How Shaquille O’Neal’s love for luxury car collection and betting once cost him $600K

How Shaquille O’Neal’s love for luxury car collection and betting once cost him $600K (Image Credit: Getty Images)

Shaquille O’Neal is one of the richest NBA stars, who has accumulated an estimated net worth of $500 million. It was due to his marketing genius and popularity earned from on-court achievements that he could generate massive income.Shaquille splurged on luxury cars, and those cars were not just run-of-the-mill products. Finicky Shaquille accepted the deliveries of his stylish cars only when they were customized to his desires, vision, and above all, requirements.

Shaquille O’Neal once shelled out $600K on Cadillac Escalades and had to be reminded of his purchase

Love for customized cars reflected heavily in Shaquille O’Neal’s garage, which boasted an enviable lineup of custom-designed luxury cars. An interesting anecdote about Shaquille’s frequent purchases of luxury cars goes like this. Once he ordered two Cadillac Escalades and asked for customizations.Effortless Motors were the experts who took the orders, and on completion of customizations, went to deliver the car to the NBA star. He looked perplexed on the arrival of the crew and insisted that the EM’s owner accept a bet in which he put on stake his unique car Dodge Hellcat convertible.

Shaquille was confident that he had not purchased the car, and that he wouldn’t fit into the car (he is 7’1”).

However, Effortless Motors could prove both the points, and as soon a Shaquille sat in the driver’s seat, he realized his mistake and had to give up his hatchback in the bet.

Top cars in Shaquille O’Neal’s garage and customizations done on them for NBA star

California-based Effortless Motors was able to accommodate all the peculiar needs of the 7’1” giant NBA star. Shaquille also used other customization services to get the cars tailored to his specific needs from time to time. Here are some of the top-tier customized beauties that adorn Shaquille’s garage. Also, the changes made in the cars are highlighted:

Car
Customizations

Lamborghini Gallardo
Extended wheelbase by 12 inches; elongated doors, roof, and side windows; interior retrimmed to accommodate Shaq’s height.

Dodge Challenger R/T Convertible (“Shaqcat”)
Convertible conversion; red LED headlights; underglow lighting; HEMI decals; custom leather upholstery; structural reinforcements to support Shaq’s weight.

Polaris Slingshot (“Sling-Shaq”)
Converted to a 4-seater; installed 18-speaker sound system; quilted leather seats with red piping; custom roof added.

Lucid Air
B-pillar removed; larger front doors installed; Superman-themed wheel center caps; “DIESEL” branding on the front.

Ferrari F355 Spider
Soft top removed; fuel tank relocated; seats pushed back to accommodate Shaq’s size.

Rolls-Royce Cullinan
Superman logo on the grille; custom body kit; front seats moved back for additional comfort.

Jeep Wrangler
Extended doors; matte black paint; off-road lights; custom bumpers; upgraded sound system.

Chevy G1500 Van
Louis Vuitton interior with Superman logos; air ride suspension; 100×100 HD projector; XBOX system; DVD player.

Cadillac Escalade
Butterfly doors; Superman logo on the grille; widened for easier access.

Mercedes S550 Convertible
Retractable fabric roof; suicide-style doors; custom rims; modified to fit Shaq’s frame.

Range Rover (“Superman Range Rover”)
Chrome Superman logo; mesh grille; other chrome accents.

Ford F-650 (“Terminator-Themed”)
Custom exterior design inspired by the Terminator; imposing size; used as a daily driver.

Inside Shaq’s ALL CUSTOM Car Collection

Shaquille has splurged heavily on his love for cars. His uber-stylish cars are no less than an extension of his personality. His black Cadillac Escalade IQ had enhancements like custom 26″ Travis Scott Forgiato wheels and was pumped up to fit his giant physique. In another Cadillac Escalade IQ bought the same month, he chose dark grey color customization along with custom wheels.

When Shaquille forgot about buying his cars, he had lost a handsome money on gambling too. It is estimated that his expenses on cars and betting touched $600K that month when two Cadillac Escalades were delivered to him back-to-back, a purchase that had ‘slipped from his mind.’