Shaquille O'Neal just revealed he owns Forever 21, Elvis Presley, and much more

NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal recently wowed the internet with a glimpse into his vast financial portfolio. During a recent podcast appearance on Earn Your Leisure, the 49-year-old revealed that his business ventures extend well beyond just commercials. After a stellar basketball career, O'Neal, who secured numerous endorsements from brands like The General and Gold Bond, shared that he also owns several notable businesses.

"I don't like to seem like I'm bragging, but I'm going to ask you a question. Who owns Marilyn Monroe," the former basketball star asked the two hosts, reports Atlanta Black Star. "Playboy," Millings responded. "Who owns Elvis Presley? Who owns Forever 21?" O'Neal continued. "Who owns JCPenney? Me!" Although he did not specify his ownership stake or whether he owns these brands outright, O'Neal emphasized that brand ownership is his primary business.

"My real business is I own 50 brands," O'Neal explained. "So, when I was retiring, I'm looking around, I'm like 'How does Michael Jackson and all these guys live forever?' So, one of the chapters in the book, joint venture-ship. So, I called the three companies [seemingly Authentic brand group, Simon property group, and Brookfield property partners] that helped people live forever, and they bought my brand for a lot of money. So, I took half that money, put it back in the company, now I'm the number two guy in the company." The Hall of Famer added that although he could've easily sold his brand and likeness that he worked so hard to build, that would give investors the right to do as they please and potentially push him to the background.

"I put money back in the company, and now I own all those other brands, so if Shaq ever goes away, sh-t, we still got Elvis," he said. According to NBC Sports, O'Neal's estimated net worth is said to be $400 million. "He is the joint owner of 155 Five Guys Burgers restaurants, 17 Auntie Annie's Pretzels restaurants, 150 car washes, 40 24-hour fitness centers, a shopping center, a movie theater, and several Las Vegas nightclubs," the report states.

Speaking to Front Office Sports, O'Neal explained that money is not his main motivation when it comes to making investments. "I make investments, not for the monetary reasons, but... if it's going to change people's lives — and if I see people enjoy doing it," he said. The basketball star-turned-businessman added that he intends to keep his total earnings private since his "mom really doesn't like articles like that. It feels like bragging." He did, however, talk about one venture that he's excited about: esports.

"One day I had the children and my boys said, 'Dad, take us to the Staples Center!'" O'Neal recalled. "As soon as I turn the corner, it's screaming kids, watching some other kids play video games. I never even heard of esports. But 60,000 kids jumping up and down, louder than a basketball game, I knew that this right here, it was going to be the future. I knew it then, I know it now: esports is still one of the fastest-growing industries and it just appeals to so many people."