Despite a $500 million net worth, Shaq’s on his 5th college degree—and tells Gen Z that AI can’t replace sitting across people smarter than you

Shaquille O'Neal walks on the field before a game (Credit: Derick E. Hingle/Getty Images)

It’s rare these days for a star college basketball player to stay in school for more than a year, let alone return to finish a degree after turning pro. But Shaquille O’Neal has made a habit of doing just that.

The 7-foot-1 basketball legend spent three seasons at Louisiana State University before becoming the No. 1 overall pick in the 1992 NBA draft. He left without finishing his degree, but made a promise to his mother that he would eventually walk across the commencement stage.