When it comes to investing, Shaquille O'Neal knows a thing or two about taking smart advice—and some of his best came straight from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. Recently, O’Neal shared how Bezos’ words have shaped his approach to building wealth and even inspired his latest investment in Campus, an online community college startup launched in 2022 by 29-year-old entrepreneur Tade Oyerinde.
With big-name backers like OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Discord’s Jason Citron, Campus has already raised over $29 million to make high-quality education more accessible. O’Neal, known for his savvy business moves, told Fortune he decided to back Campus not just for potential returns but because it aligns with Bezos’ advice to invest in projects that can change lives.
“I heard Jeff Bezos say, if you invest in things that will change people’s lives, you’ll always get a great return on your investment,” O’Neal shared. “But with Campus, this investment isn’t about high returns. I believe everyone should have access to world-class education.”
O’Neal’s passion for impactful investments has driven his decision-making for years, from ventures in Google (GOOG) (GOOGL) and Lyft (LYFT) to owning franchises like Papa John’s and Five Guys. While O'Neal is best known for his illustrious basketball career, the former athlete has quietly become an investing powerhouse behind the scenes by investing in companies set to make an impact, not worrying about outsized returns outright.
Following Bezos' philosophy has paid off handsomely, with O'Neal claiming he’s quadrupled his net worth by prioritizing mission-driven opportunities. Campus offers online associate degrees in areas like business administration and AWS cloud administration, taught by professors from top universities, including Princeton and Vanderbilt. Students in the program even receive a free laptop and internet access, with support from success coaches to guide them. With over 700 students already enrolled, Campus is rapidly expanding its reach in the online education space.
Reflecting on the partnership, O’Neal likened his collaboration with Oyerinde to his famous duo with Kobe Bryant, saying, “He’s gonna be Kobe, and I’m gonna be Shaq—we’re going to knock this thing out of the park.”
Through his investment in Campus, O’Neal continues to follow Bezos’ wise words, focusing on ventures with the power to make a difference—one student at a time.
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