Imagine owning a fortune of over $500 million and still becoming a victim. That’s exactly what happened to Shaquille O’Neal, whose $180,000 Range Rover was stolen out of Atlanta. The whole thing feels like a Kevin Hart comedy waiting to happen, and given their “beef,” he might just make one. While it pales beside the day’s bigger scandal, the FBI’s probe into illegal NBA gambling, the way this theft unfolded could make Shaq rethink his faith in technology once again.

What happened to Shaquille O’Neal’s Range Rover?

Shaquille O’Neal has been on a whirlwind schedule lately, traveling from Macau for the NBA China Games to Saudi Arabia for the JOY Forum. He then made stops in New Orleans for a college exhibition, New York to promote Allen Iverson’s documentary, and finally Atlanta for the premiere of Inside the NBA on ESPN. Somewhere during all that, he became the victim of a $180,000 theft. What makes it even stranger is that it didn’t happen at his home, and he wasn’t around.

Let’s start with how Shaquille O’Neal gets his cars. He loves a California dealership called Effortless Motors. They not only customize his vehicles to fit his 7’1” frame but also deliver his Escalades and Hellcats to Las Vegas and Atlanta when he Facetimes them. So, let me tell you, his stolen Range Rover might be valued at $180,000, but with customizations for his height, the price could easily reach $300,000!

And then the unexpected happened. Effortless Motors was transporting the Range Rover from Georgia to Louisiana, though the reason isn’t clear. It was picked up on Monday but never arrived at its destination. After several calls, Effortless Motors discovered the car had gone missing somewhere along the route during transport.

What Happens to Shaq’s Range Rover? Investigation & Recovery Efforts

The theft is still under investigation, and few details have emerged. Effortless Motors, however, reportedly has a lead on what might have happened. It is believed someone hacked the moving company’s system to access pickup and delivery information. They then used that data to redirect the car, allowing thieves to take it as if they had the receipt. The situation is so outrageous it could easily be called Hack-a-Shaq.

There is even suspicion that an unauthorized tow truck was involved, though authorities have not confirmed this yet. Regardless, efforts to recover the Range Rover are underway. In addition to cooperating with investigators, Effortless Motors has offered a $10,000 reward for any information leading to the missing vehicle!

It is unclear whether Shaq’s celebrity status played any role in the theft. Reports indicate a troubling rise in vehicles being stolen during transportation. O’Neal, who serves as a voluntary sheriff’s deputy in three counties, is actively working with authorities to help recover his car.

Shaq has recently done a few promotional skits with Effortless Motors, like getting frustrated when his car wasn’t delivered on time or when the customizations weren’t exactly right. While those videos are funny, this situation is real. His Range Rover was genuinely stolen, not part of any skit or joke.

Shaquille O’Neal’s car collection

Shaq won’t be stranded without a car, but a theft is still a theft. While he works on recovering his Range Rover, he has plenty of other vehicles in his collection. During his NBA career, he bought Bentleys and Rolls-Royce, cutting them up for extra legroom and adding Dunkman and Superman details. Now he can fit into Hellcats without modifying them. While splurging on Dodges, he also learned about Effortless Motors’ publicity mishap with LeBron James last year.

After sorting things out, Shaq began calling on the dealership’s co-owner, Daniel Ubario, whenever he needed a car. Shaq also went from scolding his son for buying a Tesla to ordering three custom Cybertrucks, all arranged over FaceTime. Now he trades in these trucks and other vehicles almost every month. Sometimes, he even hands Ubario the keys to a Hellcat in his driveway, which is then resold at a higher price because of the Shaq connection.

O’Neal has bought so many Escalades and Corvettes that he’s even lost track. Ubario would show up with a car, and the $500 million NBA legend sometimes had no idea he even ordered it. Just last week, his son Shaqir put a Mercedes S-Class on his dad’s tab without asking.

So, for Shaq, cars aren’t just a show-off, but a real passion. So, unlike the Internet’s usual indifference to celebrity thefts, fans are showing Shaq sympathy. His random acts of kindness have earned him that. Last month, he gifted a teenage wrestler, Tamara Humphries, an Outlander to help her get to practice. He also had Effortless Motors restore Kobe Bryant’s vehicle for his mother, Pam. Fans now hope Shaq won’t suffer too much stress from this latest theft.