Shaquille O’Neal Shares How Businessmen Doubting His Intelligence Led Him To Pursue His Master’s Degree & Pay For 15 Of His Friends To Get Theirs As Well 

Shaquille O’Neal Shares How Businessmen Doubting His Intelligence Led Him To Pursue His Master’s Degree & Pay For 15 Of His Friends To Get Theirs As Well 

Shaquille O’Neal is a stand-up guy… on and off of the court.

During a recent podcast interview, Shaquille O’Neal opened up about the time he grabbed fifteen of his friends and coughed up the coins for their college tuition–right along with his.

Shaquille O’Neal

According to Shaquille O’Neal, he had a point to prove to not only himself but those around him who doubted his ability to be the booming businessman he is today. So, in an effort to fulfill a personal goal, he went to achieve a master’s degree from the University of Phoenix.

When speaking on his decision to do so, O’Neal said:

“I noticed that every time I’d go to a business meeting, the guys who we were doing deals with would be like, ‘Hello, Shaq. How are you doing?’ And then they would turn away and look at my lawyers and my accountants and all those guys. So, I said, ‘Oh? You guys don’t think I’m in charge? You guys don’t think I understand the lingo?’ So, I went and got my master’s from the University of Phoenix.”

However, the former NBA star hit a stumbling block when he sought to take the online courses in person. Thankfully, that still didn’t stop him from pursuing his educational dream–even if that meant having to bring others on the journey with him. He continued,

“University of Phoenix is an online program, mostly, but I went to the head officials and said, ‘I don’t want to do it online; I want somebody to teach me in class.’ And they came back and said, ‘Unfortunately, we can’t set up a classroom for one guy. You need fifteen people.’ So, I paid for fifteen of my friends to get their masters.”

Shaquille O’Neal never ceases to amaze us when it comes to his philanthropic spirit. The 50-year-old is known for doing good deeds in any and every community. In 2020, he teamed up with credit card company American Express to launch a $10 million coalition to aid Black businesses who were struggling during the pandemic. This past July, the Lakers icon bought a random couple some home appliances while visiting a Best Buy store in Dallas, Texas.

It’s safe to say, if all else fails, Shaq has got your back.

What would you do if you met the legendary athlete? Let us know in the comments below!