Stranded traveller asks Big Shaq “can you give me $2.37” Big Shaq’s response will leave you in tears
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The Life-Changing Encounter: Shaquille O’Neal and the Stranded Traveler
It was a warm afternoon in Chicago. The sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden glow over the bustling Magnificent Mile. Tourists and shoppers hurried past, their arms heavy with bags from high-end stores. Among the well-dressed crowd, a man sat alone on the corner, his clothes worn and dirty, his hair tangled from weeks without care. His name was Henry, and he held a small cardboard sign that read: Hungry. Anything helps.
Henry’s stomach growled, but he was used to the feeling. Most people walked by without a glance; some even crossed the street to avoid him. He sighed and looked at the few coins in front of him—barely enough for a small meal. On days like this, he wondered if anyone even noticed him at all.
Just as he was about to gather his things and leave, a shadow fell over him. What happened next would change his life forever.
An Unexpected Act of Kindness
Henry looked up and saw a tall man in a plain white shirt and black jeans. His face was partly hidden by sunglasses and a black cap, but there was something familiar about him. The man crouched down so they were eye level.
“Hey, man,” the stranger said warmly. “How’s it going?”
Henry blinked in surprise. No one ever stopped to talk to him, especially not someone like this. Clearing his throat, he mumbled, “Could be better. Just trying to get enough for a meal.”
The man nodded, then glanced at Henry’s sign before reaching into his wallet. Henry braced himself, expecting maybe a dollar or two if he was lucky.
“How about I do more than that?” the man asked.
Henry’s eyes widened. “Are you serious?” he stammered.
“Dead serious,” the man said with a grin, standing up and offering his hand. “Let’s get you sorted out today.”
Henry hesitated for a moment before reaching up. His legs wobbled from hunger, but the stranger’s grip was steady. “Let’s start with some food. Do you like steak and eggs?”
Henry nodded. “Yeah, I love steak and eggs.”
As they walked together, Henry noticed people staring—some even pulled out their phones to snap pictures. Nervously, he whispered, “Why are they all looking at us?”
The man chuckled. “They probably recognize me.” He lowered his sunglasses slightly, and Henry’s jaw dropped.
“You’re… you’re Shaq.”
Shaquille O’Neal grinned. “Guilty.”
A Meal to Remember
Henry hesitated, glancing at the few coins still clutched in his hand. His stomach growled loudly, and he looked back at Shaq, who was still smiling kindly.
“You don’t have to do this,” Henry said quietly, embarrassed.
Shaq raised an eyebrow and shrugged. “Man, it’s just a meal. Everybody deserves to eat. I’ve been hungry before, too—no shame in that.”
Henry nodded slowly. “Okay, I guess.”
Shaq’s face lit up. “Good. Now, let’s find a spot.”
They stopped at a barbecue restaurant with a sign that read O’Shal’s BBQ. The smell of smoked meat and warm bread filled the air, making Henry’s stomach ache with hunger. Shaq held the door open, and as they stepped inside, the cashier’s eyes went wide.
“Oh my gosh! Are you—?” she gasped.
Shaq held up a hand, smiling. “Yeah, yeah. Let’s keep it lowkey, alright? We’re just here for some food.”
The cashier nodded quickly, still starstruck. “Of course! What can I get for you?”
Shaq turned to Henry. “Go ahead, man. Order whatever you want.”
Henry hesitated, staring at the menu. The choices felt overwhelming. He hadn’t had the luxury of picking a meal in so long. Just as he opened his mouth to speak, Shaq leaned in and said something that stunned everyone nearby.
“Take your time. It’s all good, man. Just pick what sounds good to you.”
After a pause, Henry pointed at the chopped salad and lemonade. Shaq grinned. “Solid choice. That salad and drink are probably fire.” Then, he added his own order: crispy fries with house-made sauce.
The cashier rang up their meals, sneaking glances at Shaq the entire time. When she announced the total, Shaq handed her a crisp $35 bill without blinking. “Keep the change,” he said with a wink.
They found a table by the window, and as Henry took his first bite, his eyes widened. The food was better than he had imagined—savory, tender, and full of flavor.
“This is amazing,” he said, his mouth full.
Shaq laughed. “Told you, man. Good food never disappoints.”
More Than Just a Meal
As they ate, Shaq leaned back in his chair and asked, “So, what’s your story, man? How’d you end up out here?”
Henry hesitated. No one had asked him that in years. But there was something about Shaq’s calm demeanor that made him feel safe. Slowly, he started talking about losing his job, getting evicted, and struggling to find work. He even shared how far he had traveled just to try and start over.
Shaq listened intently, nodding but never interrupting. When their meal was finished, Henry set his fork down and looked up. “I don’t know how to thank you,” he said softly.
Shaq waved it off. “You don’t need to thank me, man. I’m just glad I could help. Everybody needs a little boost now and then.”
Henry nodded, trying to swallow the lump in his throat. It had been so long since anyone had shown him this kind of kindness.
Just as he thought the meal was the end of Shaq’s generosity, the NBA legend leaned forward and said something that completely changed his life.
A Fresh Start
“All right, next stop,” Shaq said, standing up.
“Next stop?” Henry asked, confused.
“Yep,” Shaq replied. “You need more than just food. Let’s get you cleaned up.”
They walked a few blocks to a local spa, where Shaq arranged for Henry to have a haircut, a shave, and a hot shower. When Henry emerged, clean-shaven and wearing fresh clothes that Shaq had bought for him, he felt like a new person.
Before they parted ways, Shaq handed Henry a card with a number on it. “This is for a shelter I know. They’ll help you with a place to stay and connect you to resources. You’re not alone, Henry. Remember that.”
Word of Shaq’s generosity spread quickly, with onlookers sharing photos and videos on social media. But for Shaq, it wasn’t about the attention—it was about doing the right thing.
Months later, Henry found a stable job and began saving for his own place. He never forgot that day. Whenever he had the chance, he paid it forward, offering kindness to others just as Shaq had done for him.
Because sometimes, the smallest gesture—a meal, a conversation, a helping hand—can change a life forever.
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Has Early Google Investor Shaquille O’Neal Found His Next Big Winner In Tech Stocks?
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Shaquille O’Neal became an NBA legend during a hall-of-fame career that included four world championships and a partnership with Kobe Bryant on the Los Angeles Lakers. However, he is also well-known for the value of the investment portfolio he started by purchasing a pre-IPO stake in Google. Now Shaquille is a big proponent of another tech stock. Keep reading to discover why “Big Shaq” is a big backer of an emerging AI company.
You may not have heard of Zeta Global, but you may already be familiar with its work. Zeta Global is a marketing company founded in 2007. It uses a data-driven and heavily analytics-based approach to help companies target clients, grow client relationships and maximize the profitability of client interactions. As is the case with many data-driven businesses, Zeta Global recognizes AI’s potential to enhance its operations.
Zeta Global’s insights and services are vital to several business and revenue growth aspects. These services are particularly useful to emerging brands, publishers and marketing agencies. All three endeavors require businesses to commit tremendous amounts of capital to elevate their visibility and retain customer relationships. Zeta Global’s AI tools help these companies make better decisions about strategically allocating that capital to achieve the highest possible ROI.
Their approach seems to be working. According to a December press release on Zeta Global’s website, usage of their marketing platform increased by 108% over the previous year for the critical holiday shopping season. CEO David Steinberg said, “The Zeta Marketing Platform continues to empower brands to engage high-intent shoppers where they want to be reached, delivering exceptional efficiency and more effective outcomes during the most critical shopping days of the year.”
So, where does Shaquille O’Neal come into the picture? Shaquille’s fame as a basketball player, pitchman and investor makes him a popular choice for speaking engagements of all kinds, including last September’s Zeta Global annual meeting. According to the Essential Sports website, which was one of many media outlets covering the event, Shaq was joined by fellow sports legend Simone Biles and philosopher Deepak Chopra.
Shaq’s live session at the event was called “AI-Powered Slam Dunk: The Business of Shaq.” During his live session, O’Neal talked to the audience about how he successfully transitioned from a superstar athlete to a big-time investor with an estimated $500 million portfolio. Zeta Global’s CEO also joined Shaquille for this session, but the most amazing aspect was the extent to which O’Neal has warmed up to AI.
