BREAKING: Big Shaq STRIKES AGAIN — Shaquille O’Neal Crowned EBONY’s 2025 Entrepreneur of the Year! 💥
Big Shaq just did it again. From breaking backboards to breaking business records, Shaquille O’Neal continues to redefine what it means to be a legend — and this time, the spotlight isn’t on his slam dunks, but on his empire. The NBA Hall of Famer has officially been named EBONY Power 100 Entrepreneur of the Year 2025, and the reaction across the sports and business world can be summed up in one word: inevitable.
For most athletes, retirement means the end of the spotlight. For Shaq, it was just the beginning. Since hanging up his sneakers, the four-time NBA champion has built a sprawling business portfolio — stretching from restaurants and real estate to tech startups, entertainment, and education. Insiders estimate his ventures now span more than 50 companies, each reflecting that larger-than-life Shaq personality: bold, unfiltered, and unstoppable.
“He’s not just an athlete — he’s an institution,” said one EBONY editor. “Shaquille O’Neal represents the evolution of Black excellence in business. He’s leveraged fame into influence, and influence into impact.”
The EBONY Power 100 award recognizes Black leaders shaping the future of culture, business, and community. For O’Neal, the honor comes as validation of a philosophy he’s repeated for years: “Be the change — and make it fun while you do it.” Whether it’s his stake in Papa John’s, his partnership with Reebok, or his ventures in esports and tech, Shaq’s approach is as strategic as it is unconventional.
And of course, he’s still Shaq — larger-than-life and refreshingly authentic. When asked about the award, O’Neal reportedly laughed and said, “I just try to make people smile — and make a little money while I’m at it.”
Behind the jokes, though, is a relentless work ethic. Shaq earned his MBA and even pursued a doctorate in education, proving he’s as serious about learning as he is about leading. “The thing about Shaq,” a longtime business partner said, “is that he never stops. When other people are celebrating, he’s already thinking about the next move.”
That “next move” might be his biggest yet. Sources close to O’Neal hint that he’s preparing to launch a new investment fund focused on youth entrepreneurship and community revitalization, aimed at giving underrepresented founders the same opportunities he fought for decades to earn. “It’s not just about money,” he told reporters recently. “It’s about legacy.”
And legacy is something Shaq knows all about. From his dominance with the Lakers and Heat to his infectious presence on TNT’s Inside the NBA, he’s remained one of the most beloved — and bankable — figures in American sports culture. His transformation from superstar athlete to global business mogul isn’t just impressive; it’s unprecedented.
As one fan put it online after the announcement: “Shaq doesn’t just win games — he wins eras.”
The Diesel may have retired from the court, but make no mistake — he’s still dunking on every challenge that comes his way.
And with the EBONY Power 100 title now under his belt, one thing is clear: greatness doesn’t retire — it reinvents itself.
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