Shaquille O’Neal is known for being one of the most dominant players in NBA history, but his life off the court is just as interesting. From smart investments to hilarious stories, Shaq never fails to entertain. Incredibly, one of his most memorable stories happened at Walmart (NYSE:WMT).
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It all started when Shaq moved from Miami to Phoenix. He arrived late at night, only to find his new apartment empty. Since Shaq isn’t the kind of guy who likes to wait, he decided to fix the situation right away. He went to Walmart at 2 or 3 in the morning to buy everything he needed for his place – sheets, towels, laptops, printers, T-shirts, underwear, you name it.
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By the time he filled his shopping cart, the total was $70,000. At Walmart. Shaq now jokes that it was the “biggest purchase in Walmart history.”
But when he went to pay, something surprising happened. Shaq’s credit card was declined. He tried again, but the card was declined a second time. He was confused, saying, “I know I’m not broke,” so he decided to leave and figure it out later.
Not long after, Shaq got a call from American Express security. They thought someone had stolen his card because they saw a suspicious $70,000 charge at Walmart. When Shaq explained that he made the purchase, they couldn’t believe it. The representative asked, “Why are you spending $70,000 at Walmart?”
Shaq’s response? “Because I’m Shaq.”
He always had a keen eye for smart investments, as seen with his decision to invest in the home security company Ring. When Shaq needed a security system for one of his three homes in Atlanta, a security company quoted him $80,000. Even though he’s worth millions, Shaq knew that price was too steep. While shopping at Best Buy, he spotted Ring cameras and bought a DIY solution.
Not only did he install the system himself, but he also realized how powerful it was when he could monitor his home while traveling in China. Impressed, Shaq tracked down the CEO at a tech conference and offered to invest in the company, which he later did. A few years later, Amazon bought Ring for $1 billion, and Shaq’s investment turned into a huge win, just like many of his other ventures.
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Interestingly, Shaq’s fortune, estimated to be around $500 million, isn’t something he will give to his kids. He’s made it clear they’ll have to work for it. And he doesn’t just want them to get one college degree – he expects them to earn two.
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This article ‘I Know I’m Not Broke’ – Shaquille O’Neal’s Card Was Declined At Walmart After Attempting ‘The Biggest Purchase In Walmart History’ originally appeared on Benzinga.com
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Source: finance.yahoo.com