Who Is Shaquille O’Neal?

Every basketball fan knows the NBA legend, Shaquille O’Neal. He is one of the greatest centers in the league, standing at 7-foot-1. O’Neal was born in Newark, New Jersey on March 6, 1972. He has made quite the NBA career with four championship rings on his fingers. 

O’Neal retired in 2011 but continued to be involved in the NBA. He is a sports analyst on ‘Inside The NBA,’ sharing his insights and knowledge. 

Shaq’s Early Life and Career

O’Neal had an amazing career run in the NBA. But before that glory, he studied business at Louisiana State University. He also played college basketball for the Tigers. While O’Neal could have gone for the NBA by then, his parents wanted him to finish the degree first.

However, there was a point of concern that O’Neal might sustain an injury that would hinder his future in the NBA. The hard fouls he’s been sustaining in college basketball were reason enough for coach Dale Brown to suggest that O’Neal declare for the NBA draft.

O’Neal finished three years in college and declared for the NBA draft. He was the Orlando Magic's No. 1 pick in the 1992 NBA Draft. O’Neal finished his studies in 2000 while playing in the NBA, fulfilling his promise to his mother. 

He also obtained an MBA from the University of Phoenix in 2005 to prove his qualities as a successful entrepreneur. This is rooted in his feeling of being disrespected during business meetings, as people often overlooked his degree because of his NBA career. 

O’Neal did not stop there. He obtained a doctorate in organizational learning and leadership, specializing in human resource development at Barry University. All of that made his mother truly happy.

NBA Stardom

As the No. 1 pick in the 1992 NBA Draft, many people had high expectations with Shaq. He proved all of them right when he had a terrific debut week, even being named Player of the Week. O’Neal had an amazing rookie year, averaging 23.4 points, 13.9 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks per game for the entire season. In 1993, he was named NBA Rookie of the Year. Moreover, Shaq became the first rookie named an All-Star starter since 1985, Michael Jordan’s year.

O’Neal led the Magic to the playoffs for the first time but was defeated by the Pacers in a sweeping win. It was still a good learning experience for Shaq and has only improved since.

In his fourth season in the NBA, O’Neal led the Orlando Magic to the 1995 NBA Finals but was defeated by the Houston Rockets. In 1996, Shaq signed with the Los Angeles Lakers, the same year they drafted NBA legend, young Kobe Bryant. 

The Lakers won a three-peat championship from 2000 to 2002. O’Neal won all three Finals MVP Awards and the NBA MVP in 2000.

In 2004, O’Neal changed his jersey once again. He signed with the Miami Heat and led the team to an NBA championship in 2006. From 2007 to 2011, O’Neal played for three more different teams before retiring while playing for the Boston Celtics at 39. 

O’Neal’s Achievements and Awards

Shaq has a lot of accolades under his belt throughout his long career. Here are some notable achievements he earned:

O’Neal’s Personal Life

Shaquille O’Neal was the son of Lucille O'Neal and Joe Toney. His biological father has been absent throughout his life and was imprisoned for drug possession when Shaq was still younger. O’Neal’s mother, Lucille, married Phillip A. Harrison, a military drill sergeant. Harrison played a massive role in Shaq’s life and his other siblings, Ayesha, Jamal, and Lateefah O'Neal. After a long battle with cancer, Ayesha passed away in 2019. 

His Wife and Kids

Shaquille has six children: Taahirah, Myles, Shareef, Amirah, Shaqir, and Me'arah. O’Neal had his first child, Taahirah, with his ex-girlfriend Arnetta Yardbough in 1996. Then, he married Shaunie Nelson in 2002 and had four children together. Nelson had Myles in a different relationship, but he was legally adopted by Shaq, who is also using O’Neal as his surname now.

In 2007, Shaq filed for a divorce from Shaunie. Later on, they reconciled and withdrew their files for divorce. However, in 2009, Shaunie filed for divorce from Shaq due to irreconcilable differences.

Despite the breakups, O’Neal has no ill feelings towards the mothers of his children. He said in an in episode of The Pivot Podcast, “I have two wonderful women that have given me beautiful, gorgeous children. I have to protect and I have to provide and I have to love for them forever.”

O’Neal’s children have a very close relationship with their father. The youngest, Me’arah, is following in her father’s footsteps and becoming a basketball legend. She plays for the University of Florida despite multiple other offers from universities. Me’arah shared with ESPN that her connection with Coach Kelly resonated with her more than the other schools. 

What is O’Neal’s Net Worth in 2024?

Shaquille O’Neal’s net worth is summed up by his business endeavors, properties, NBA career, and endorsement deals throughout the years. 

NBA Contracts

A huge chunk of O’Neal’s riches come from his legendary career in the NBA league. Here is a breakdown of his contract from his rookie year up to his retirement:

O’Neal’s Endorsements and Investments

It’s no shock that Shaq became one of the most successful athletes and turned into a business entrepreneur. His PhD truly speaks for itself, along with his smart investments. O’Neal owns multiple businesses in various industries–50 brands, 172 restaurants, and 150 car wash businesses. 

Additionally, O’Neal’s retirement did not hinder the endorsement deals that would still come after the NBA star. This includes Reebok, PepsiCo, NBA 2K, Taco Bell, and many more. 

Shaq has invested in a lot of big-name companies, including Google and Ring Doorbells. He declined to invest in a big company like Starbucks merely because he doesn’t even drink coffee. He also owns a minority of the Sacramento Kings NBA Team and multiple Auntie Anne’s pretzel franchises. 

O’Neal’s Mansions and Cars

O’Neal has quite the luxurious lifestyle with the several properties and cars that he owns. He has nine properties all around the country, but his home is to die for.

His Florida home is over 31,000 square feet and boasts 12 bedrooms and 11 bathrooms. It also offers amenities such as an indoor basketball court, a recording studio, a wine cellar, a movie theater, and a swimming pool. 

Shaq also owns luxurious cars such as Lamborghini Aventador Roadster & Murcielago, Bentley Azure, Rolls Royce Phantom, Cadillac Escalade ESV, and many more. Shaq's massive size even required some vehicles to be customized.

O’Neal’s Philanthropy and Charity Work

Shaq has been known to give back to the community. He established the Shaquille O’Neal Foundation, aiming to provide for facilities and programs for the youth who are underprivileged. The Foundation has multiple projects and programs that build and renovate facilities that better cater to aspiring young children.

In addition, O’Neal was known to donate to those affected by calamities and established the ‘Shaq-a-Claus’ program under his Foundation. This program provides gifts for needy children every holiday season, and it is done every year in partnership with Toys for Tots and local law enforcement agencies of different cities Shaq visits.

O’Neal also donates to different charities such as Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Centre ValBio, Communities in Schools, Free The Children, and more.