Who was the first athlete to be a spokesperson for the General?
Shaquille O’Neal has signed on as the first athlete spokesman of The General, an auto insurance company he used in the late ’80s to cover his Ford Bronco II while playing at LSU. Mike Pont/WireImage/Getty Images.
Shaquille O’Neal has landed yet another endorsement deal, this time thanks to a past connection. The center-turned-broadcaster, who will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in September, has signed on as the first athlete spokesman of The General, an auto insurance company O’Neal used in the late ’80s to cover his Ford …
How much is Shaquille O’Neal worth?
Today, Shaquille O’Neal is worth over $350 million, and the number only climbs higher each year as his business portfolio grows and reaches new heights of success.
He’s turned down a number of high profile opportunities, including from Wheaties and Starbucks, because he simply doesn’t eat those particular products and wants his business dealings to be authentic.
Picking such a well-known, successful brand to invest in was a very smart move, and Shaquille O’Neal makes a nice sum of money from his gyms each year.
Restaurant Successes. Many people know that Shaquille O’Neal owns Five Guys franchises, but did you know that the man owns 155 locations? In fact, Shaq is the owner of more than 10 percent of the company’s franchises — that’s a lot of burgers and fries and a ton of annual profit.
However, the latest company to get a “yes” from Shaq is The General auto insurance company, which currently sells insurance in 44 U.S. states. You may have seen the commercials featuring the company’s quirky mascot, and it will be interesting to see how Shaq fits in as The General’s new spokesman.
Shaquille O’Neal’s ties to the company go back decades. When he was in college at Louisiana State University, Shaq insured his Ford Bronco through The General. He was happy with the service back then and appreciated how a company representative helped him figure out which coverage was best for his needs.
Shaquille O’Neal is a very smart man — you don’t earn a doctorate without some wisdom behind you. While it’s not certain just how he got in as a Google investor before the company went public, he did it. As anyone can plainly see, this was definitely the right business move to make.
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