You’ve probably seen the memes. One day Shaquille O’Neal is on a TNT broadcast making fun of Charles Barkley, and the next, he’s popping up in a commercial holding a massive pizza box or standing in front of a giant fried chicken sandwich. People love to talk about Shaq’s money. They love to talk about his "empire." But when you actually try to pin down the numbers, things get messy.
Honestly, the internet is full of outdated info. You’ll see articles claiming he owns hundreds of Five Guys or dozens of pretzel shops.
He doesn't. Not anymore.
If you want to know how many restaurants does shaq own right now, in 2026, you have to look at the difference between what he started and what he sold. Shaq is a master of the "exit." He buys in big, waits for the value to skyrocket, and then moves his chips to a different table.
The Current Count: What’s Actually in the Portfolio?
As of early 2026, Shaq’s restaurant footprint is focused on three main pillars. While he used to be the king of "other people's brands," he has pivoted hard into owning the intellectual property himself. It’s a smarter play. Instead of just paying franchise fees to a corporate office, he is the corporate office for his flagship brand.
Here is the breakdown of his current active holdings:
- Big Chicken: This is the big one. Shaq co-founded this brand in 2018. Currently, there are roughly 50 to 60 locations open and operating. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The company has over 350 units in the development pipeline. You’ll find these in traditional storefronts, but also in "non-traditional" spots like the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle and even on Carnival Cruise ships.
- Papa John’s: Shaq owns 9 locations in the Atlanta area. He famously joined the board of directors in 2019 to help save the brand’s image after its founder got into hot water. While he stepped down from the board in 2024 to focus on other ventures, he kept his stores and remains the primary brand ambassador.
- Krispy Kreme: He owns 1 iconic location on Ponce de Leon Avenue in Atlanta. This isn't just any doughnut shop; it's a historic site that Shaq personally helped rebuild after it was tragically hit by arson a few years back. He’s often joked that he wants to own more, but for now, this legendary spot is his primary "hot now" fix.
So, if you’re counting "doors" he currently has a stake in, the number is roughly 60 to 70 physical restaurants. That is a far cry from the "hundreds" people often quote.
The Five Guys Myth and the Great Exit
Why do people think he owns 155 burger joints? Because he did.
Back in the day, Shaq owned 155 Five Guys franchises, which at the time accounted for about 10% of the entire company. It was a legendary move. But in 2016, he sold them all.
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Why? He basically said he wanted to diversify. He made a massive profit on the sale and decided he didn't want all his eggs in one burger basket. He did the same thing with Auntie Anne’s. He owned 17 of those mall-staple pretzel shops but sold his stake by 2022. He famously joked on a podcast that "Black people don’t like pretzels that much," though the reality was likely more about the declining foot traffic in traditional shopping malls.
Why Big Chicken Is Different
When you look at how many restaurants does shaq own, you have to realize that Big Chicken is his legacy play.
With Five Guys or Papa John's, he was a franchisee. He followed their rules. With Big Chicken, he's the franchisor. He gets a piece of every sandwich sold by other people who buy into his brand.
The menu is personal, too. You’ve got the "Big Aristotle" and the "Uncle Jerome." It’s basically Shaq’s childhood and his personality deep-fried and put on a brioche bun. By the end of 2026, industry analysts expect the number of open Big Chicken locations to potentially double as those 350+ signed contracts start turning into actual buildings.
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Shaq’s "Secret" Business Strategy
Shaq follows a rule he learned from Magic Johnson: never take a deal unless you believe in the product. He doesn't just put his name on things for a check.
- Equity over endorsement: He’d rather own 30% of the company than get $1 million to do a commercial.
- The "Mom" Test: He has often said he won't promote something he wouldn't feel comfortable giving to his mother.
- Visual Branding: Notice how his restaurants always have something "Shaq-sized"? At Big Chicken, the cookies are the circumference of an NBA basketball. At his Papa John's stores, his size 22 footprints are literally etched into the floor at the entrance.
The Reality of the "Shaq Empire"
It’s easy to get lost in the sea of numbers. Some people will tell you he owns 150 car washes (he does) and 40 gyms (true, mostly 24-Hour Fitness locations). But in the world of food, he has become much more surgical.
He’s moved away from being a "collector" of franchises to being a "builder" of brands.
If you’re looking to invest or just curious about his reach, the takeaway is clear: Shaq is leaning into the chicken wars. While he keeps a few pizza shops and a doughnut store for "fun" and local community presence in Atlanta, his real wealth is now being generated by the rapid expansion of Big Chicken.
What You Should Do Next
If you’re a business owner or an aspiring entrepreneur looking at Shaq’s model, don't just look at the quantity of his restaurants. Look at the timing.
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- Audit your portfolio: Are you holding onto "Auntie Anne's" style businesses that rely on old-school foot traffic? It might be time to exit.
- Invest in IP: Owning the brand is always more profitable than renting it.
- Location matters: Shaq’s shift toward arenas and cruise ships shows he’s following where the "captive audience" is, rather than just waiting for people to drive to a strip mall.
Keep an eye on the Big Chicken expansion map. If one opens near you, it’s a masterclass in how to use celebrity gravity to pull people into a fast-casual seat.