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Millionaire Shaquille O’Neal, Who Pays His Mother a Salary Higher Than Dennis Rodman’s Net Worth, Recalls Tougher Times in Life

Published 12/06/2022, 1:50 PM EST

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Shaquille O’Neal is among the elite list of NBA athletes who created a massive fortune for themselves after their retirement from the league. The Los Angeles Lakers legend is a successful business mogul and a smart investor with a net worth of $400 million. A major reason behind Shaq’s success is the humble beginnings that he experienced while growing up. Recently, millionaire Shaquille O’Neal recalled the tough times in his life he had to overcome.

Apart from his reputation of being the most dominant player in the sport’s history, Shaquille O’Neal is known for his kind heart and larger-than-life spirit. The four-time NBA champ believes in the concept of giving back and offering support to people in need.

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O’Neal spends tons of money during his massive charity runs for children and common folks in places like Walmart, Best Buy, and sneaker stores. Back in 2021, the 15-time All-Star also bought a young groom a wedding ring as a gesture of charity. Recently, Shaquille O’Neal revealed the reason behind his grand gestures of charity and how he developed the ideology of giving back.

How did Shaquille O’Neal learn to give back?

In a recent interview with People, Shaquille O’Neal revealed how he got inspired to help people. Firstly, Shaq admitted that he gives back to the community because he perceives it to be the ‘right thing to do’.

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Secondly, O’Neal said he could very well have been in a similar situation as the people he helped. Shaq stated, “That was my parents and me back in the day- them trying to give me things they couldn’t afford. I’ve got plenty of money now.”

Shaq suggested that he and his family also experienced similar financial challenges while growing up. His parents gave him things that they could not afford to make him happy. Thus, with money in the bank, Shaquille O’Neal likes to make others happy by helping them out financially. 

Shaq offered his mother a staggering salary

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During an interview a while back, Shaq gave an insight into how he handled his finances and established his brand. When he was picked by the Orlando Magic in 1992, the first thing he did was to establish the Shaq brand.

Moreover, the Lakers legend shared his massive wealth with his family by offering them salaries and making their lives easier. He once offered his mother, Lucille O’Neal a salary of $750k per year. Just to put it in context, the Chicago Bulls legend Dennis Rodman‘s net worth, as per Celebrity Net Worth, is $500k.

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WATCH THIS STORY: Despite Marrying Shaquille O’Neal’s Ex-Wife Shaunie, Houston Pastor Reveals Unexpected Bond With Lakers Legend

What do you think about Shaq’s charitable ventures? Let us know in the comments below.

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Written by:

Rohit Kumawat

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Rohit Kumawat is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports. Currently pursuing an MBA in Media and Business Management, Rohit holds a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. He has been working as a Sports and Entertainment writer for over a year.
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Edited by:

Satagni Sikder