Reason Behind Teary-Eyed Shaquille O’Neal’s Emotional Turmoil Revealed Days After $50,000 Jackpot

It wasn’t Shaquille O’Neal’s first rodeo on Celebrity Family Feud. Back in 2018, Shaq and his Inside the NBA squad—Charles Barkley, Ernie Johnson, and Kenny Smith—had viewers rolling with laughter while bagging $25,000 for charity. This time around, Shaq was back for another round, ready to play Fast Money. But just as the towering NBA legend took the stage, his teary-eyed moment caught everyone by surprise. Was it nerves? Sentimentality? Well, Shaq’s opponent that night, Sherri Shepherd, may have just spilled the beans.

A few days after the episode aired, Sherri took to her YouTube channel to reflect on the game. She admitted feeling “terrible” over losing, but shared how one heartwarming moment softened the blow. “I felt terrible about it,” she confessed, “but then I felt better because Shaq’s mom, Miss Lucille, she was so sweet, and it was her dream to play Family Feud. Like, she had dreamed about this for so long.” And that’s not all.

According to Sherri, Miss Lucille wasn’t just excited to play; she had her sights set on the Fast Money round. “She didn’t just wanna play Family Feud, she dreamt about playing Fast Money at the end,” Sherri revealed. Having already won her own game in the past, Sherri admitted she was rooting for Miss Lucille to fulfill her dream. “That was supposed to be for Miss Lucille. And she got to fulfill her dream,” she said. Perhaps that’s why Shaq looked so emotional—it wasn’t just about the game; it was about making his mom’s dream come true.

Yet, it wasn’t all tears and tension on the set of Family Feud. Shaq and Sherri Shepherd lit up the stage with their hilarious banter, especially when host Steve Harvey asked Sherri, “Last person in your life you wanna get caught under the mistletoe with?”

“Is an animal a person?” Sherri quipped as the audience burst into laughter. Shaq, never one to miss a comedic beat, chimed in, “It is!” backing her up with a mischievous grin. The chemistry between the two brought an infectious energy to the show, making the competition entertaining. Shaquille O’Neal

Shaquille O’Neal and Mom Lucille Win $50,000

This year’s holiday special on Family Feud had Shaq and his team going up against Sherri Shepherd’s squad in a battle for charity. His mother, Dr. Lucille O’Neal, cousin Ken Bailey, sons Myles and Shakir, and close friend Anthony Hall accompanied Shaquille O’Neal. And together, they brought their A-game to the stage.

The O’Neals came out strong, dominating the game early on. But the real excitement kicked off during the Fast Money round. Lucille went first, answering five questions in just 25 seconds and racking up an incredible 182 points. All Shaq had to do was add 18 more points to seal the $50,000 jackpot for charity.

When it was Shaq’s turn, Steve Harvey didn’t hold back, jokingly raising the stakes: “If you don’t make this, you will be the dumbest person of all,” he teased, getting big laughs from the crowd. Shaq, looking visibly emotional, pushed through the first four questions. But right before the final answer, he paused for a moment, wiping away a tear.

But soon after then Shaq stole the show with his humor. Steve asked, “Name something that matches with ‘j-rky.’” Without missing a beat, Shaq fired back, “Charles Barkley.” The room erupted in laughter, with Steve calling him out: “You just being ignorant, man.” Despite the joke, Shaq’s first answer was enough to push them past the 200-point mark, securing the win. And with that, Shaq made his mom’s Family Feud dream come true.