'Trust Me, I'm Reading What He's Doing Every Day' — NBA Legend Shaq With A $500 Million Net Worth Swears By Warren Buffett's Investing Wisdom

Shaquille O'Neal isn't just one of the most dominant players in NBA history—he's also an investor with a net worth of an estimated $500 million. But while millions look up to Shaq literally and financially, he's got his own investing idols. And at the top of that list? Warren Buffett.

"All the stuff that Warren Buffett talks about? I'm in," Shaq told Yahoo Finance in 2016. "Trust me. I'm reading what he's doing every day."

That's not just talk. O'Neal has built an investment portfolio that stretches far beyond basketball, including major stakes in Apple,  General Electric, Pepsi, and Coca-Cola. He's also got his hands in modern startups like Uber and Lyft, plus a little old-school flair with Krispy Kreme.

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Shaq's Investing Philosophy: ‘It's Not About Flipping It, Wham-Bam-Bam'

Unlike some athletes who chase fast-money flips, Shaq takes a long-term approach, much like Buffett himself. "Every deal that I've done like that? I've failed. Big time," he admitted. Instead, he looks for businesses with staying power.

"We are just going to continue to invest in things that are going to help people," Shaq explained. "They're not allowed to come in my office and say something like, ‘Hey, we're investing in Sprite now. We get to a certain level, and we could probably sell it for $50 billion.' We don't have those conversations. We never have those conversations. It's not about flipping it, wham-bam-bam."

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For O'Neal, investing is about surrounding himself with smart people—Harvard grads, lawyers, financial analysts—and making decisions as a team. That strategy has turned him into one of the most financially successful former athletes in the world.

The One That Got Away? Starbucks

Even the greats miss out sometimes. When asked about investment regrets, Shaq had one answer: Starbucks.

"That got away big time," he said. While he didn't elaborate, it's safe to say missing out on one of the biggest coffee empires in the world still stings.

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The Wildest Pitch He Ever Got? A Sweat-Based Cologne

As a high-profile investor, Shaq hears a lot of pitches—some brilliant, some bizarre. But one idea took the cake: a cologne made from his sweat.

"A guy wanted me to run on a treadmill for two hours to collect portions of my sweat and make a cologne," he revealed. "Yeah, I quickly turned that one down."

Shaq's Investing Future

O'Neal isn't done yet. He's constantly looking for companies with real impact, much like Buffett's focus on businesses with strong fundamentals and long-term value. Whether it's tech, fast food, or ride-sharing, Shaq is playing the long game—just like his investing idol.

And if you ever wonder what Warren Buffett's doing? There's a good chance Shaq already knows.

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