Is Shaquille O’Neal a billionaire? While we don’t have a clear answer yet, it seems the Big Aristotle might be planning something big. O’Neal recently made a virtual appearance on The Dan Patrick Show. Noticing a helmet behind him, the host suggested that perhaps O’Neal should consider buying a stake in his favorite NFL team, the Dallas Cowboys. Shaq has been dreaming about owning a sports team for years. However, the Cowboys seemed a far-fetched dream for O’Neal, just for one reason.

Shaq quickly shut down the idea, saying he wasn’t “that rich” to own part of the Cowboys. Interestingly, just a few days ago, O’Neal hushed an old friend, DJ Whoo Kid, who accidentally hinted at his potential billionaire status. Moreover, Charles Barkley always teases Shaq for having a lot of money as O’Neal keeps buying expensive cars. “I got money for a reason. I’m not stupid. You can’t have money if you waste money on stupid stuff,” Barkley had claimed on the same show during his last appearance. Then why is Shaq contradicting his colleague?

When the host hinted that Shaq might be close to billionaire status, O’Neal admitted he rarely checks his bank balance. “I don’t know. I never checked,” O’Neal claimed. But he surely makes a point to stay relevant alongside the likes of Michael Jordan.

As the President of Basketball Operations at Reebok, he’s competing with MJ’s iconic Jordan Brand. The Big Aristotle has struck major deals with brands like Papa John’s, Hershey’s, car wash franchises, and several tech companies, including Ring. Currently, he’s focused on expanding his Big Chicken franchise, with outlets opening in multiple cities, all while building an impressive net worth of $500 million.

Shaq has ventured into nearly every business field, from education to fitness. Yet, the one achievement that remains elusive is sports team ownership. While Shaquille O’Neal has previously owned a minor stake in the Sacramento Kings from 2013 to 2022, he wants something that is his own.

He hinted that buying a stake in the Cowboys may be out of reach financially, but there are also rumors that he has his eye on an NBA team instead, though nothing is confirmed.

Shaquille O’Neal talks about his dream to own Las Vegas NBA expansion team

The Lakers legend’s recent comments on the possibility of a Las Vegas NBA team have stirred up conversation. Billionaire LeBron James is in the spotlight for the same as well. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has confirmed that expansion plans are under consideration, with formal discussions likely to start now that the media rights have been finalized.

Seattle, which had an NBA team for 41 seasons, could see the return of the Sonics as well. Both James and O’Neal are enthusiastic about these prospects. The Los Angeles Lakers legend even expressed his love for Las Vegas, sharing his dream of owning a majority stake in a team there.

“I would like to have my own group. I know Vegas hasn’t been awarded an NBA team yet, but if they ever get to a point where they are awarded a team, I would like to be a part of that. I don’t want to partner up with nobody. I want it all for myself,” O’Neal told Messenger a few months ago.

Could this interest be the reason behind the rejection of his favorite Cowboys? While the WNBA has already moved forward with its expansion plans, the NBA has yet to comment formally.