Shaquille O’Neal’s kids 'don't understand' why he won't share $400M fortune

Though their dad may be worth a whopping $400 million (£330m), Shaquille O’Neal’s kids better not expect to get any handouts.

The former NBA star - who recently told anyone criticising Rihanna's Super Bowl halftime show to 'shut the f**k up' - is determined his kids will earn their way rather than depending on him for a helping hand.

And while they 'don't understand' his reasoning, Shaq is convinced it's for their own good.

O'Neal is a dad of six, sharing Myles, 25, Shareef, 23, Amirah, 21, Shaqir, 19, Me'arah, 16 with his ex wife Shauni.

He also shares daughter Taahirah, 26, with Arnetta Yardbourgh.

However, none of them can expect to share their dad's millions.

Sipa US / Alamy Stock Photo

Appearing on the Earn Your Leisure podcast in 2021, Shaq said: "My kids are older now. They kinda upset with me - not really upset - but they don't understand.

"Because I tell them all the time. We ain't rich. I'm rich.

"You've got to have Bachelor's or Master's [degrees] and then if you want me to invest in one of your companies, you're going to have to present it... bring it to me, I'll let you know. I'm not giving you nothing."

He went on: "There's one rule: education. I don't care if you play basketball. I don't care about none of that.

"Listen, I got six kids. I would like a doctor, somebody to own a hedge fund, a pharmacist, a lawyer, someone that owns multiple businesses, someone to take over my business.

"But I tell them I'm not going to hand it to you. You gotta earn it."

In an interview the following year, Shaq was no longer ruling out sharing his wealth entirely - but the bar was pretty high if his kids wanted to get their hands on the cash.

Cal Sport Media / Alamy Stock Photo

He said in an interview with Channel 7's Sunrise show: "In order to get my cheese, you have to present me with two degrees."

One of the reasons for not sharing his riches may be Shaq's discomfort with celebrity.

Speaking to the New York Post, he explained: "These celebrities are going freaking crazy and I don't want to be one. I denounce my celebrity-ness today. I'm done with it.

"I don't want to be in that category. Celebrities are crazy, they really are. Don't call me that anymore.

"These people are out of their freaking mind with how they treat people, what they do, what they say. That's never been me. I never want to be looked at like that."

Topics: Sport, Celebrity, Money

Simon Fearn

Simon is a sub-editor at LADbible. He studied journalism at City, University of London, and has written for Digital Spy, The Stage and The Drinks Business. He's a big fan of low budget horror films, regular caffeine hits and extended arguments about Oxford commas. You can contact Simon at [email protected].

@smffearn