The rain poured relentlessly, turning the streets of New York City into a blur of neon lights and wet reflections. Inside his battered yellow taxi, Big Shaq leaned forward, squinting through the windshield as the wipers struggled to keep up. It had been a long, exhausting day, and his meter was far from the number he needed to make rent. But Big Shaq didn’t complain; he never did. Life had taught him that some days were just harder than others.
As he pulled up to a dimly lit corner in Queens, a young woman stepped out from the shadows, clutching a suitcase and a baby wrapped in a thin blanket. She waved frantically, her face pale and desperate. Big Shaq stopped, rolling down his window.
“Please,” she said, her voice trembling. “I need to get to the hospital. My baby… she’s burning up.”
Big Shaq hesitated. The hospital was across town, and the fare would eat up most of his gas for the night. But one look at the baby’s flushed face and the mother’s tear-streaked cheeks made his decision. “Get in,” he said softly.
The ride was silent except for the rhythmic patter of rain and the occasional whimper from the baby. Big Shaq glanced in the rearview mirror, catching glimpses of the mother’s anxious face. She looked young—too young and alone. He wondered where the father was or if there even was one.
When they arrived at the hospital, the woman fumbled through her pockets, pulling out a crumpled $10 bill. “I… I don’t have enough,” she whispered, her voice breaking.
Big Shaq looked at the money, then at her. He thought of his own family, thousands of miles away, whom he hadn’t seen in years. He thought of the sacrifices he made every day driving strangers through the chaos of the city just to send money back home. And then he thought of the baby, whose tiny hand peeked out from the blanket—fragile and innocent.
“Keep it,” he said, pushing the money back into her hand. “Take care of your baby.”
The woman stared at him, her eyes wide with disbelief. “But how will you—”
“Don’t worry about me,” Big Shaq interrupted with a gentle smile. “Go. Your baby needs you.”
She nodded, tears streaming down her face, and hurried into the hospital. Big Shaq watched her go, feeling a strange mix of exhaustion and peace. He didn’t know her name, and he would likely never see her again, but in that moment, he felt connected to her in a way that transcended words. As he drove away, the rain began to ease, and the city lights seemed to glow a little brighter.
Big Shaq didn’t know how he would make rent that month, but he knew he had done the right thing. Sometimes, that was enough.
Weeks later, Big Shaq was back on the streets, his taxi humming along as usual. He had almost forgotten about the woman and her baby when a letter arrived at his tiny apartment. It was from the young mother.
“Dear Big Shaq,
I don’t know if you remember me, but you drove me and my daughter to the hospital that rainy night. Because of your kindness, she got the help she needed in time. She’s healthy now, and every time I look at her, I think of you. I don’t have much, but I wanted to thank you. Enclosed is a small gift—not just money, but a token of my gratitude. You saved us that night, and I will never forget it.
With all my heart,
Emily”
Inside the envelope was a handwritten note and a modest check. But more than the money, it was the words that touched Big Shaq’s heart. For the first time in years, he felt seen. He felt like he mattered.
That night, as Big Shaq drove through the city, he realized something profound. Kindness wasn’t just about giving; it was about connecting. It was about seeing the humanity in others and recognizing that we’re all in this together. Sometimes, the smallest act of compassion could ripple out, changing lives in ways we could never predict.
Big Shaq smiled to himself, his heart lighter than it had been in years. The city was still chaotic, his life still uncertain, but he knew one thing for sure: as long as he had the power to be kind, he had the power to make a difference. And in a world that often felt cold and indifferent, that was everything.
The next day, Big Shaq decided to pay it forward. He took the check Emily had sent him and used it to buy food and supplies for a local shelter. He spent the day volunteering, serving meals and listening to the stories of those who had fallen on hard times. Each smile he received in return filled him with warmth, reminding him of the connection he had felt that rainy night.
As he drove home that evening, he reflected on how a simple act of kindness had not only changed Emily’s life but had also reignited a spark within him. He realized that kindness was a cycle; it could be shared and multiplied, creating a web of compassion that could envelop the city.
Big Shaq knew that life would continue to throw challenges his way, but he also knew that he had the power to face them with kindness. And in that knowledge, he found hope—not just for himself, but for everyone around him. In a world that often felt dark, he had become a beacon of light, one small act of kindness at a time.
“Can’t Put $10 Million In The Bank”: Shaquille O’Neal Delves Into His Financial Learnings
Feb 13, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; Shaquille O’Neal during a ceremony to retire his #32 jersey at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images
Shaquille O’Neal stands tall in the sporting world, both literally and figuratively. After ruling the NBA the way he did, Shaq was bound to, and he did end up a rich man post retirement. No, a correction: a very rich man. Then again, he did not retire, did he?
With $290 million stashed in his account — his career earnings — O’Neal had what many of us mere mortals would term as a ‘rich people problem’. What to do with the money?
The big man did not sit back and relax. Instead, he did what he used to do best on court. Suited up, and took charge. From the courts to boardrooms, the transition was reminiscent of the offensive transitions the Lakers were known for during his day. And, he has, reportedly, almost doubled that amount through the many businesses he embarked upon since ending his NBA career.
Shaq recently spoke about the challenges he faced managing his multi-million dollar portfolio.
“I didn’t want to be broke when I was done playing,” he said on Mexican podcaster Roberto Martinez’s talk show, explaining that his ambitions or motives were not purely financial.
“I was getting so much money that I didn’t know what to do with it. Like, they say put it in the bank. But what if the bank shuts down?” O’Neal quipped.
For most, keeping some funds in the bank is a no-brainer. But Shaq’s wealth was such that even federally insured institutions wouldn’t be liable to recover the full amount.
The Big Aristotle explained, “Right, like the FDIC only insures $200,000, so I can’t put $10 million in the bank. If it shuts down, I’ll only be able to recover $200,000.”
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) insures the money people deposit in federal banks in the US. They insure up to $250,000 per depositor as cover for extraneous circumstances like the closure of a bank. They act as a guarantor of sorts. That works great for an average person, with a finite amount of savings, say 100,000 or so.
Shaq is no average Joe. When he was in the NBA and cashing cheques into the millions, he stood to lose more than he made if he had banked (pun intended) on banks.
“When you learn all this stuff and you master all this stuff, when you’re done playing, you get to maintain the same lifestyle,” the 15-time All-Star concluded.
O’Neal has done extremely well in his post-retirement life, running a business empire. And, when he shares nuggets such as these, on money or business, his success ensures people take note.
The Shaquille O’Neal school of business
“My leadership style is always based on championship teams,” Shaq explained, narrating how his experience in the NBA has helped him build winning teams for all his businesses, including the booming ‘Big Chicken’ franchise.
It hinges on one of his cardinal rules: “the greatest leader is the one that hires people that are smarter than them.“
He never wants to be the smartest person in a room and has learned to leverage the expertise of different professionals to help him make the best decisions for his businesses. It helps, no doubt, that the 7-footer has the perfect personality for bringing people together.
O’Neal revealed that he uses his sense of humor to lighten the mood and create more equal dynamics with his employees.
“When you’re dealing with humor, you’re focused on the relationship. If your focus is to accomplish a task, you’re dealing with seriousness,” the four-time NBA champion explained.
If you’re still a skeptic about his business acumen, then consider this small number from his long list of records and stats. $500 million. That’s the approximate value of his business empire.
