Shaquille O’Neal isn’t just known for his dominance on the basketball court or his $500 million net worth as a savvy business owner. He also stands by his principles, even when it means leaving millions on the table. In 1998, Shaq made what he calls his “best business decision” – a move that set him apart as more than just an athlete chasing profits.
While appearing on the “Full Send” podcast in 2021, Shaq shared why he ended his $40 million, five-year sneaker deal with Reebok. The turning point? A heated confrontation with a frustrated mother.
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One day, after a game at the Orlando Magic arena, Shaq was approached by a woman who wasn’t shy about speaking her mind. “This lady ripped me a new a**hole,” Shaq recalled. Her issue? The steep price of Reebok sneakers bearing his name.
“She called me a motherf***er and said, ‘You’re charging these babies all this money for shoes.’ I had $2,000 in my pocket and tried to give it to her,” Shaq said. But the woman wasn’t looking for a handout.
“She smacked the money out of my hand and said, ‘Why don’t you make a shoe that’s affordable?'” Shaq added.
That moment struck a chord. “I thought about it and you know what? She’s right,” Shaq said.
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That same day, Shaq made a life-changing decision: he called it quits with Reebok.
“I told them, ‘Keep the money. This ain’t right,'” Shaq shared. He decided to start his shoe brand, prioritizing affordability without compromising quality or style. “I went to my favorite store, Walmart and we did a deal,” he said.
Shaq’s vision was clear: create sneakers priced between $15 and $29. And while some doubted that kids would want to wear “cheap” shoes, Shaq proved them wrong. “It’s not kids that don’t want to wear $20 shoes – it’s that they don’t want to wear shoes that look like they cost $20,” he explained.
The partnership with Walmart turned out to be a massive success. By 2021, Shaq’s affordable footwear line had sold over 400 million pairs. Thanks to Shaq’s decision, families who once couldn’t afford branded sneakers now had access to stylish, durable options.
