Shaquille O'Neal sold his 155 Five Guys franchises to focus on launching Big Chicken and Papa John's stores. He emphasizes the importance of investing wisely as 'this money's not gonna last forever.'
Key points
Shaquille O'Neal sold 155 Five Guys franchises
He is launching Big Chicken and Papa John's stores
He emphasizes the importance of wise financial investments
O'Neal's strategy contrasts with typical retirement paths for athletes
Mentioned in this story
Shaquille O'NealFive GuysBig ChickenPapa John's
NBA Legend Shaq Sold His 155 Five Guys Franchises To Launch Big Chicken And Papa John's Stores — 'This Money's Not Gonna Last Forever'
NBA Legend Shaq Sold His 155 Five Guys Franchises To Launch Big Chicken And Papa John's Stores — 'This Money's Not Gonna Last Forever'
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Retirement didn't quiet Shaquille O'Neal — it sharpened the strategy. While most players step away from the spotlight, Shaq stepped into ownership, scaling a fast-food footprint so large it quietly rivaled major operators.
Then he walked away from it.
A Calculated Exit With Scale At Its Peak
At one point, Shaq owned 155 Five Guys locations, roughly 10% of the entire chain. It was a hands-on operation, built with partners who understood the business, and by all accounts, it performed well.
When asked about that stake on CNBC in 2018, Shaq clarified he had already exited. "I sold it," he said. Pressed on when, he added, "a couple years ago."
Q&A
Why did Shaquille O'Neal sell his Five Guys franchises?
Shaquille O'Neal sold his Five Guys franchises to concentrate on launching his new ventures, Big Chicken and Papa John's.
How many Five Guys franchises did Shaquille O'Neal own?
Shaquille O'Neal owned 155 Five Guys franchises before selling them.
What new businesses is Shaquille O'Neal launching?
Shaquille O'Neal is launching Big Chicken and Papa John's stores.
What does Shaquille O'Neal mean by 'this money's not gonna last forever'?
Shaquille O'Neal highlights the need for smart investments and business ventures to secure his financial future.
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The business itself, he made clear, delivered. "The burger business was good to you?" CNBC host Scott Wapner asked.
"Yeah, it's very good," Shaq said. "Very good."
But concentration carries risk, even when things are working.
Speaking directly to younger players entering the league, Shaq framed the bigger lesson behind the move. "This money's not gonna last forever," he told CNBC. "You gotta save it, you gotta invest it, and you gotta be smart."
The advice wasn't theoretical. He tied it back to his upbringing and early mistakes with money, reinforcing why diversification mattered long before the exit.
The decision wasn't about fixing a struggling asset. It was about protecting the bigger picture.
Selling Burgers And Unlocking Capital
By 2016, he had sold every location. During a live franchising talk at the Aspire Tour shared on Instagram in 2024, Shaq gave a more personal account of how the deal came together.
After partnering with a seasoned former McDonald's operator to handle daily operations — admitting he "didn't know sh*t about burgers" — a buyer approached with a strong offer.
Shaq didn't hesitate. "You can have it all. You can have the burger, the fries, the lettuce, the shakes."
The sale freed up capital and, just as important, flexibility.
Soon after, he launched Big Chicken in Las Vegas, shifting from franchise owner to brand builder, with franchising baked into the plan.
Pizza Deals And A Familiar Brand
Not long after, Shaq turned to Papa John's.
"Papa John's in college was big for me, because it was what I ordered," he told Yahoo Finance in 2019.
That connection turned into a larger role. He reached out to then-CEO Steve Ritchie and investor Jeff Smith with a proposal to join as a board member, brand ambassador, and franchise owner.
By 2019, he had stakes in nine Atlanta-area locations, each carrying his imprint, including the Shaq-a-Roni pizza and in-store details tied to his larger-than-life persona.
A Strategy Built On Not Standing Still
The pattern behind the moves is consistent.
Build scale with the right operators. Avoid overexposure to any single asset. Exit or expand when the timing makes sense.
Shaq has applied that approach across car washes, gyms, and earlier brands like Auntie Anne's, keeping his portfolio spread across industries rather than tied to one outcome.
That same mindset shows up in his latest move. In an interview with Yahoo Finance last week, Shaq introduced his role as an investing partner and global ambassador for tm:rw, a retail concept built around robotics, drones, and interactive tech.
"A friend of mine introduced me to this brand because everyone knows I love innovation and technology," he said. "I'm a geek, America, and proud to say it."
The Long Game Behind The Deals
From 155 burger franchises to fried chicken, pizza, and emerging retail concepts, the throughline is clear.
No single win carries the weight. No single bet defines the outcome.
Shaq didn't just build businesses. He built a system that keeps working, even after the first success is already in the rearview.
That same idea of not relying too heavily on any single outcome is something that shows up far beyond celebrity business deals. Because once income starts coming in consistently, the harder question becomes how to structure it in a way that can hold up over time—through changes in markets, industries, and life itself.
For many people navigating that stage, the challenge isn't finding opportunities, but organizing them into a clear plan. Platforms like Finance Advisors connect users with fiduciary financial advisors who help build long-term strategies around investing, diversification, and retirement planning based on individual goals and risk tolerance.
In the end, the goal isn't to pick the perfect business or investment—it's to build a framework where no single decision has to carry all the weight.
