Shaquille O’Neal may be retired from the NBA, but his growing business empire has enticed him to purchase a home in a suburb of Dallas, Texas.
The ex-baller’s latest real estate purchase come after he sold his iconic mega-mansion in Orlando, Florida. The massive 31,000-plus-square-foot spread in Carrollton first hit the market for $28 million in 2018, and finally sold three years later for an undisclosed price. In March 2021, it was listed at a lower price of $16.5 million, The New York Post reported.
O’Neal purchased this home for $3.95 million in 1993, and later expanded its footprint. It has 12 bedrooms. The master bedroom has a built-into-the-wall fish tank by a mural of O’Neal driving a red truck. The home also includes a nearly 1,200-square-foot, two-story great room with a marble fireplace; a formal dining room that can seat 16; a soundproof home theater; a garage with space for 17 cars; and, of course, a 6,000-square-foot indoor basketball court.
With his new Dallas digs, Shaq has downsized quite a bit, even though he’s still living large.
O’Neal’s basketball career spanned 19 years, beginning in 1992 when he was drafted by the Orlando Magic as the number-one draft pick. O’Neal was named the 1993 NBA Rookie of the Year. In addition, he was the first rookie voted to be an All-Star starter since Michael Jordan. Throughout O’Neal’s career, he played for five additional teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics.
During O’Neal’s NBA career, he earned an estimated $292 million; hebalso earned an additional $200 million from endorsement deals with brands such as Reebok, Carnival Cruise Lines and Pepsi. Retired for 12 years, O’Neal is still a heavy earner. Through his various investments and business endeavors, sources estimate O’Neal earns at least $60 million annually.
One of his current entrepreneurial endeavors, Big Chicken, will have him spending plenty of time in Texas. The fast food restaurant chain is expanding into the Texas market with more than 50 locations set to open in Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio.
For O’Neal, returning to Texas is akin to returning to his roots. Born in Newark, New Jersey, O’Neal attended high school in San Antonio, Texas, where he played basketball before heading to Louisiana State University.
Although O’Neal’s home will not be his full-time residence, it enables him to manage his Big Chicken business ventures and spend time with his youngest children who live in Houston with his ex-wife, Shaunie O’Neal Henderson.
The closing price of O’Neal’s new Carrollton home was not disclosed at press time. However, when the house was placed on the real estate market in April, it was listed at $1.224 million. Sources speculate that considering the competitive real estate market and that the home sold within three days of being listed that O’Neal paid more than the asking price.
O’Neal’s purchase refutes the adage “everything is big in Texas.” According to Realtor.com, the 5,269-square-foot home is considerably smaller than his Orlando, Florida, 31,000-square-foot mega mansion, which sold in 2021, for an undisclosed amount after sitting on the market for three years.
O’Neal’s latest residential holding features five bedrooms, five full bathrooms and two powder rooms. The home’s master suite features a spa bathroom and sitting area and is located on the main floor. The remaining bedrooms and bathrooms are on the second floor. A library and office space feature wood paneling, built-in wall shelving, a wood-burning fireplace and a tiered ceiling. The kitchen and breakfast area are connected to the great room with high, soaring ceilings, a gas fireplace, marble flooring and a wall of windows overlooking the home’s backyard.
The home’s exterior includes a covered patio, lagoon-style pool, spill-over spa and waterfall. Finally, accommodations such as a gym, movie theater with reclining seats, a three-car garage and an attic with storage space round out the residence.
