Shaquille O’Neal, the NBA legend who earned hundreds of millions during his illustrious basketball career, is now enjoying the fruits of his labor in retirement—and he’s not shy about spending his money. O’Neal, who made over $286 million from his NBA contracts alone (not including endorsements), has built a lifestyle where his daily spending habits reflect his considerable wealth.
In a recent interview with Page Six, O’Neal revealed that he spends a staggering $1,000 per day on Amazon purchases. His most recent acquisition? A set of green laser pointers. While most people might balk at such extravagant daily spending, for O’Neal, it’s all part of living large in retirement.
But this isn’t the first time O’Neal has divulged his lavish spending habits. Back in May, he made headlines again when he admitted that he spends about $1,000 on pedicures. The retired basketball star humorously explained the reason behind the high cost on The Big Podcast with Shaq, joking about his “ugly, stinky” feet. “I give about $1,000 because I know my feet stink, I know they’re ugly, and I like to paint them,” O’Neal said, adding that the size of his feet—he famously wears a size 22 shoe—requires extra attention.
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At 52 years old, O’Neal is living comfortably after a career that saw him dominate on the court and thrive off it, thanks to smart investments and endorsement deals. He remains a fixture in the public eye, appearing as an analyst on Inside the NBA, where his larger-than-life personality continues to entertain fans.
Recently, O’Neal found himself in a public debate with his Inside the NBA co-host, Charles Barkley, over comments made about rising basketball star Caitlin Clark. Barkley had suggested on The Bill Simmons Podcast that there was “petty jealousy” surrounding Clark’s meteoric rise, implying that other players in women’s basketball might feel overshadowed by the media attention Clark is receiving.
O’Neal wasn’t having it and fired back during an interview with USA Today, defending his stance. “Loudmouths like Chuck are talking about hating… it’s not hating,” O’Neal said. “It’s like, (Clark is) good, but let’s slow it down a notch. As good as Caitlin Clark is, we’ve had a lot of young ladies who have been doing good before her and not getting props.”
O’Neal emphasized that his comments weren’t about diminishing Clark’s talent, but about giving due credit to the many other women in the league who have excelled before Clark. “People like props and they want to feel good when you’re talking about their league… it’s not hating. Everybody has to wait their turn,” O’Neal added, pointing to the larger issue of ensuring that women’s basketball as a whole gets the recognition it deserves.
Even in retirement, Shaquille O’Neal remains a dominant figure in the sports world, whether it’s through his high-profile purchases, his outlandish anecdotes, or his unfiltered takes on current basketball debates.
Whether he’s clashing with Barkley or indulging in $1,000 Amazon shopping sprees, O’Neal’s life post-basketball continues to be as larger-than-life as his legendary career.
