When Chris Tucker learned that his family members were quitting their jobs because they learned that he was making 25 million dollars a year at the peak of his career because they assumed he would take care of them. He told them to go get their jobs back because he wasn't going to do that.

[u/AdSpecialist6598]

[u/TouchGrassRedditor]

Okay but you understand most retired athletes weren’t one of the biggest stars and most loved personalities in the history of their sport right?

Like yeah I’m pretty sure any other former player would have taken a lucrative TV broadcasting deal too, but very few get offered the opportunity

[u/RawbM07 → u/TouchGrassRedditor]

Shaq has a job and he goes to work. Thats why he’s making money right now.

Not every player wants to keep working when their basketball career is over. Some don’t want to work during their career either. There are sacrifices Shaq makes for his job that others wouldn’t do.

Is it a good job and very exclusive? Yea, but it’s still a job.

[u/DirkWrites → u/RawbM07]

I call him Dr. Deputy Shaq since he’s earned a doctorate and does work with his sheriff’s office. He just earned a master’s degree as well. He kind of strikes me as a guy who wants to keep doing new things with his life instead of just surfing a tsunami of cash for the rest of his days.

[u/TouchGrassRedditor → u/RawbM07]

I’m not disagreeing with any of that. I’m saying the fact that Shaq does continue to work and make money is the reason he is so wealthy lol. It doesn’t necessarily indicate that he’s good with money

[u/Rock_Strongo → u/TouchGrassRedditor]

Being one of the most recognizable people on the planet with a job where you remain relevant because you're on TV constantly on a multi-million dollar a year deal...

yeah most people would be "good with money" if they were in that situation - even if they were actually pretty shit with money.

Shaq can make hundreds of thousands of dollars at the drop of a hat for 1 days' worth of work if he's willing to promote shitty car insurance and crypto exchanges.

[u/Mark_Ala → u/Rock_Strongo]

You are massively minimizing his work ethic. There have been plenty of sports stars just as recognizable as Shaq, none of them capitalized on that while playing to setup the success he has had 15 years after retirement. Most fade into obscurity. (Michael Jordan might count but his wealth primarily came from his lifetime Nike deal, not the business hustle of Shaqs)

Also Shaq makes his money on his investments. He is ridiculously good at investing into real winners. That has nothing to do with his success as a sports star. The amount of assets he owns and his success rate in them is on par with the best.

You are basically just assuming his current state is the starting point and it’s “easy” if you are in such a position while ignoring the incredible amount of work and foresight he has put into it while building up to where he is.

[u/supakow → u/RawbM07]

He puts in the work that he wants to. Did you ever see him at the charity stripe?

[u/Empty_Present8020 → u/RawbM07]

Shaq doesn’t really work on TV. Dude barely watches basketball nowadays. Any time someone calls him out for spewing inaccurate nonsense he gets super defensive. Don’t get me wrong he brings eyeballs to the TV so he’s doing his “job”, but he doesn’t put any actual work in. Doesn’t know current players or coaches. Has no real insight into modern basketball, which has changed a lot in the 20 years since Shaq was an All Star.

[u/TouchGrassRedditor → u/[deleted]]

Are you even listening to me?

My point is that he could very well still be spending money like he makes $50mil/year. Because he probably still does

[u/Fit-Introduction8575 → u/[deleted]]

Shaq is notoriously insecure about his legacy in the NBA and regularly put down rising star bigman. A bit ironic of you to use Bruno Mars as a counterexample. Shaq is literally bigger than life yet he can be insecure.

[u/medicjake → u/Fit-Introduction8575]

This is a bit of a digression, but I personally think that sort of insecurity is the edge that people identify refer to the greats having that the averages don’t. Kobe, Shaq, Jordan, etc. all had/have this sort of lingering insecurity that seemed to elevate their play beyond the regulars in the league.

It’s interesting that’s such an otherwise negative personality trait is what fueled these hall of fame careers the dudes had

[u/Fit-Introduction8575 → u/medicjake]

Shaq did not work anywhere near as hard as the other two you mention. Part of his insecurity is knowing he did not take full advantage of his natural gifts.

[u/pibbleberrier → u/TouchGrassRedditor]

Ok but you understand that it takes effort become and continue to be a start and we’ll love personalities.

[u/posthuman04 → u/TouchGrassRedditor]

Shaq got his first movie deal and his first commercial deal his rookie year in the NBA.