From million-dollar paychecks to profitable businesses, Shaquille O’Neal built a fortune estimated at $400 million. That’s a lot by most standards. By Big Diesel’s big standards, that’s not much. Not that he’s greedy for more. It’s just that the multi-hyphenate defines ‘rich’ differently. His concept of ‘wealthy’ surprises most but it’s important to him because it comes from his mother.

Shaq’s mom is the first benefactor of his generosity. She’s also the one who shaped his philanthropic attitude. While he may have a history of impulsive purchases, he extends his wealth to the woman who raised him.

Shaquille O’Neal’s wealthy admission

Shaquille O’Neal invested in Edsoma for an important reason – to change people’s lives. He was at TechCrunch Disrupt to discuss his first venture in the AI-powered edtech space. When asked if he would always put his money on doing good versus profitable ventures, Shaq had a very unique answer.

“This is going to sound weird, just pay attention to how I’m saying it,” he prefaced before saying, “I don’t know what to wear.” He implied that there are things he focuses on and things he doesn’t. That’s why he surrounds himself with experts who help him make sound decisions.

As for how he uses his money, he shared an anecdote. He narrated that a child once asked him, “How does it feel to be rich?” Shaq’s answer apparently surprised the kid. “I said, ‘my definition of being rich is growing up watching a mother work nine to five, not having enough money to buy a dress to go to a company outing, not having enough money to buy shoes for herself, but always sacrificing for us. So my definition of rich is just having my mother be able to buy whatever she wants.'” 

Throughout the event, Big Aristotle would explain how his mother, Lucille, shaped his big-hearted beliefs. Lucille had her fair share of struggles which she’d overcome with help from her children. Shaq would shower her with gifts which in turn made him happy.

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Lucille O’Neal also laid the foundation for Shaquille O’Neal the investor. “I don’t base anything off monetary value.” He listens to pitches and his advisors. And if they make sense and if they help people like his mother, they earn Shaq’s backing.

It’s not the first time Shaq has reiterated that he doesn’t attach too much value to money. It’s why he’s not greedy about profits while investing. But it also makes him a little spendthrift.

Shaq’s big spending adventures

The stories about the NBA analyst’s splurges are notorious. As he recalled on at Disrupt too, he spent his entire Los Angeles Lakers paycheck in a day because he didn’t understand taxes. Back then, he bought his dream car by Mercedes-Benz for himself and his mom in one go.

That isn’t his most impulsive purchase. Irked by a car salesman’s attitude, the then-reigning NBA star dropped $1.3 million to pick three Roll Royces right there.

Shaq tops the indulgences with charity. After Disrupt, he was in Texas with his mom making donations to various organizations. All a regular week for Big Diesel.

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