In 2019, Shaq hit a roadblock when he tried to buy a home for his mom, Lucille O’Neal. The real estate agent asked for a credit score report, which put a damper on his dream of gifting her a $1 million house in an undisclosed location.
The NBA Hall of Famer shared this experience with the host of “Earn Your Leisure” in 2021. The interview has recently resurfaced on social media.
Shaq, Show Me The Money
“I was, like, ‘I beg your pardon?’” Shaq said. “My mom was, like, ‘Baby, don’t do that,’ and I was, like, ‘Hold on mama, she disrespected me.’”
Shaq, who left the NBA in 2011, firmly assured the agent of his ability to purchase the home with ease, as he is one of the most commercially viable retired players. He also insisted on a 10-day closing period.
Before being gifted a $1 million house, it was reported that Lucille was living in Shaq’s Orlando property, as reported by VC Star.
In an interview on “Drink Champs,” Shaq shared how he used his Orlando Magic contract to create a brand and employ his parents, offering them nearly seven-figure salaries.
Shaq, who signed a four-year contract for $17.4 million as the No. 1 pick in the 1992 NBA draft, gave his stepfather, Phillip Harrison, a job worth $500,000 a year, and his mother received a $750,000 annual salary. Shaq incorporated “Shaq,” set up a fan club, and provided his parents with an office and a car.
Shaq’s net worth is around $400 million, with $292 million earned from his 19-year NBA career and over $200 million from endorsements.
Today, he still earns about $60 million per year from endorsements and various business ventures.
Shaq is the second-largest shareholder in Authentic Brands Group and owns nine Papa John’s franchises, earning an income as big as he is from his association with the company.
Shaq’s entrepreneurialism is a far cry from when he started out in the league. On the same EYL podcast on July 6, 2021, saying that he blew away a $1 million on a black Mercedes and jewelry. He recalls being in debt between $50,000 and $60,000, a lesson he made certain to not repeat again.
