Shaq once spent $1 million in less than an hour.
It's clear the basketball legend wasn't only balling on the court, as he once took home a hefty $1 million paycheck after locking in an endorsement deal prior to being drafted by the Orlando Magic - managing to spent it all within just 60 minutes.
Following his excessive spending habits, Shaq decided it was finally time to seek financial advice so he didn’t end up like 'all the other athletes'.
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Back in 1992, the legendary NBA superstar - just 20-years-old at the time - made a financial blunder that changed the way he handled his money forever.
Speaking to Graham Bensinger about that fateful day, Shaq recounted exactly what was going through his mind when he flashed the cash big time and spent one million bucks in just one hour.
After receiving payment for the endorsement deal, the star was eager to make some big purchases but, considering he wasn't 'business savvy' in the slightest, they were definitely a risky spend.
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"I thought I was getting $1 million straight up," Shaq explained, revealing he didn't know about FICA or sales tax, "but you forget about those things.
"So really, I got about, maybe like, $600,000."
He immediately forked out $150,000 for a brand-new whip, 'I always wanted a black Mercedes with some nice wheels'.
After buying the car, Shaq then decided to get his father a matching one. That's another $150,000 added to the tab, leading the grand total clocking in at a mammoth $300,000.
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Bear in mind that's half of the entire payment Shaq received after around $400,000 in taxes were taken out his paycheck.
When his mother caught news of the purchase, she also wanted in but didn't want a car 'that big'.
He then spent a few thousands more here and there on 'jewellery', 'earrings', an 'Alpine pull-out deck' and a whole bunch of other pricey purchases.
It was only when he received a call from the bank that he realized he had messed up.
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Shaq recalled: "So, a couple of days later, I got a call from the bank and he called me and he said, 'Do you know how to read bank statements?'"
Definitely not the call anyone would want to get from the people in charge of all their money.
He continued: "So as I was reading it, I was $80,000 in the hole and I was looking and I was really embarrassed."
Shaq then decided to take action and seek financial advice from an expert who told him: "You're [a] bright, smart, young man. I don't want you to be like all these other athletes."
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Talking about the life-changing decision to seek professional advice from the financial guru, the former NBA legend said: "He's been good to me. You know, it was the right choice to make."
The interview has since been viewed over six million times on YouTube with thousands rushing to the comments section to share their reactions to Shaq's financial faux pas.
One YouTube user revealed: "Spends 600k like nothing and I feel bad when I buy a Sprite."
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"I once spent 10 dollars in one day," echoed a second.
Another also reminisced about their former slightly costlier spending habits: "Shaq’s stories remind me of the good ol days when I was splashing $100 in a day."
A third added: "Shaq's stories of balling out are hilarious I could listen to them forever. He spent how we imagined it as kids."
Others, however, commended the basketball legend's candour with one fan writing: "Shaq is a class act. Not afraid to say he f***ed up and learned from it! He's got a big heart too. Love this guy."
Rhiannon Ingle