Shaquille O’Neal will become the new public face for Papa John’s and also serve on its back end.
Shaq is investing in nine Papa John’s stores in Atlanta, Georgia and joining the company’s board of directors
The company will pay O’Neal $8.25 million over three years for the endorsement deal, it said in a regulatory filing, according to CNN.
The pizza chain’s founder and TV commercial pitchman — John Schnatter — resigned in July.
He was under pressure to leave the company after it was revealed he used the N-word during a conference call.
Papa John’s sales have declined for five straight quarters since then.