June 29th 2023.
Shaquille O'Neal is a giant of a man, standing over seven feet tall and weighing over 300 pounds. But the size of his heart proves to be even bigger, as he demonstrated when he parted ways with Reebok, a company that paid him a hefty $40 million for his own line of footwear. In 1999, Shaq had an encounter with a mother who asked why his sneakers weren't more affordable and accessible to his young fans, and after that, he made the decision to create Shaq Shoes, a line of affordable shoes that sold over 350 million pairs.
Fast-forward to 2019 when Shaq partnered with TOMS shoes after learning their business model of donating one pair of shoes for every one purchased. Shaq spent two years searching for the right company to partner with, until he met its owner, Blake Mycoskie in Los Angeles. Shaq asked how he could get a pair of TOMS in his size, to which the owner replied that TOMS didn't make shoes in size 22, and it wouldn't make sense to make one pair. Shaq then asked how many pairs were made in one production day, and decided to order a thousand pairs.
He said, “... I got a thousand pairs that I ordered, and I’m only into my first hundred. And we’re in discussions … we want to go to these third-world countries and hand out some shoes.” The money Shaq would have made with Reebok cannot be compared to the generosity he has shown to many people who can now afford his sneakers, and those in poorer countries who will receive shoes from him.
Shaq's decision to walk away from Reebok and give back to those in need is truly inspiring. He has demonstrated that a successful career and a generous heart can coexist.
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