Celebrities

Shaq Biography, Career, Net Worth And Other Facts

August 30, 2022

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Shaquille O’Neal was born on the 6th of March 1972. Shaquille O’Neal was born in Newark, New Jersey. Shaquille O’Neal never played for the New Jersey team in his life.

TABLE OF CONTENT

SHAQ BIOGRAPHY
SHAQ EARLY LIFE
SHAQ EDUCATION
SHAQ CAREER
SHAQ PERSONAL LIFE
SHAQ AWARDS
SHAQ NETWORTH

SHAQ BIOGRAPHY

Shaquille O’ Neal, also known by his nickname Shaq, is a former American basketball player, as well as a former rapper. Being more than 7 feet in height, and weighing almost 150 kg, he was one of the heaviest NBA players ever. After being drafted into the NBA while he was in his early twenties, he soon became one of the most dominant players in the history of the NBA and helped his teams earn not just NBA Championships but also the Olympic Gold. He earned several awards throughout his career as well, such as the ‘NBA Most Valuable Player Award’ and ‘Finals Most Valuable Player Award.’ O’ Neal finally retired in his late thirties.

SHAQ PROFILE

Full Name:	Shaquille Rashaun O’Neal
Born:	March 6, 1972
Age:	50 years
Place of Birth:	New Jersey
Nationality:	American
Wife:	Shaunie O’Neal (M. 2002–2011)
Marital Status:	Married
Children:	6
Occupation:	Former NBA player
Net Worth:	$400 million

SHAQ EARLY LIFE

Shaquille Rashaun O’Neal was born on March 6, 1972, in Newark, New Jersey. After graduating from Cole High School in San Antonio, Texas, he enrolled at Louisiana State University and would go on to become one of the most dominant players in the NBA. During his years at Louisiana State, O’Neal was named College Player of the Year (1991) and twice named a unanimous first-team All-American (1991, 1992). He dropped out of college in 1992, after his junior year, to pursue a career in the NBA.

SHAQ EDUCATION

As a high-school senior in San Antonio, Texas, O’Neal attracted the attention of college recruiters when his team won the state championship. He attended Louisiana State University (LSU), where he quickly established himself as one of the best players in the nation. He was named the consensus College Player of the Year in 1991. O’Neal left school and entered the NBA draft in 1992 and was taken with the first pick by the Orlando Magic. In 2000, however, he finished his studies and earned a degree from LSU.

SHAQ CAREER

Shaquille O’ Neal was picked by the team Orlando Magic during the 1992 NBA draft. Within the first week itself, his skills earned him the title ‘Player of the Week, making him the first player to achieve this honor within a week of his debut. He played brilliantly during the season with an average of 23.4 points on 56.2% shooting, along with 13.9 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks per game. Later, he was also named the ‘1993 NBA Rookie of the Year.

He played brilliantly over the ensuing years and in 1996, he was selected for the Olympics to play for the country as a part of the United States Olympic basketball team. The tournament, which was held in Atlanta, Georgia, proved to be one of the toughest and biggest challenges in his entire career. His amazing skills led his team to win the gold medal.

In the year, 2000, Shaquille was named the most valuable player in the NBA. He was signed by the Los Angeles Lakers for three years, for a contract of $88.5 million. Despite the fact that he helped deliver three consecutive world championships to the team (2000, 2001, and 2002), his stint with them was a difficult one. He had several disagreements with team members due to which he was traded to the team Miami Heat.

On 1 June 2011, after playing for a period of nineteen years, O’Neal announced his retirement through social media. Two days later, to officially announce his retirement, he also held a press conference at his home in Orlando.

’Blue Chips,’ a 1994 basketball drama, was the first movie of Shaquille O’Neal’s acting career. Directed by William Friedkin, the film also starred Nick Nolte, Mary McDonnell, Ed O’Neill, J. T. Walsh, and Alfre Woodard. The film, however, didn’t do well commercially. It received mostly mixed reviews.

He played a lead role in the 1997 American superhero action film ‘Steel’. Written and directed by Kenneth Johnson, the movie was based on Steel, a DC Comics character. The movie, however, turned out to be a commercial failure. Reviews were mostly negative.

O’Neal appeared in several movies over the next few years, including ‘The Wash’ (2001), ‘The House Bunny’ (2008), ‘Grown Ups 2’, (2013), and ‘Blended’ (2014).

SHAQ PERSONAL LIFE

In June 2005 when Hall of Fame center George Mikan died, O’Neal, who considered Mikan to be a major influence, extended an offer to his family to pay all of the funeral expenses, which they accepted.

O’Neal is a member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity.

O’Neal is a 2009 inductee of the New Jersey Hall of Fame. O’Neal became a Freemason in 2011, becoming a member of Widow’s Son Lodge No. 28 in Boston. O’Neal is a Prince Hall Freemason.

On January 31, 2012, O’Neal was honored as one of the 35 Greatest McDonald’s All-Americans.

O’Neal’s stepfather, Philip Arthur Harrison, died of a heart attack on September 10, 2013.

O’Neal is a fan of the National Hockey League’s New Jersey Devils, who play in his hometown of Newark, and has been seen at several games over the years. On January 11, 2014, O’Neal performed the ceremonial first puck and drove a Zamboni for a game between the Devils and the Florida Panthers. O’Neal is also a fan of English football club Northampton Town and has posted videos of support to their official YouTube page.

In 2016, O’Neal purchased a 14.3-acre, two-house compound in McDonough, Georgia for $1.15 million. It is around 30 miles southeast of Atlanta.

O’Neal endorsed Republican New Jersey governor Chris Christie in his 2013 reelection bid, appearing in a television advertisement. He participated in a virtual rally for then-presidential candidate Joe Biden and voted for the first time during the 2020 presidential election.

O’Neal turned down a lucrative $40 million deal with Reebok after hearing a mother complain about her expensive shoes.

O’Neal married Shaunie Nelson on December 26, 2002. The couple has four children: Shareef ( January 11, 2000), Amirah (b. November 13, 2001), Shaqir April 19, and Me’arah ( May 1, 2006). Nelson also has one son from a previous relationship, Myles. O’Neal has a daughter named Taahirah O’Neal (July 19, 1996) from a previous relationship with his ex-girlfriend Arnetta Yardbourgh.

On September 4, 2007, O’Neal filed for divorce from Shaunie in a Miami-Dade Circuit court. Shaunie later said that the couple had gotten back together and that the divorce was withdrawn. However, on November 10, 2009, Shaunie filed an intent to divorce, citing irreconcilable differences.

SHAQ AWARDS