Shaquille O’Neal recently went viral for an exorbitant splurge and how he did it. After buying a Tesla Cybertruck earlier this year, he Facetimed the dealership to send another one to his Atlanta residence. This one was customized black-on-black and broke the Internet. Shortly after that, he hosted the Big Chicken family at the Go Big Conference in Las Vegas. There he sat down with restauranteur and influencer, Shawn P. Walchef to discuss his definition of success on the podcast.

Far from the newly signed Laker in 1996 who used up his first paycheck on a fleet of cars, an older and wiser Shaq says, “I’m at the point in my life I don’t do anything for monetary rewards.” He proceeded to say, “Can’t buy another car, can’t buy another boat, can’t buy no more jewellery, can’t buy no more cars even though I just bought a new Tesla. I can’t. I’m done.”

Yeah, Shaq knows he’s contradicting himself there. After all, he noticed the Cybertruck because of an online marketing mishap with LeBron James. He bought the new celebrity-favorite wheels over Facetime but his custom version went viral online as the best celebrity Cyberbeast ever flexed.

He didn’t do it to flaunt though. All his life, O’Neal maintained his definition of success as being able to get his mother whatever she wants. With $500 million in the bank through a combination of NBA earnings and business ventures, he’s comfortably in that position. But he’s also matured.

A young Shaq would buy cars because a salesperson would offend him. When the Lakers gave him his first 9-figure contract, he spent his salary on cars and jewelry. After taxes, he had nothing left. Through a tough lesson, he gained financial literacy and has gotten better with age.

“At 50, I like to see people happy, I like to see people smile.” So Shaq doesn’t need to buy things for himself and his mom to be happy anymore. He’s got other ways.

Shaq’s true measure of success

Instead of cars and bling, Big Chicken was the answer to Shaq’s new goal for success. Growing up under tough financial circumstances, his mother Lucille spread a discounted chicken across multiple meals. O’Neal had seen Lucille put her needs on the backburner to raise four kids too. So he always wanted to make it up to her when he earned enough money.

Apart from buying her homes and cars, Shaq helped Lucille return to school and complete her education. He’d later turn his childhood meals into a restaurant menu, launching Big Chicken in 2018. It’s now a franchise company with hundreds of locations in development nationwide.

Big Chicken’s purpose is Shaq and Lucille’s goal – to bring smiles with their food. O’Neal told Walchef he was quite happy to see some people enjoying the food before the interview.

O’Neal can afford to buy a custom Tesla again. But that’s not his measure of success. He’s found something better and he has plans to keep it going.