Basketball icon Shaquille O’Neal has agreed to pay $1.8 million to settle a lawsuit tied to his promotion of the now-bankrupt crypto alternate FTX, based on new courtroom filings.
The settlement comes almost two years after FTX collapsed beneath the management of Sam Bankman-Fried, who misused buyer funds and misled traders.
The settlement was reached after extended negotiations, constructing on earlier mediation efforts. Whereas the phrases have been finalized between the events, the courtroom nonetheless must approve the deal. O’Neal is predicted to pay the agreed quantity inside 30 days of official approval.
The case is a part of a broader class motion lawsuit filed in 2022, focusing on a roster of high-profile celebrities and athletes who publicly endorsed FTX with out conducting due diligence. Different defendants embody Stephen Curry, Tom Brady, Gisele Bündchen, Trevor Lawrence, and Kevin O’Leary.
O’Neal reportedly acquired $750,000 for his function in selling the crypto platform. He initially reached a confidential settlement in April, however the quantity has now been disclosed on this newest submitting.
Bankman-Fried, who was convicted in 2023, is serving a 25-year sentence following some of the high-profile fraud circumstances in latest monetary historical past.