Shaquille O’Neal Reveals How Bigger Paychecks Lured Him from the Magic to the Lakers: ‘If You Pay 25 Grand for a Beemer, You Gotta Pay 40 for a Benz’

Shaquille O’Neal, who is on track to becoming a billionaire with an estimated net worth of $500 million, hasn’t always been mindful of the power of money. In his early days, Shaq focused more on what it could buy and the status it conferred. Photo via Instagram, @shaq What Kind Of Car Am I? A recently resurfaced 1996 quote from the New York Times offers insight into his mindset when he left the Orlando Magic to join the Los Angeles Lakers for a bigger payday. Shaq said back then, “If you pay 25 grand for a Beemer, you’ve got to pay 40 for a Benz, bro, and I’m a Benz.” The move to charge up the Lakers came after another prominent NBA center, Alonzo Mourning, agreed to a $105 million deal with the Miami Heat. This made O’Neal, who recognized his value both as a player and as a brand, think differently about his next contract. He ultimately signed a seven-year, $121 million contract with the Lakers after prolonged talks with the Magic brass to re-sign him left O’Neal with lowball offers and a bad taste in his mouth. However, while Shaq’s confidence in his worth was evident, his ability...