“People don’t know what you’re doing,” Shaquille O’Neal reveals how he helped selling Ring Camera for over $1 million to Jeff Bezos’s Amazon

How Shaquille O'Neal's investment and endorsement skyrocketed ring's Value, leading to a billion-dollar Amazon acquisition.

“People don’t know what you’re doing,” Shaquille O’Neal reveals how he helped selling Ring Camera for over $1 million to Jeff Bezos’s Amazon

Jamie Siminoff, Shaquille O' Neal, Jeff Bezos (The business wire)

In the dynamic world of tech investments, few stories are as intriguing as Shaquille O’Neal’s venture into the home security market with Ring. The former NBA superstar’s strategic investment and marketing genius played a pivotal role in propelling Ring, a then-little-known doorbell camera company, into a billion-dollar acquisition by Amazon.

Ring, initially named Doorbot, was founded in 2013 by Jamie Siminoff. Despite its innovative concept, the company struggled to gain traction until a fateful encounter with Shaq in 2015. O’Neal, already a user and fan of Ring’s products, saw untapped potential in the company.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/h3i_Blf6g3s

Reflecting on his decision to invest in Ring, Shaquille O’Neal shared in an interview with The Players Tribune:

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I see a little Ring camera [and] I get it... I'm in China, I fly by the house and the thing hits me... I'm like damn this sh*t worked so when I came back I just got the whole house in Ring ... went to CES and met with the owner... I said let me invest in the company, let me do some commercials, let me help get the word out, and he [later] sold the company to Amazon for a lot of money.
Shaquille O’Neal in an interview with The Players Tribune

O’Neal’s involvement was more than financial; he became the face of Ring, helping to amplify its brand presence significantly. His $1 million investment and subsequent endorsement deals were a game-changer, leading to a surge in the company’s popularity and market value.

The impact of O’Neal’s investment became evident when, in 2018, Amazon acquired Ring for an estimated $1.2 to $1.8 billion. This acquisition marked a significant milestone, not just for Ring but also for O’Neal, whose business acumen was now evident in the tech world.

Shaquille O’Neal’s strategic move that changed home security as we know it

Shaquille O’Neal’s investment in Ring was a testament to his vision of tech-driven home security. He not only recognized the potential in a nascent company but also leveraged his celebrity status to boost its market presence. His approach was a blend of keen investment insight and effective brand endorsement.

Shaquille O’Neal recently got candid about his Ring investment

Beyond Ring, O’Neal has diversified his portfolio, investing in various businesses, including car washes, fast food franchises, and real estate. His success with Ring is a part of his broader strategy of investing in innovative and forward-thinking companies.

Shaquille O’Neal’s journey with Ring is a classic example of how celebrity influence, combined with strategic business decisions, can lead to monumental success in the tech industry. His role in Ring’s story goes beyond investment; it’s about recognizing and nurturing potential.

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