Shaq’s Walmart purchase became one of the most laughable topics to converse about NBA fans. The Hall of Famer has built a life where he earns more after retirement than he did in his long NBA career.
Shaquille O’Neal was discussing his move from Miami Heat to the Phoenix Suns in February 2008. The team was 9-37 when Shaq request a trade out of the most disastrous season. However, he was filled with plenty of anxiety, Shaq moved to Phoenix and has a terrific Walmart store experience which would make listeners’ ribs chuckle.
“I spent about $70,000 in Walmart,” Shaquille O’Neal opened the conversation. “One night. I spent so much, American Express thought my credit card was stolen.”
“True story,” Shaq added to his story, “I get traded from Miami and I go to Phoenix and I’m very impatient, so they’ve already got the apartment set up, but I ain’t got nothin’. I ain’t got no towels. Ain’t got no pots and pans. I ain’t got no TVs. […] I’m Walmart’s biggest customer, and they know it.”
Shaquille O’Neal was buying enough material to fill 2 whole trucks and furnish an entire apartment. His story took a hilarious turn after his Credit Card company contacted him regarding the purchase. “I get to the cash register and click it, and it says ‘declined,’” Shaq O’Neal added. “And I said, ‘Declined?’ Wipe [the card] off. ‘Declined.’
“Security team from American Express called me and said, ‘Hey, man. Somebody stole your credit card. They’re at Walmart.’ I said, ‘No, sir. That’s me.’ The guy goes, ‘What the H*ll are you buying at Walmart?’”
The interview was shot on HBO’s “Real Sports,” he even revealed recently that his current endorsement deals pay him more than he ever earned during his career. He now stands at a massive net worth of $400 million with half of it being well over from endorsement deals.
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