Shaquille O’Neal is many things, and that also includes doctor!
The former NBA star did not neglect his education journey despite going on to earn millions throughout his career. He attended Louisiana State University but did not initially complete his degree when he was drafted as the first overall pick in 1992 by the Orlando Magic. Spotrac reports he secured a four-year rookie contract valued at $17.4 million.
O’Neal, who also is passionate about music, went on to secure a $10 million deal to release three albums under Jive Records. This led to collaborations with some music greats.
“I was like ‘I got to take it,’ but then reality kicked in,” O’Neal shared on “Check-In at Wynn” in Las Vegas, NV. “I was like ‘I’m not a rapper’ and then I said ‘Let’s have a meeting’… I said as long as I can rap with all my favorite rappers, I’ll do it and they agreed. So, I think for a non-rapper, I probably have the best discography ever. Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson, Snoop, Ice Cube, Notorious BIG, Jay Z, Nas… it don’t get no bigger.”
While O’Neal had a taste of success early, he knew it would still be important to go back to the drawing board and obtain his bachelor’s degree in general studies.
“I left my junior year, so I was only a few credit shorts. So I go back to school, two hot summers in Baton Rouge (LA). And I’m loving it, but I’m hating it at the same time. But I’m like, ‘Just let me do it for my mom.’ So in 2000, I graduated with my bachelor’s degree,” he explained during an interview on “In-Depth with Graham Bensinger.”
@wealth.ventures Shaq on the importance of education 🧑🎓 Shaq made a promise to his mother that he would return to college after turning pro to finish his bachelor degree. He later returned to complete his Master of business and PHD to be come the first doctor within his family. #wealthventures #fyp #entrepreneur #foryou #foryoupage #investing #wealthymindset #millionaire #financialfreedom #wealth #shaq #nba #businessowner #brand #business
“I found that to be disrespectful. I’m making a final decision anyway. What you looking at my agent for?” he told Bensinger.
As AFROTECH™ previously reported, O’Neal obtained an MBA from the University of Phoenix, and he also paid for 15 of his friends to do the same so that he could learn in a classroom (vs. online) while supporting his friends. He hit the books yet again following a comment from his mother that there had been no one in the family to obtain a a doctoral degree.
“We don’t have any PhDs in the family. So I’m like, ‘I could be the first out of all the O’Neals to be a doctor,” he commented while speaking with Bensinger.
O’Neal would spend five years at Barry University, and while he had classroom sessions, he also participated through satellite classrooms, video conferencing, and Blackboard.com, according to the school’s website. He presented his Doctoral Capstone Project as well, titled “How Leaders Utilize Humor or Seriousness in Leadership Styles.”
He walked away with a GPA of 3.813 and secured his doctoral degree in education in 2012.
“This is for my mother, who always stressed the importance of education,” O’Neal said, according to the school. “I am proud to have achieved a doctoral degree and wish to thank my professors and Barry University for helping make this dream a reality. I’m smart enough to know that, even at my tender age, my pursuit of education is never finished.”
