Shaquille O’Neal is known for his generosity and business-like mindset, so it’s no wonder he paid for some of his friends to get their master’s degrees. In a recent interview with the “Be Better Off Show,” the NBA legend shared his early experiences making business deals and why he decided to continue his education more than once.
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O’Neal Paid His Friends To Get A Master’s Degree With Him
O’Neal, 50, explained what made him want to get his master’s degree years ago. “I got my Bachelor’s Degree in 2000, but I noticed that every time I went to a business meeting, the guy making the offer would say, ‘Hello Shaq, how are you?’ And then they’ll turn around and see my lawyer and accountant and all those guys,” he said. “I said, ‘Oh you guys don’t think I’m responsible?’ You guys don’t think I understand the language. So, I went and got my master’s degree from the University of Phoenix.”
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He then explained that the University of Phoenix is a mostly online program, but he wanted to be taught in an in-person class. “I went to the chief officer and said, ‘I don’t want to do it online. I want someone to teach me in class,'” he explained. “And they came back and said, ‘Unfortunately, we can’t have a classroom for one guy. You need 15 people. So I paid for 15 of my friends to get their masters.’
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O’Neal Got His PhD Because His Mother Reminded Him There Are No Doctors In The Family
O’Neal didn’t stop his education there. He continued and got a PhD in education. The NBA legend explained that after he got his master’s degree, his mother approached him and told him how proud she and his father were of him. He then added, “And, you know, we don’t have a doctor in the family.” O’Neal replied, “Oh, here we go again,” and went back to school to get his PhD. He explained that he did it more for the title and to show the younger generation that, “when I say get an education, this is what I mean. I like to show an example. A lot of people can tell you what to do. But I like to show and tell you what needs to be done.”
O’Neal Has Been In Many Business Ventures
O’Neal has put all of his degrees to good use and proven himself to be a shrewd businessman with his various business ventures. He now owns several Big Chicken restaurants in Las Vegas, with the franchise expanding to several other states. He has also bought and sold more than 150 Five Guys Burger restaurants and has bought other franchises as well, such as Auntie Anne’s Pretzels, Papa John’s and Krispy Kreme. It is also reported that he has owned many 24 Hour Fitness gyms, more than 150 car washes, several nightclubs in Las Vegas, shopping malls, movie theaters, JC Penney, and Forever 21. He owns more than 50 different brands, and his net worth is reported to be $400 million and counting.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
