Shaquille OโNeal 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 โDiesel,โ 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 OโNeal either buying expensive items or investing heavily in assets and businesses.
10 things Shaquille OโNeal 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 OโNeal 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).
If 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 crewsโ quarter and the engine room, three bathrooms and many other luxurious facilities.ย
This 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 โwater villaโ 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 thereโs more to the cost.
Diesel 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.
This impressive estate is currently listed for $16.5 million on the market.
#5. Walmart Shopping spree
When Shaquille OโNeal 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.
That day, he reportedly ended up spending $70,000 in Walmart. Well, thatโs more like Shaq, isnโt 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.
As 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.
Kobe Bryantโs former teammate sold his Auntie Anneโs Pretzels franchises and was once the owner of 155 Five Guys locations, which he later sold to start his own restaurant, Shaquilleโs.
#2. Sacramento Kings
Shaquille OโNeal 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.
#1. Google
Shaq invested in Googleโs shares during its Series A funding when the company was valued at $100 million. Googleโs parent company, Alphabet, is now worth nearly $2 trillion. Shaquille OโNeal still holds some shares in the company.
Shaqโs spending is as big as his personality. Whether itโs 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, itโs all part of his larger-than-life style!
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