insecurity. There are always going to be critics when these types of financial empires are constructed, but Shaq and Magic seem to have genuinely tried to do the right thing throughout their journeys. For now, at least, this is one of the positive examples of how envy can drive an individual.
