NBA icon Shaquille O’Neal once bought three Rolls Royce cars that he has never driven after the former Los Angeles Lakers star was goaded by the salesman.
During his playing days, O'Neal was one of the most dominant players in the league - and is considered a true NBA legend. He played for six teams across his 19-year career, winning the NBA championship on four occasions.
O’Neal, who was selected first overall in the 1992 NBA Draft, burst onto the scene and quickly became one of the best centers in the league. He was named MVP in 2000 and won three successive Finals MVP accolades as O’Neal led the Lakers to three straight titles alongside Kobe Bryant between 2000 and 2002.
He then joined the Miami Heat and, with Dwyane Wade as his teammate, won another championship in 2006 before bouncing around several teams, including the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics. O’Neal was a talented and charismatic superstar over his lengthy and successful career, so he earned plenty of money both in salaries and endorsements.
O’Neal is reportedly worth $400million (£337m) and is renowned for making plenty of investments - but he has gone on several questionable spending sprees. He once apparently spent a million dollars in 30 minutes, while he also famously spent $70,000 (£59,000) in Walmart just because he couldn't wait to renovate his new place after being traded.
In fact, O’Neal clearly resents any suggestions he lacks wealth or funds. While appearing on the Drink Champs podcast, the Lakers legend revealed he purchased three Rolls Royce cars for $1.3 million (£1.1m) after the salesperson wondered if he could afford any of the vehicles.
“I don’t wanna spend $400,000 for a car,” O’Neal said. “So I’m like, ‘Hey man how much is this? Nah. How much is this one?’ So finally the old guy says, ‘Yo man, you asked about all these cars, can you afford them?’
“Now I’m p*****. I said, ‘What the f*** you just said to me?’ So I buy three. That one, that one, and that one, and I want them dropped off. Move the seat back today. So I got 3 Rolls-Royces that I never drive. So there goes another million.”
He added: “It was one of my worst financial mistakes. I never drove the cars.”
O’Neal is definitely a fan of a Rolls Royce and even once bought LeBron James one for his 25th birthday when they were teammates in Cleveland. Hopefully the four-time MVP drives his so O’Neal gets some sort of worth out of his heavy investments in the luxury cars.
