2004. Los Angeles.
Shaquille O’Neal was an absolute NBA star.
But off the court, he was looking for something that would last longer than his career.
One day, in the lobby of the Four Seasons, Shaq overheard two young men talking about a new type of search engine.
They were talking about “organizing all the information in the world.”
The young men?
Larry Page and Sergey Brin.
Shaq listened. He liked it.
And he asked: “Can I invest?”
They agreed.
Shaq put money into the project—discreetly, without fully understanding the magnitude of it.
Life went on. Games. Titles. Sponsorships.
And he simply… forgot.
Until, years later, watching TV in the morning, he saw the headline:
“GOOGLE HOLDS IPO TODAY.”
Shaq froze.
He looked at the screen.
And thought:
“Wait… I think I put money into this.”
He called his accountant.
Minutes later, he received confirmation:
Yes. He had invested in Google.
Yes. It was now worth a fortune.
Shaq burst out laughing.
And he learned one of the greatest lessons of his life:
“Work so that your money works for you.” Today, Shaq invests in Apple, Lyft, Ring, Vitaminwater, Five Guys, Papa John’s, and dozens of other companies. He became more than an athlete. He became a case study in the silent building of wealth. The best move in the game, sometimes, isn't where you spend the most time. Shaq taught that: When you expose yourself to the right opportunities, just one is enough to change everything. When you learn to invest, it doesn't matter if you forget—money doesn't forget to work. When you think like an owner, not like a celebrity, you build wealth—not just fame. In the end, vision is worth more than strength.