Shaquille O'Neal never went unnoticed. Neither on nor off the track. The colossus of 2.16 meters tall and with an eternal smile, he not only dominated painting like few others, he also left his mark with his overwhelming character. This time, the former player recalled one of those episodes that can only bear his signature: how he spent his first million dollars in less than an hour.
Fresh out of the '92 draft, chosen by the Orlando Magic, In a matter of months, Shaq went from the modest life imposed by his military stepfather to swimming in money. He hadn't even debuted when a sports card brand wrote him a check for one million for using his image. For a 20-year-old boy, that sounded infinite.
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His dream was clear since he was little: a Mercedes-Benz negro. And he didn't wait a day. As soon as he had the check, he went straight to the dealership. He left with the car of his dreams… but the story didn't end there. When he got home, his stepfather looked at the brand new vehicle and said a phrase that still resonates: “Okay, so where is mine?” Shaq didn't hesitate. He went back to the dealership and bought another one. Her mother, Lucille, also ordered hers. Third car. Then came the suits, the jewelry, the gifts to friends… the convoy of expenses had no brakes.
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“I spent a million dollars in about 45 minutes,” he usually says, laughing. “I bought three cars, jewelry… and the next day the bank called me: 'Son, you're going to go bankrupt if you keep going like this.'” That notice was his first crash course in finances: between taxes and commissions, he barely had any money left. $600,000. Shaq had compromised his finances before stepping onto a professional court.
An anecdote for history
Over time, the giant learned his lesson. He won four rings—three with the Lakers and one with Miami—, was MVP and ended up in the Hall of Fame. But above all, he understood how to take care of his money. Today he is an analyst, DJ Diesel, businessman and investor. From that boy who melted a million in 45 minutes, there remains the humor and the anecdote that only Shaq could tell with a smile.
