Sometimes the apple falls far from the tree, rolls downhill, and finds a luxury car dealership along the way.
Shaqir O’Neal, the 21-year-old son of basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal, recently made waves by reportedly purchasing a Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedan worth approximately $130,000. The 6-foot-8 forward, who currently plays for the Sacramento State Hornets, didn’t exactly scrimp and save for the upgrade.
What Did Dad Say?
Instead, he took a more direct approach when Daniel Ubario from Effortless Motors started processing the order. The entire transaction unfolded over FaceTime, with Shaqir trading in his five-year-old Dodge Charger that he’d been driving since high school.
While most Americans, according to Autoevolution, are cruising around in vehicles over 12 years old, Shaqir described his relatively recent ride as “beat up” and ready for retirement.
At one point, the dealership owner even worried about whether Shaq knew what his son was planning. But when it came time to discuss payment, the 21-year-old delivered his instructions with supreme confidence.
“Put it on my dad’s tab,” Shaqir told Ubario, adding casually, “He not gonna trip.”
Within 24 hours of placing the order, a gleaming S-Class arrived in Sacramento, likely either an S 500 with a mid-hybrid inline-six engine producing 442 horsepower or an S 580 with a twin-turbo V8 pushing nearly 500 horses.
When Shaqir finally connected with his father via video call to show off his new purchase, Shaq’s reaction wasn’t quite the stern lecture one might expect.
Instead, the elder O’Neal shifted into full automotive enthusiast mode, immediately suggesting upgrades including new wheels, a custom wrap, and upgraded brake calipers. The interaction revealed both the complexity and warmth of their relationship, even as it seemingly contradicted Shaq’s well-documented philosophy about wealth and privilege. Despite his stated principles about financial independence, the basketball icon clearly couldn’t resist engaging with his son’s excitement over the vehicle.
The basketball Hall of Famer has long been vocal about teaching his children tough lessons regarding financial independence.
He’s famous for making a clear distinction between his wealth and theirs, reminding his children regularly about who actually earned the fortune they enjoy. Shaq himself grew up poor in Newark, New Jersey, working incredibly hard to build a net worth now estimated at around $500 million. His journey included early financial missteps, like blowing through his first major paycheck without understanding taxes, leaving him $60,000 in debt.
Ironically, Shaq’s own spending habits have become legendary in their extravagance.
He once famously forgot purchasing not one but two custom Cadillac Escalade IQs, each worth about $150,000, only remembering when Effortless Motors delivered one to his home.
When staff reminded him of the purchase made months earlier, he seemed genuinely shocked, wondering aloud if he could even fit his 7-foot-1 frame inside. The vehicles came specially modified with pushed-back seats to accommodate his height, complete with 26-inch Travis Scott Forgiato monoblock wheels.
For someone who once spent $70,000 at Walmart at 2 a.m. and another time dropped $1 million in 30 minutes on three Mercedes and jewelry, forgetting a $300,000 combined purchase barely registers as unusual.
