Arguably, the most dominant center to have ever stepped foot on an NBA court, Shaquille O'Neal was a force to be reckoned with. He played close to two decades in the league, assembling a Hall of Fame career. At the same time, the Los Angeles Lakers legend was building his investment portfolio, mindful of the age limit in his profession.
That said, he did make some costly mistakes during his youth, too, but was prompt in rectifying them before it was too late. And soon enough, O'Neal began to learn the Xs and Os of multiplying money, especially through investments, brand equity, licensing, franchising, endorsements, and more.
As a result, Shaquille built an empire estimated at $500 million, with the primary motivation being to ensure his mother, Lucille O'Neal, could enjoy all the comforts and luxuries of life. Speaking about it recently as a guest on the "Nitty Gritty with Nat" podcast, Shaquille shared what he thought was the ultimate sign of being rich.
"I don't respect people that don't take care of their families. You got a $100,000 car, and your momma still living in the same place, that don't make sense to me … You got this, and that, and the lady that has your child is living in an apartment, stuff like that don't really make sense to me.I'm all about integrity and, you know, honesty first," elaborated the Diesel.
Looking back on the sacrifices Lucille had to make in raising him, Shaq felt it was his duty to ensure his mother enjoyed a comfortable life, especially after he made it to the NBA, which also fueled his on-court dominance .
"My sole dream was to be able to buy my mother anything she wants, even to this day. That's why I work hard," said the former seven-foot center during a 2022 episode of the PBD podcast.
Adopting the killer mindset, Shaquille would emerge as an unstoppable force on the court. The LSU product believed that outplaying him on the court would mean taking away his mother's house, something he could not let happen.
A thought that paved the way for one of the greatest NBA careers of all time, marked by four NBA championships, three Finals MVPs, two scoring titles and multiple All-NBA selections, among others. And of course, fulfilling his dream of buying his mom the house of her dreams with his first rookie paycheck .
It's no secret that Shaq's mother played a vital role in his success. He also had his stepfather, army sergeant Phillip Arthur Harrison, to thank, who taught him the values of discipline, respect and hard work. Thus, after making it to the NBA, O'Neal felt it was his turn to ensure his parents were well cared for, and he had a plan for it.
"The first thing I did was incorporate 'Shaq,' and then I put my mom on salary and put my dad on salary. His stepfather, Phillip Harrison, a military veteran earning $60,000 a year, got a raise that would make anyone emotional. 'I asked him, 'How much you make in the Army?' He said, 'I only make $60,000.' (I told him), 'Now you making half a million a year.' He started crying," recalled the Diesel, who had also set aside a $750,000 salary for his mother.
Nevertheless, younger O'Neal was not just handing his parents these exorbitant cheques but also teaching them the business, surely setting new standards for being a loving and caring son.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Jun 13, 2026, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
