T-Pain Credits Shaquille O’Neal for Business Turnaround

Saddle up for an enthralling story about pulling up your bootstraps, with a pinch of celebrity glam. You’re going to love this! T-Pain, the melodious voice behind the hit “I’m Sprung,” has found an intriguing mentor in none other than Basketball Hall of Famer, Shaquille O’Neal. This twosome surfaced when T-Pain joined O’Neal on “The Big Podcast with Shaq,” and exposed how Shaq has been his secret business sensei since 2018.

Shaq sure isn’t your average jock. He’s a hoops legend who’s dunked his business acumen into a mammoth $500 million empire—stretching from delicious fast food chains like Shaq’s Big Chicken to a hot spot on the Papa Johns’ board until 2024. A serial endorser, he’s also brought his unique flair and fame to big League names like PepsiCo.

Ready to rewind to 2023? Shaq and Pepsi renewed as partners back then and what did they create? A foot-tapping commercial weaving in the jazzy beats of Skee-Lo’s 1995 earworm, “I Wish.” This rewind also unearths an interesting remember-when fact that Shaq also starred in a Pepsi’s Big Slam ad—a whopping 30 years ago.

Before we unravel the tale of his Reebok journey, let’s note that Shaq doesn’t just dunk for the money. He proved that when he turned away from a jaw-dropping $40 million offer from Reebok. Why, you ask? So he could launch affordable shoes with Walmart. But as life often does, it came full circle and he found himself back at Reebok as its President.

It’s no wonder T-Pain is taking notes from this baller-come-business mogul. Shaq’s playbook goes beyond just scoring points, it’s about actively making a difference- a lesson we can all cipher into our own life game.