Shaquille O'Neal Surprised His Friend And 'A Straight Up Guy' Donald Trump With A $325,000 Rolls-Royce Phantom On His Wedding Day

Shaquille O’Neal has always been known for doing things big, so it probably wasn't too surprising when he decided to give his friend Donald Trump a luxury gift worth hundreds of thousands of dollars for his wedding. But the gift itself? It was classic Shaq.

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In 2005, when Donald Trump married Melania Knauss, Shaq went all out with his present, gifting the couple a stunning Rolls-Royce Phantom valued at $325,000. This wasn't a typical wedding registry item. Shaq joked that the white Rolls-Royce would be parked at his house for Trump to use whenever he needed it. This is the kind of larger-than-life gesture we’ve come to expect from the basketball legend.

The Trump wedding was lavish and held at The Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea in Palm Beach, Florida, with a reception at the famous Mar-a-Lago club. Shaq and his then-wife Shaunie were among the 400 guests who came to celebrate the big day of the real estate tycoon and future U.S. president. Shaq’s gift was the ideal complement to the lavish scene, which Trump, who had already married twice, went all out for.

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Regarding Donald Trump, Shaq has always described him as a “straight-up guy.” In one interview, Shaq shared how Trump doesn’t sugarcoat things. He gave an example: if your shirt was untucked, Trump wouldn’t suggest it politely; he'd just tell you outright, “Tuck your shirt in.” Shaq believes that Trump speaks directly to people and that his words might be better received if he rephrased them at times. But he respects the honesty, which is why they’ve stayed friends despite their different worlds.

It's no secret that Shaq has a taste for luxury. He once recounted buying three Rolls-Royces to prove a point to a car salesperson who doubted his ability to afford them. Despite these stories of high-dollar purchases, Shaq is honest about his mistakes early on with his money, especially the shock of realizing how much taxes could cut into his paychecks. He’s also been outspoken about the values he wants to pass on to his kids, emphasizing education over fame or fortune.

Shaq’s generosity is a major factor in his popularity, whether he's surprising strangers by buying them expensive presents or paying for their groceries while waiting in line.

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