NBA Legend Shaq Says He Can 'Throw On a Suit And Have A Conversation With Bill Gates' Then Head to the Hood and Talk to the 'Homies'

Shaquille O'Neal's life isn't divided by status—it's defined by impact. One minute he's fielding calls from billionaires, the next he's helping a homeless family get an apartment. 

In 2017, he announced plans to run for sheriff in 2020 to WXIA-TV Atlanta, stating, "This is not about politics. This is about bringing people closer together." Though he never officially filed, the sentiment reflected his lifelong commitment to community and connection.

"I'm a guy that speaks all languages," Shaq explained. "I can put on a suit and have a conversation with Bill Gates. I can go in the hood and talk to the homies, and talk to the children."

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This philosophy has guided his ventures beyond basketball. A chance encounter at a hotel led to an early investment in Google. While dining at the Four Seasons, Shaq played with some children whose father, impressed by his demeanor, offered him an investment opportunity in a then-little-known company called Google. Shaq invested and later remarked on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," "I got a really big return." 

His investment strategy was influenced by Jeff Bezos's advice to invest in things that change people's lives. This approach led Shaq to invest in companies like Ring and Lyft, leveraging his celebrity status to gain early access to promising ventures. 

However, not all his business decisions were hits. He passed on investing in Starbucks, believing at the time that "Black people don't drink coffee." He later admitted this was one of his biggest business regrets.

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Shaq's commitment to authenticity is evident in his business choices. He sold his 17 Auntie Anne's pretzel franchises, explaining on the "Earn Your Leisure Podcast," "Black people don't like pretzels that much. So I had to switch it up."

But the missteps don't outshine the bigger picture. He buys laptops for kids he just met. Pays for strangers' funerals. Picks up the tab for young fans buying engagement rings. And he never posts about it—he lets the people on the receiving end do the talking.

In 2021, his Krispy Kreme store in Atlanta was destroyed by fire for a second time, Shaq didn't flinch. Authorities believed homeless individuals had started the blaze trying to stay warm. He chose not to press charges.

Shaq may not have become sheriff like he once hoped, but with a $500 million net worth and a reputation built on real connection, he hardly needed the badge. When he says he can talk business with Gates and friends from the "hood"—he means it. And that range? That's not a gimmick. It's why people trust him, invest with him, and invite him into conversations that actually move things forward.

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