Shaquille O'Neal Says He Doesn't Know If He's A Billionaire Yet – 'I Never Checked.' Here's What Being Rich Means To Him

Shaquille O’Neal is one of the most famous and successful people around, but when it comes to his fortune, he’s surprisingly relaxed about it. On a recent Dan Patrick Show, Dan asked the NBA legend if he's a billionaire yet and his response was classic Shaq. He casually replied, “I don’t know, I never checked.”

Don't Miss:

• Warren Buffett Flipped His Neighbor's $67,000 Life Savings Into A $50 Million Fortune — This Would Be Worth Over $500 Million Today
• Can you guess how many retire with a $5,000,000 nest egg? The percentage may shock you.
• CD Popularity Soars: Over 50 Million Americans Embrace Safe Savings with 5–10% Annual Growth

Instead of closely monitoring his bank balance like many other wealthy individuals, Shaq measures wealth differently. To him, being rich isn't about hitting a specific dollar amount but about being able to take care of his family – especially his mom.

When a kid recently asked Shaq how it feels to be rich, he gave a heartfelt answer: “My definition of rich is being able to buy my mother whatever she wants – my favorite person in the world.” For Shaq, taking care of his mother, who made countless sacrifices when he was growing up, is the ultimate sign of wealth.

In the interview, Shaq recalled moments he'd never forget – seeing his mom struggle, even wearing the same pair of pants multiple days a week just to make ends meet. That's why, when he started making money, one of his first goals was to ensure his mom never had to struggle again. She was the first person he thought of when he got his big NBA paycheck.

See Also: ‘Scrolling to UBI': Deloitte's #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones – invest today with $1,000 for just $0.25/share

Shaq's motivation comes from seeing his mom's sacrifices and ensuring she's always comfortable. "As long as my mother doesn't have to feel like she felt when we were young, that's my definition of being rich," he said.

Shaq's big heart doesn't stop with his mom. He shared a recent story about being at Walmart, where he spotted a mom with a tall son and three young daughters. The mom was picking out items for her kids and Shaq approached her, asking how much she planned to spend. After learning she was buying only what she could afford, he gave her $5,000 to get everything she needed for her family. Moments like these show what matters most to Shaq – using his money to make life better for others.

Shaq also wants his kids to learn these values. He wants them to understand that just because he has a lot of money doesn't mean they can rely on it without effort. For this reason, he has made it clear that his children must earn a share of his money by becoming good students, getting multiple diplomas and demonstrating their ability to work hard on their own.

Read Next:

• Are you rich? Here’s what Americans think you need to be considered wealthy.
• Studies show 50% of consumers think Financial Advisors cost much more than they do — to debunk this, this company provides matching for free and a complimentary first call with the matched advisor.