Magic Johnson and Shaquille O’Neal. Image via: Getty Images

When debating about the NBA’s most iconic players, the two names that always pop up are Magic Johnson and Shaquille O’Neal. Both inevitably fit in the legendary positions in the league, and their fans know it well. Now, when one talks about their net worth comparison, it gets pretty much difficult to just presume who earns more than whom. As for Johnson and O’Neal, both are former NBA players, and their current net worth is undoubtedly more than what they earned while playing for the big league. Magic Johnson has always been an exceptional all-time scorer, and so is his net worth. He has been involved in several other charity works and events, brand endorsements, and other businesses, which have helped him earn a notable amount. As for Shaquille O’Neal, he is a 4x NBA Champion and has earned himself the title of the Most Valuable Player three times. His net worth stands somewhat close to Magic Johnson’s. From the NBA salary cap to the contract details and brand endorsements, here is everything you need to know about the former NBA legends and their net worth in 2025.

Magic Johnson’s net worth in 2025, NBA salary, contract details and brand endorsements

As of 2025, Magic Johnson’s net worth stands at $1.5 billion (per Forbes). While playing for 13 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, Johnson earned a total salary of $40 million. He is one of the richest basketball players in the history of the big league. His contract details include one of the most groundbreaking contracts with the Los Angeles Lakers, which was signed by him in the year 1984, earning and averaging $1 million annually until 2009. His charity works started with his own foundation, known as the “Magic Johnson Foundation”, started in 1991, to help people suffering from AIDS, a disease that Johnson has been fighting since that very year. Apart from this, he has also been involved with various brands such as Nike, Starbucks, TJI Fridays, Sodexo, and Equitrust, which have helped him build his massive wealth beyond basketball.

Shaquille O’Neal’s net worth in 2025-26, NBA salary, contract details, and brand endorsements

Shaquille O’Neal’s net worth in 2025 stands at $500 million (per Celebrity Net Worth). Apart from this, his NBA salary includes a total of $286 to $296 million, which he has earned over his 19-season career in the NBA, and that is huge. O’Neal’s massive contract details include a seven-year $120 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, which was signed in 1996, making him one of the highest-paid players at that time.His brand endorsements include working and partnering up with high-profile brands like Papa John’s, General Insurance, and his own gummy candy brand, that is, the Shaq-a-licious candy. He has partnered with Reebok, thereby becoming its President, which has ultimately led to a significant transformation in his net worth. Also read: What is Magic Johnson’s net worth in 2025? NBA earnings, investments and more

NEW DELHI: When questions are raised about the safety of any food article, India’s food regulator will now ask for proof, not promises. From what a product contains and how much Indians actually eat to whether it’s safe over time, every claim will have to be backed by data to assess its safety. From Jan 1, 2026, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has made it mandatory for all submissions seeking a food safety review or changes in food standards to follow a single, standardised format supported by scientific evidence. The move comes after the regulator found that many past requests lacked basic data or a uniform structure, making proper risk assessment difficult. The new rule does not trigger an automatic re-examination of all foods already in the market. It applies only when a stakeholder approaches FSSAI seeking a scientific risk assessment – either for introducing a new product or reviewing an existing one. In such cases, the burden of proving safety will rest with the applicant. Under the new format, submissions must spell out nutritional information, how much Indians consume the product, results of toxicological studies, and evidence on safe intake limits, along with allergy risks and supporting scientific studies. The data will be reviewed by FSSAI’s Science and Standards Division and assessed by expert panels, which will decide whether a product can be cleared, continued, restricted or subjected to tighter limits.

Proof needed, not promises

Officials say the sharper focus on Indian eating habits is crucial as packaged foods become more common and overseas data may not reflect real exposure. “This is an important step to protect public health. Earlier, many foods were approved using limited or incomplete information. Since Indian food habits, portion sizes and sensitivities are very different from those in other countries, asking for proper proof about long-term safety, how much people eat and possible allergy risks helps make food rules more practical, science-based and safer for Indian consumers,” said Anjali Bhola, dietician at National Cancer Institute, Jhajjar, All India Institute of Medical Sciences. FSSAI has also assured stakeholders that data submitted for risk assessment will be treated as confidential and used only for scientific evaluation and policy decisions. For consumers, the message is simple: when food safety is questioned, evidence will now decide what stays on the plate.

Tatiana Schlossberg, the youngest granddaughter of President John F. Kennedy, died on Tuesday from cancer at age 35, the JFK Library Foundation announced.She left behind two small children, New York Post reported.“Our beautiful Tatiana passed away this morning,” the JFK Library Foundation posted on its Instagram page, signed by “George, Edwin and Josephine Moran, Ed, Carolina, Jack, Rose and Rory.”“She will always be in our hearts.”In a personal essay published in the New Yorker last month, the mother of two revealed that she had less than a year to live after being diagnosed with myeloid leukaemia with rare mutation.“Maybe my brain is replaying my life now because I have a terminal diagnosis, and all these memories will be lost,” the daughter of Caroline Kennedy, 67, and Edwin Schlossberg, 80, heartbreakingly wrote.Schlossberg described how doctors discovered the cancer just hours after she gave birth to her second child in May 2024.In a personal essay published in the New Yorker last month, Tatiana Schlossberg (far right) revealed that she had less than a year to live after being diagnosed with myeloid leukaemia with rare mutation.“Maybe my brain is replaying my life now because I have a terminal diagnosis, and all these memories will be lost,” the daughter of Caroline Kennedy, 67, and Edwin Schlossberg, 80, heartbreakingly wrote.She spent the past 18 months in treatment, receiving a bone-marrow transplant, chemotherapy and blood transfusions. The rare mutation with which Schlossberg was afflicted, Inversion 3, was usually seen in older patients.Schlossberg, who graduated from Yale and had a Master’s degree from Oxford, previously worked as a journalist at The New York Times and published her first book in 2019.She had been married to urologist George Moran, whom she met as an undergrad at Yale, since 2017.They had two children: son, Edwin, 3, and a daughter, 19 months.

Mumbai: The Railways ministry on Tuesday sanctioned the 3rd and 4th railway lines (quadrupling project) between Badlapur and Karjat under Mumbai Urban Transport Project 3B (MUTP-3B), following recent approval of the Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs.The project already received prior consent of the govt of Maharashtra as part of the larger MUTP-3B proposal submitted by Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC) Ltd, which included quadrupling of the Badlapur–Karjat suburban section.The sanctioned project spans 32.46 km alongside the existing railway alignment and covers 6 key suburban stations: Badlapur, Vangani, Shelu, Neral, Bhivpuri Road and Karjat. About 37.79 hectares of private land was required for execution, apart from govt and railway land.The completion cost was assessed at Rs 1,324 crore, with funding to be shared equally between the Maharashtra govt and the Railways ministry. The execution and delivery of infrastructure works were assigned to MRVC. “The project was designed to enhance capacity on the Mumbai–Chennai high-density route, one of the busiest rail corridors supporting passenger mobility and rising freight movement linked to upcoming ports, logistics terminals and expanding suburban nodes in the MMR,” said an MRVC official.Based on data inputs from rail capacity studies, mobility trends, and satellite-based mapping, the quadrupling project was expected to support better separation of suburban and mainline train paths, reduced congestion pressure at stations, improved scheduling flexibility for long-distance trains, and strengthened passenger safety through boundary protection works and station mobility enhancements.On the development, MRVC CMD Vilas S Wadekar said: “The Badlapur–Karjat quadrupling will result in complete segregation of mainline and suburban traffic in the Kalyan–Karjat section. The additional lines will support smoother movement of suburban commuters and mainline passengers, while enabling efficient freight operations on this high-density corridor. The project will further strengthen safety and reliability of train operations in MMR.” The project is expected to be completed within 3 to 4 years after land acquisition.

Rashmika Mandanna and Vijay Deverakonda are ready to start a new chapter together. After months of quiet rumours, wedding talks around the couple are now getting stronger than before. The two actors reportedly got engaged in October 2025 amid a very private ceremony. Reportedly, only close family and friends were present. They did not post pictures or make any public announcement. Since then fans have been waiting for some real update. Now it looks like the wedding plans are finally falling into place.

February wedding in a palace

The wedding is said to be planned for February 2026. Reports say Rashmika and Vijay will get married on February 26.

A Hindustan Times report says that the venue is said to be a palace in Udaipur. One of the heritage properties there has been finalised. Just like their engagement the wedding will also be very simple and private. Only close family members and loved ones will attend. There is no clear news yet about a big party for film friends after the wedding. It is also not known if they will host a celebration later in Hyderabad.

A very private engagement

Rashmika and Vijay exchanged rings on October 3 this year. This was a day after Dasara. The ceremony happened in Hyderabad and was kept fully private. Neither Rashmika nor Vijay shared photos or spoke about it openly. Even now there is no official statement from either family. Fans came to know about the engagement only through reports. The couple has always chosen silence over attention when it comes to their personal life.

What have Rashmika and Vijay said

When wedding rumours started spreading Rashmika was asked about it during an interaction with The Hollywood Reporter. She chose to stay calm and clear. She said, “I wouldn’t like to confirm or deny the marriage. I will just say when it’s to be spoken about, we shall.”Earlier in November, during the success meet of her film ‘The Girlfriend’ in Hyderabad Rashmika spoke from the heart about Vijay. She said, “Viju, you’ve been a part of this film since the beginning… and you’re a part of the success of the film… You’ve been a part of this whole journey so personally. I can just hope that everyone has a Vijay Deverakonda in their lives because that’s a blessing.” Rashmika and Vijay first worked together in ‘Geetha Govindam’ and later in ‘Dear Comrade’. Over the years their bond grew stronger.

India National Cricket Team star batsman and ODI vice-captain, Shreyas Iyer, has suffered a major blow as his comeback to competitive cricket has been delayed, reported TOI on Tuesday, December 30.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) doctors at the Centre of Excellence (CoE) have denied giving the clearance to Shreyas Iyer to make his comeback from injury.

Shreyas Iyer’s comeback plans dashed

Iyer has been on the sidelines for an extended period of time after suffering an injury during the India tour of Australia 2025, which consisted of a three-match ODI series and a five-match T20I series.

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The right-handed batter has been working pretty hard for his comeback, and he has been training regularly in the gym and in the nets. He headed to the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) on December 25 and underwent numerous fielding, batting, and fitness drills.

It was expected that the batter would be handed the clearance by the BCCI medical team on December 30 to leave the facility and make his competitive cricket comeback, but that didn’t happen.

His comeback has been delayed by at least a week, and he has been asked to stay at the CoE. The major reason behind Iyer not getting the Return to Play (RTP) is the rapid weight loss.

Shreyas Iyer loses 6 kilograms

Iyer’s abdominal injury was a serious one, and it has led to the batter losing around 6 kilograms of weight. Although he has managed to regain some weight, his drop in muscle mass has pushed his strength below optimum levels.

Meanwhile, Shreyas Iyer has not faced any concerns while batting, and attention will be paid to his weight and strength issues in the coming week.

“There is no problem with his batting but he lost around six kgs after the injury in Australia. While he has regained some weight, there has been a drop in muscle mass which has further affected his optimum strength levels.

“The medical team will not be taking any chances because he is a very important player in the ODI set up and his complete recovery is of utmost importance right now. The selectors and management will be conveyed about his present situation before they meet to pick team for New Zealand ODIs,” a BCCI official told TOI.

Shreyas Iyer unlikely to feature in New Zealand ODIs

Earlier, it was reported that Iyer would make his international comeback in the ODI series against New Zealand. The three-match ODI series between India and New Zealand will be played on January 11, 14, and 18 in Vadodara, Rajkot, and Indore.

“There were a lot of positive developments as he batted in Mumbai, went to CoE and was pushing himself to feature in the New Zealand ODIs. There were indications of him playing the Vijay Hazare Trophy matches on January 3 and 6 too but we have now been told that he needs more time and will only be available from the knockout stages of the tournament,” a MCA official tracking developments told TOI.

However, Iyer will only be cleared by the BCCI medical team at CoE on January 9, and he is unlikely to feature in the New Zealand ODI series. Instead, he might feature in the Vijay Hazare Trophy knockouts.

Also Read: PCB to sell 2 new PSL teams for less than Rishabh Pant-Shreyas Iyer’s combined IPL salary

A students’ group in Bangladesh protests against the killing of Dipu Das

LONDON: The UK govt has for the first time condemned the two recent murders by mobs of Hindus in Bangladesh.Whitehall sources told TOI that the UK govt “condemns the murders of Dipu Chandra Das and Amrit Mondal. We extend our condolences to their families and friends.”Das (27), a Bangladeshi Hindu garment factory worker, was handed over to an enraged mob on Dec 18 in Mymensingh over fake blasphemy allegations. They killed him, tied him to a tree and set him on fire. The extreme brutality of the killing, which happened during unrest over the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, sparked protests across India.Whitehall sources said the UK govt “welcomes the 12 arrests that have been made” in the Das case. “We welcome the public commitments made by Prof Yunus, Bangladesh’s interim head of govt, to the safety of minorities,” the sources added.Another Hindu, Amrit Mondal (29), was beaten to death by villagers on Dec 24 in Rajbari district. Bangladesh’s govt claims he was a criminal who had gone there to extort money.Westminster sources told TOI: “The UK is committed to defending freedom of religion or belief. We have raised the importance of protecting minorities with Bangladesh, including during Baroness Chapman’s trip to Bangladesh last month.” This refers to the visit by international development minister Jenny Chapman in Nov when she met Yunus.The sources said: “We have underlined the importance of the current election campaign being peaceful. Meanwhile, we continue to provide Bangladesh support on protecting civic and human rights and tackling corruption.”Tom Morrison, a Liberal Democrat MP, has written to foreign secretary Yvette Cooper, saying the murder of Das “warrants urgent engagement by the UK govt”.British MP Apsama Begum, of Bangladeshi origin, tweeted there must be full accountability for the murder of Das and that religious freedom and protections for minority groups “must be heeded to over mob violence”.