Shaquille O Neal Is Pursuing His Fifth Degree Despite $500 Million Net Worth
Shaquille O’Neal is pursuing his fifth college degree, a master’s in criminology at Sacramento State University, despite holding a net worth of $500 million and four existing degrees, fortune.com reported.
Entering the Classroom for a Fifth Time
The 54-year-old former basketball star began his latest academic program this summer. He plans to complete the coursework in a hybrid format by fall 2027 or summer 2028. His current schedule includes a class titled Critical Analysis of Law & Justice, according to fortune.com.
O’Neal spent three seasons at Louisiana State University before entering the 1992 NBA draft as the No. 1 overall pick. He left school without his undergraduate degree but eventually returned to fulfill a promise made to his mother. He has since accumulated a bachelor’s degree, an MBA, an Ed.D., and a master’s in liberal arts from LSU, fortune.com reported.
Connecting Law Enforcement Experience to Academic Study
His academic focus on criminology aligns with decades of practical involvement in law enforcement. Beginning in the late 1990s, O’Neal worked part-time with multiple police departments and served as a reserve officer in Los Angeles and Miami.
Sacramento State also holds a direct family tie for O’Neal. His son Shaqir transferred to the institution last year to play basketball. The elder O’Neal joined the program as its general manager in an unpaid, voluntary role, yahoo.com reported.
Weighing Higher Education Against Artificial Intelligence
Alongside his studies, O’Neal tours college campuses to instruct students on personal finance. He argues that university attendance offers foundational skills beyond textbook knowledge. “College isn’t just about what you learn in a textbook. You learn how to show up. You learn discipline. You learn how to work with people who don’t think like you. You learn how to finish what you started,” he told fortune.com.
He acknowledged that artificial intelligence has introduced anxieties for students entering the job market. However, he maintains that technology cannot substitute for direct human interaction. “AI can give you information, and I use technology just like everybody else, but it can’t replace experience,” O’Neal told yahoo.com. “It can’t replace sitting across from somebody who knows more than you and asking questions.”
Other Athletes and Moguls Completed Degrees After Finding Success
O’Neal is not the only high-profile figure to return to undergraduate or graduate education after achieving commercial success. Stephen Curry completed his bachelor’s degree in sociology at Davidson College in 2022, thirteen years after leaving campus for the NBA, fortune.com reported. Curry noted that finishing the degree fulfilled a promise made to his mother and former coach Bob McKillop.