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NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal may have a net worth estimated at roughly $500 million<\/a>, but that doesn’t mean his kids get treated like they’re worth the same. <\/p>\n Speaking during an appearance on “Live with Kelly and Mark<\/a>” in 2018, O’Neal was asked whether children who grow up wealthy are less inclined to work. <\/p>\n “There’s a motto in my house,” O’Neal said. “You have to have two degrees to touch some of my cheese.” <\/p>\n The audience laughed, but O’Neal said he wants his children to have opportunities he didn’t have<\/a> growing up while still earning their own success. <\/p>\n Don’t Miss: <\/p>\n “I have three sons and three daughters, and I want to make it easy for them,” O’Neal said. “I want them to be better than me. I want them to be more educated than me, so they must work.” <\/p>\n “My oldest son, brilliant,” O’Neal said. “I’m proud of you. Go to a dealership, get a car and call me.” <\/p>\n “So I drive over there,” O’Neal said. “The guy brings out the paperwork. Okay son, let me talk to you a second. I’m rich. We’re not rich. So here’s a Chevrolet.” <\/p>\n The story drew laughs because of the punchline. The reason it has endured is because it neatly sums up how O’Neal thinks about money. <\/p>\n Shaq Wants His Kids To Build Their Own Wealth <\/p>\n O’Neal has never hidden the fact that he wants his children to succeed. What he doesn’t want is for them to assume his success automatically becomes theirs. <\/p>\n That mindset has shaped how he approaches both parenting and money. <\/p>\n While plenty of athletes have earned massive fortunes, O’Neal turned his basketball success into a business empire spanning investments, endorsements, franchises and entrepreneurial ventures. The goal wasn’t simply to make money. It was to make sure the money kept working. <\/p>\n Trending: Your income is your family’s foundation. Ladder lets eligible applicants lock in term life coverage in minutes <\/a>\u2014 and you can adjust as your income grows. <\/p>\n That philosophy showed up again when O’Neal discussed personal finance with CNBC<\/a> in 2018. <\/p>\n Using a $100 bill as an example, O’Neal said 75% should be saved or invested, while 25% could be used for spending and enjoyment. <\/p>\n “This right here is what you have fun with,” O’Neal said. <\/p>\n It’s simple advice, but that’s part of its appeal. Wealth-building often comes down to habits rather than headlines. <\/p>\n The Financial Lesson Shaq Thinks More People Need <\/p>\n O’Neal has also become increasingly vocal about financial education. <\/p>\n “I think for those who are not financially literate, learn this word: annuity,” O’Neal said during an interview on “The School of Hard Knocks<\/a>” podcast in 2024. <\/p>\n “You need to look it up. I know what annuity means.” <\/p>\n His point wasn’t that every investor should rush into the same investment. <\/p>\n Some people prefer stocks. Others gravitate toward real estate, annuities, dividend-paying investments or a diversified portfolio built around several strategies. <\/p>\n See Also: A 1% fee difference on $200,000 over 30 years quietly costs you $170,000 in lost returns. Empower’s fee analyzer shows you exactly what you’re paying \u2014 across every account.<\/a> <\/p>\n The important part is understanding why you’re investing and having a plan that matches your goals. <\/p>\n For many investors, that’s where professional guidance can help. AdvisorMatch connects people with financial advisors<\/a> who can help evaluate options, assess risk and build long-term financial strategies tailored to individual needs. <\/p>\n O’Neal’s Chevrolet story wasn’t really about choosing one car over another. <\/p>\n It was about understanding that money, by itself, isn’t the finish line. <\/p>\n Whether it’s earning a degree, building a business, investing for retirement or creating passive income, O’Neal’s message has remained remarkably consistent: opportunities can be given, but success still has to be earned. <\/p>\n Read Next: The IRS Could Take A Bigger Bite Out Of Retirement Savings Than Many Expect \u2014 Some Investors Are Seeking Professional Help<\/a> <\/p>\n Building Wealth Across More Than Just the Market <\/p>\n Building a resilient portfolio means thinking beyond a single asset or market trend. Economic cycles shift, sectors rise and fall, and no one investment performs well in every environment. That’s why many investors look to diversify with platforms that provide access to real estate, fixed-income opportunities, precious metals, and even self-directed retirement accounts. By spreading exposure across multiple asset classes, it becomes easier to manage risk, capture steady returns, and create long-term wealth that isn’t tied to the fortunes of just one company or industry. <\/p>\n Arrived <\/p>\n Backed by Jeff Bezos, Arrived Homes makes real estate investing accessible with a low barrier to entry. Investors can <\/a>buy fractional shares of single-family rentals and vacation homes starting with as little as $100<\/a>. This allows everyday investors to diversify into real estate, collect rental income, and build long-term wealth without needing to manage properties directly. <\/p>\n ARK7 <\/p>\n Residential real estate has historically provided investors with income potential and long-term appreciation, but direct ownership can be expensive and time-consuming. ARK7 enables investors to buy fractional shares of rental properties, offering access to potential rental income and real estate exposure without property management responsibilities.<\/a> By lowering the barrier to entry, the platform gives investors another way to diversify beyond traditional stocks and bonds. <\/p>\n Doroni <\/p>\n Electric aviation is an emerging industry with the potential to transform personal transportation and urban mobility. <\/a>Doroni is developing eVTOL aircraft designed for personal use, aiming to combine the convenience of a car with the flexibility of vertical flight.<\/a> As interest in advanced air mobility grows worldwide, the company is positioning itself within a sector that could play a significant role in the future of transportation. <\/p>\n Immersed <\/p>\n Immersed is building technology for the future of work through spatial computing<\/a>. Known for its AR\/VR productivity platform that enables users to work across multiple virtual screens, the company has grown to more than 1.5 million users worldwide. Immersed is also developing Visor, a lightweight headset designed specifically for professional productivity, positioning the company at the intersection of remote work, extended reality (XR), and next-generation computing. <\/p>\n Vinovest\u00a0 <\/p>\n Fine wine and rare whiskey have historically moved independently of the stock market, making them a compelling alternative asset. <\/a>Vinovest manages authenticated, insured portfolios of investment-grade wine and whiskey starting at $5,000<\/a> \u2014 sourcing, storage, and insurance all handled for you. <\/p>\n EnergyX <\/p>\n EnergyX is a clean energy technology company focused on direct lithium extraction and refinery technologies for the lithium-ion battery supply chain.<\/a> Its proprietary DLE systems are designed to recover lithium from brine resources more efficiently and with less environmental impact, supporting efforts to expand lithium supply for electric vehicles, grid-scale storage, and other battery applications. <\/p>\n FarmTogether <\/p>\n Farmland has historically held its value through market volatility and delivered returns uncorrelated to stocks and bonds. For accredited investors, <\/a>FarmTogether offers direct access to high-quality U.S. farmland starting at $15,000<\/a> \u2014 fully managed, with no landlord headaches. <\/p>\n EquityMultiple\u00a0 <\/p>\n For accredited investors looking beyond stocks and bonds, EquityMultiple provides access to vetted commercial real estate deals starting at $5,000<\/a>,<\/a> with only ~5% of opportunities passing their due diligence process.\u00a0 <\/p>\n Fundrise <\/p>\n Private real estate and private credit can add income and stability to a stock-heavy portfolio. <\/a>Fundrise offers access to diversified private real estate<\/a> and credit strategies through an easy-to-use platform, with professionally managed portfolios designed to generate passive income and long-term growth. <\/p>\n American Hartford Gold <\/p>\n American Hartford Gold is a precious metals dealer that helps clients buy physical gold and silver coins and bars, either for direct delivery or within self-directed precious metals IRAs.<\/a> The company’s services include gold and silver IRAs, IRA rollovers, and home delivery of bullion, giving investors a way to use tangible metals to diversify portfolios and seek protection against inflation and market volatility. <\/p>\n Mode Mobile <\/p>\n Mode Mobile is changing the way people interact with their phones by letting users earn money from the same apps and activities they already use every day.<\/a> Instead of platforms keeping all the advertising revenue, Mode Mobile shares a portion back with users who engage with content, play games, and scroll on their devices. Named one of Deloitte’s fastest-growing software companies in North America, the company has built a large beta user base and is scaling a model that turns everyday smartphone usage into a potential income stream. <\/p>\n Image: Shutterstock <\/p>\n This article NBA Legend Shaq Told ‘Brilliant’ Oldest Son To Pick Out Any Car \u2014 He Chose A Mercedes Benz. ‘I’m Rich. We’re Not Rich. Here’s a Chevrolet’<\/a> originally appeared on Benzinga.com<\/a> <\/p>\n \u00a9 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. 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