Shaquille O’Neal has undoubtedly been one of the greatest NBA players of all time. The 7 ft 1 in tall center was a 325-pound agile specimen and an absolute freak of nature. Known popularly as ‘Diesel,’ Shaq managed to work hard and be very successful off the court too, amassing a net worth of $500 million.
Shaq earned over $286 million from his NBA contracts over a spell of 19 seasons and made over $200 million of his net worth from endorsements and partnerships alone. Much like himself, his lifestyle is larger than life.
Over the years, Shaq has spent this money at his whims and fancies. Time and again, fans have seen Shaquille O’Neal either buying expensive items or investing heavily in assets and businesses.
10 things Shaquille O’Neal spent ridiculous money on
#10. Custom Treehouse
In 2018, Shaq decided to go to the Treehouse Masters, a TV show where Pete Nelson designs a custom treehouse for his clients.
Shaquille O’Neal’s treehouseShaquille O’Neal spent $400,000 to get this treehouse made. The treehouse has a 9-foot mahogany door, with a bar, a poker table, a dartboard etc. on the inside. Sounds like a lot of money for just a treehouse? Well, not for Shaq.
#9. Mobile Phones
In 2014, Shaq revealed in an interview with USA Today that whenever a new iPhone launches, he likes to buy 50 of those. Shaq then passes them away to kids or leaves them at random places or gives them away through Twitter (now X).
Shaquille O’Neal loves iPhonesIf Shaq bought 50 units of every iPhone when they came out, it would have cost him an estimated $750,000 to date.
#8. Pershing 72 Yacht
Shaq spent $1.7 million on a Pershing 72 Yacht, that has its own kitchen, three bedrooms, comfortable access to the crews’ quarter and the engine room, three bathrooms and many other luxurious facilities.
Shaquille O’Neal’s Pershing 72 YachtThis impressive vessel is 84 feet long and 40 feet wide, and it can accommodate up to 149 people. Shaqapulco, as it is called, is often referred to as a “water villa” due to its spacious and luxurious design.
#7. Customized F-650 pickup truck
Shaq purchased a truck that he customized according to his preferences. It was worth over $65,000. But there’s more to the cost.
Shaq’s customised F-650 Pick Up TruckDiesel then added leather seats, Bluetooth, HD radio and all other modern-day amenities. After the modifications, the cost had gone up to ~$124,000.
#6. A Mansion in Orlando
The 4-time NBA Champion owns a 36,000-square feet lakefront mansion in Orlando, Florida. The mansion sits on 3 acres of land and boasts 12 bedrooms, 15 bathrooms, and includes 700 feet of private beachfront.
Shaq’s mansion (via Realtor)This impressive estate is currently listed for $16.5 million on the market.
#5. Walmart Shopping spree
When Shaquille O’Neal was traded to the Phoenix Suns, he was living in an apartment that had no furniture. So, he took it upon himself to go out and get all the essentials for his apartment from Walmart.
Shaquille O’Neal in WalmartThat day, he reportedly ended up spending $70,000 in Walmart. Well, that’s more like Shaq, isn’t it?
#4. Stake in Authentic Brands Group (ABG)
Shaq has sold his naming and licensing rights to ABG for $270 million. He used $135 million of that to buy a stake in ABG.
Shaq has a stake in Authentic Brands GroupAs a result, Shaq now owns the licensing rights to celebrities like Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, and Muhammad Ali, along with about 50 consumer brands.
#3. Mismatch of business ventures
Shaq put a big amount of his money into his businesses. The 52-year-old owns 150 car washes, 40 24-hour gyms, a movie theater, and Big Chicken, among other ventures.
24 Hour Fitness GymKobe Bryant‘s former teammate sold his Auntie Anne’s Pretzels franchises and was once the owner of 155 Five Guys locations, which he later sold to start his own restaurant, Shaquille’s.
#2. Sacramento Kings
Shaquille O’Neal spent between $10-20 million to acquire a 2-4% stake in the NBA franchise Sacramento Kings. He cashed it out when the team was valued at $1.8 billion.
Shaq in Sacramento Kings merchandise, standing alongside Yao Ming#1. Google
Shaq invested in Google’s shares during its Series A funding when the company was valued at $100 million. Google’s parent company, Alphabet, is now worth nearly $2 trillion. Shaquille O’Neal still holds some shares in the company.
Google’s parent company is the fourth valuable conglomerate in the worldShaq’s spending is as big as his personality. Whether it’s buying tons of iPhones or owning car washes and gyms, he sure knows how to live large. But the NBA great has also made some smart investments, like getting in early with Google. In the end, it’s all part of his larger-than-life style!
In case you missed:
