NBA Legend Shaq Doesn’t Treat All 6 Kids Equally — ‘I’ll Take Care Of The Girls, But The Boys…They’re Getting Nothing’ — Although His Net Worth Is Over $500 Million, He Tells Them ‘We Ain’t Rich, I’m

Image credit: “Shaquille O’Neal” by MarkScottAustinTX, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons

Shaquille O’Neal isn’t just a basketball legend. He’s a franchise-owning, ad-deal-cutting, DJ-spinning empire. With a net worth around $500 million, it’s clear he didn’t make that money just by dunking on people. From owning Krispy Kremes and car washes to starring in commercials for everything from insurance to ink cartridges, Shaq turned his post-NBA years into a business masterclass.

But just because he’s stacked, don’t think his kids are living like mini moguls.

“My kids are older now. They’re kind of upset with me – not really upset, but they don’t understand,” he said on the “Earn Your Leisure” podcast. “We ain’t rich. I’m rich.”

Yep, Shaq said the quiet part out loud. While plenty of celebrities are busy setting up trust funds, Shaq’s over here setting expectations. If his kids want a slice of that cheddar, they’ll need to bring receipts — diploma-level receipts.

“In order to get my cheese, you’ve got to present me with two degrees.”

He’s not playing around. No freebies. No handouts. And definitely no freeloading. Once they’ve got their education locked in, Shaq’s open to investing — but only if they pitch him like it’s Shark Tank.

“Then if you want me to invest in one of your companies, you’re gonna have to present it. Boom, boom, boom. Bring it to me. I’ll let you know. The girls, I’ll take care of the girls, but the boys…they’re getting nothing.”

He also keeps it real about his parenting strategy — it's not a one-size-fits-all thing. His daughters? Hustlers. His sons? A little too chill.

“My boys, they’re a little bit more like, ‘We’ll figure it out.’ My girls, they’re way more independent.”

Still, degrees and drive are the great equalizers in the O’Neal household. Shaq’s long-term goal isn’t to raise dependents — it’s to raise leaders.

“We don’t need another NBA player in the family. We need lawyers, we need doctors, we need people that run stuff.”

That mindset puts him in the same camp as other mega-rich figures like Warren Buffett and Elon Musk. Buffett once said he wants to leave his kids “enough to do anything, but not enough to do nothing.” Musk’s kids also aren’t being handed Tesla stock and a private island — they’ve got to earn their stripes.

It’s a bold approach, sure — but a relatable one. Most people may not have Shaq money, but the desire to raise responsible, motivated kids? That’s universal.

So whether you’re building your own empire or just trying to get the kids to unload the dishwasher without asking, Shaq’s message lands: earn it.