Pedicures can be known for being costly. But when Shaq gets one, he says he doling out a whopping $1,000.
So why is the former NBA star’s pedi so expensive? According to Shaquille O’Neal, it’s because his feet are big — size 22 — and they “stink.” So he told said on his podcast “The Big Pod with Shaq earlier this year, it’s only fair to pay nail technicians $1,000 to take care of them.
A Pricey Pedicure
During the Feb. 28 episode, which was reposted by Sports Center on April 30, the Basketball Hall of Famer disclosed that it takes special effort by nail technicians to care for his feet also because they have suffered multiple injuries from his 19 years of playing professional basketball.
“I give about $1,000 ’cause I know my feet stink, I know they’re ugly. … I wanted it to look pretty. Stop right there, OK? That’s why I paint them,” said Shaq, who has a net worth of about $500 million, according to Clutch Points.
While he was playing in the NBA, during which he wore numerous jerseys throughout his career, he mentioned his toes being bothersome to the point of interfering with his games. His mother applied red polish to his toes, and, rest assured, Shaq made a recovery and was able to score 40 points in that game.
“And then, true story, one time I had a toenail that was torn off, and I wasn’t going to be playing the game. My mom was like, ‘Baby, why you not playing the game?’ I’m like, ‘I tore my toenail off.’ So she did something, and then she put, like, some red polish on the thing, and I had 40 that game. So I was like, “You know, I’m going to just start painting my toenails.”
Shaq’s experience with pedicures is recognized among athletes, including former teammate Dwyane Wade, who also prioritize their overall health, including the often-neglected area of foot maintenance, as reported by The Washington Post.
The high physical demand of professional basketball takes its toll on players’ feet, leading to issues such as dead toenails, hammer toes, and painful ingrown toenails.
The average cost of a pedicure for men varies depending on the location, type of pedicure, and the salon or spa offering the service. The average cost of a basic pedicure in the U.S. falls somewhere between $35 and $60, according to discount and deals app Groupon.
