'We Ain't Rich, I'm Rich': Shaquille O'Neal Says He Wants His Children To Earn Own Way In Life

Nov 05, 2021 by apost team

Shaquille O'Neal is considered to be one of the greatest basketball players of all time. His legendary career spanned nearly 20 years in the NBA, where he played for a number of teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers, with whom he won three consecutive championships. He also played for the Miami Heat, where he won his fourth championship. 

Ever since his retirement from professional basketball, O'Neal hasn't slowed down, switching to a role as a sports analyst on the show Inside the NBA. Alongside his basketball career, both on and off the court, the star has also built a reputable career in music. He's released four rap albums, one of which went platinum, and tours as a DJ as well as being an electronic music producer. He's also appeared in many films and shows, including his own reality shows, "Shaq's Big Challenge" and "Shaq Vs." He's also a minority owner of the NBA team the Sacramento Kings.

With such an impressive career behind him and a current portfolio of business endeavors, you wouldn't be mistaken for thinking that O'Neal is worth a lot of money. According to Celebrity Net Worth, O'Neal is worth around $400 million.

Although he is certainly rich, the sports star has made it clear that his family is not. In a recent interview on the "Earn Your Leisure" podcast, O'Neal talked about how he won't be giving handouts to his kids — despite his wealth. He didn't say he wouldn't support them necessarily, but he made it clear that they need to go to college. And if they want him to invest in any business ventures they might have, then they'll have to present their idea just like any other company would.

Appearing on the "Earn Your Leisure" podcast in July of this year, O'Neal didn't hold back when the topic of raising his children came up. He said:

"My kids are older now and they're kind of upset with me, not really upset but they don't understand. 'Cos I tell them all the time, 'We ain't rich, I'm rich."

The comment drew laughs from the podcast host and crowd, but O'Neal made it clear he wasn't joking. He continued:

"You got to have bachelor's or master's [degrees] and then if you want me to invest in one of your companies, you're going to have to present it ... bring it to me. I'll let you know I'm not giving you nothing."

O'Neal has six kids — a daughter from a previous relationship, four children with his ex-wife Shaunie Nelson and a son that Nelson had from a previous relationship. They are all grown up now and between the ages of 15 to around 25.

He gave more details in the same podcast interview about what he hopes his children will achieve in life:

“There’s one rule: education. I don’t care if you play basketball. I don’t care about none of that ... Listen, I got six kids. I would like a doctor, somebody to own a hedge fund, a pharmacist, a lawyer, someone that owns multiple businesses, someone to take over my business. But I tell them I’m not going to hand it to you. You gotta earn it.”

O'Neal clearly believes in his children, but he's not willing to give them handouts without them putting in hard work first.

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On top of his basketball fortune and his other ventures, the New York Post reports that O'Neal has 50 other endorsement deals from brands such as Reebok and Pepsi, as well as dining ventures including Papa John's, Shaquille's and more.

In a September interview with the New York Post, the basketball icon opened up about celebrity culture, which he thinks has gone too far. He also touched on growing up poor in Newark, New Jersey. He said:

“All my life, everyone probably gets stereotyped, but us celebrities, we get stereotyped because most of these celebrities are out of their mind. I don’t do that. I’m a regular person that listened, followed his dreams and made it."

Widely known for his big heart, O'Neal added:

“I came from nothing. But, just because I made it doesn’t mean I’m bigger than you, smarter than you — just because I have more money doesn’t mean I’m better than you. I’ve never been that way and I never will be that way.”

When asked what he hopes people will say when asked about him and his life, he said:

"'He’s a nice guy.’ Because what else can you be? You’re either nice or you’re the A-word, and I definitely won’t be looked at as the A-word ... I want people to say, ‘Bro, he’s nice. He didn’t have an entourage. His people didn’t take my phone because I took a picture and threw it.'”

Proving just why he has a reputation for being a gentle giant, O'Neal also spends his time helping kids play sports through various initiatives. 

What do you think about basketball star Shaquille O'Neal pointing out to his kids that he's rich and not them in a bid to have them earn their own way in life? What would you do if you were in his position? Let us know, and pass this on so others can weigh in too.