Shaq O’Neal isn’t only remembered as one of the greatest competitors of all time in the world of basketball, but also a shrewd businessman. Off the basketball court, he has established an impressive and diversified portfolio and transformed his big personality into a business empire of his own.
Shaq has diversified his portfolio through a variety of franchise opportunities ranging from quick-service restaurants and retail stores and demonstrated the same drive on the business front that drove his basketball career.
In this article, we are going to break down what businesses he owns nowadays alongside some of the investments that paved the path of his career as an entrepreneur.
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Active Franchise & Restaurant Holdings by Shaquille O’Neal (2025)
Here are the major franchise and restaurant-type businesses that Shaq still actively owns or co-owns as of 2025:
Big Chicken
In 2018, Shaquille O’Neal helped launch Big Chicken, a chain of fast-casual restaurants offering spicy, Louisiana-style fried chicken sandwiches and comforting favorites with a cheeky kick. The menu reflects Shaq’s personality with bigger-than-life flavors, generous portions, and a bit of mischief that separates the brand from the competition.
What began as an idea grew exponentially. Up until 2023, Big Chicken expanded to roughly 18 spots throughout the United States, and as of 2025, the figure has almost doubled with an estimate of around 40 restaurants active or under construction. Gone are the days of just storefronts as the chain also jumped into nontraditional venues such as cruise ships and stadiums, making it clear that it’s anything but another fried chicken establishment.
Shaq has also played an active role in branding and strategic growth of Big Chicken. His star power attracts publicity, but it’s his behind-the-scenes commitment, helping steer the course of the brand’s growth that makes this franchise Shaq’s closest and best-handled business venture yet.
Papa John’s (Atlanta Franchises)
Back in 2019, when the company was struggling to revamp its image, Shaquille O’Neal made a hero-like entry and joined Papa John’s family by becoming a member of the board of directors and bought nine franchised restaurants in Atlanta during 2019. His entrance brought an injection of instant credibility and a splash of personality to the brand. One of the best of his contributions was the release of the Shaq-a-Roni pizza as a limited-time promotion. It became a fans’ sensation because it combined his love of pizza and his unique personality.
Although Shaq stepped down from the board in the year 2024, he still owns the Atlanta operations and is still a high-profile spokesperson. His mix of investment, marketplace influence, and starpower helped Papa John’s recover rapport with customers and get traction during a transformative phase of turnaround.
Krispy Kreme
Shaquille O’Neal’s affection with Krispy Kreme became outright ownership when he purchased a franchise of the shop at Atlanta’s Ponce de Leon Avenue back in 2016. The store immediately acquired local popularity as “Shaqs Shop”, a landmark associated with his personality.
But Shaq did not back down when in 2021 an arson fire gutted the location. He promised to get the store reopened in a revitalized state by 2023 by rebuilding it.
As of 2025, Krispy Kreme still continues to be one of his active franchises which is an example of both his personal commitment to the brand and his dedication to make it a success story.
Top 6 Food Franchises Under $10K
Former Franchise Holdings (Now Sold or Exited)
To fully understand what businesses does Shaq own now, we must acknowledge what he no longer owns:
Five Guys
Five Guys Burgers and Fries, one of the nation’s wildly popular fast-casual burger chains, that Shaquille O’Neal once had a significant stake in. He once held 155 franchise units at his peak, or about 10% of the chain-wide units, a staggering number that both mirrored and fueled his insatiable business appetite.
But Shaq actually divested from his Five Guys investment back around 2016 as part of a portfolio diversification and venture into other kinds of food, retail, and entertainment business. Even though he no longer owns a stake in Five Guys, his aggressive investment bet still remains one of the best representations of athletes transforming into mass-scale franchise tycoons.
Auntie Anne’s (Pretzel Shops)
Shaquille O’Neal’s franchise acquisition appetite also reached Auntie Anne’s Pretzels, the premier mall and airport snack brand of choice throughout the U.S. Shaq once had 17 Auntie Anne’s stores under his umbrella, all of them well-located at high-traffic venues where famished shoppers and tourists could not say no to the smell of hot-out-of-the-oven pretzels.
His investment in the chain of pretzels was a savvy business investment in the quick-service snack business, a continuation of his other business interests that lay in food. O’Neal sought out other directions during the early part of the 2020s and sold or divested his Auntie Anne’s business. His period as one of the kings of pretzels highlights just how diversified his business life has turned out.
Other Non-Franchise and Investment Holdings
Beyond his franchise universe, Shaquille O’Neal has also established a diversified business portfolio that embodies his expansive entrepreneur vision of:
Car Washes – Shaq owns or has a stake in approximately 150 car wash facilities and thus one of his largest non-restaurants business.
Gyms & Health Clubs – He has also been a partner with ownership of approximately 40 health clubs, a reflection of his long-term connection with physical fitness and athletics.
Real Estate Projects – O’Neal has made significant investments in Newark, New Jersey, in mega-projects such as CityPlex12 and One Riverview, and facilitated community development back home.
Retail & Brand Stakes – He has a stake through his affiliation with Authentic Brands Group in big-name brands such as JCPenney, Forever 21, and Reebok.
Entertainment & Events – Shaq also established Shaq’s Fun House, a carnival and musical festival of adrenaline-fueled proportions that takes place during Super Bowl weekends.
Conclusion
Shaquille O’Neal has demonstrated that his winning mindset extends far beyond the sidelines, by going from dominating the hardwood to building business empires. A clever blend of passion, astute investment, and personality-driven branding can be seen in his business ventures.
From mainstream franchises like Big Chicken, Papa John’s, and Krispy Kreme to past partnerships with Five Guys and Auntie Anne’s, Shaq has consistently demonstrated how athletes can convert their popularity into long-term business success. With car washes, fitness centers, real estate projects, and endorsement deals thrown into the mix, you get a diversified portfolio as impressive.
So, responding to the question “what businesses does Shaq own in 2025?” becomes easy: he has more than restaurants as part of his business portfolio; he has a vision of long-term business success and cultural relevance.
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