Shaquille O’Neal: Height, Net Worth, Children & Health

You know the name, the laugh, the sheer size. Shaquille O’Neal is one of the most recognizable figures on the planet, a basketball legend who turned his dominance on the court into a business empire worth an estimated $400 million, but beyond the highlight reels, there’s a more personal story about his health, his family of six children, and the candid admissions he’s made about his life after the NBA.

Height: 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) ·
Weight: 325 lb (147 kg) ·
Net Worth: $400 million (est.) ·
Children: 6 ·
NBA Championships: 4

Ten key facts about Shaquille O’Neal, one pattern: the numbers that define his life are as outsized as his personality.

How much money is Shaquille O’Neal worth today?

Shaquille O’Neal’s net worth is estimated at $400 million, according to Forbes (business magazine). That figure comes from a mix of NBA salary, endorsement deals, and a portfolio of business ventures that have kept him in the spotlight long after his playing days ended.

• NBA salary: O’Neal earned over $292 million in salary alone during his 19-year career, per Basketball-Reference (sports statistics site).
• Endorsements: He has inked deals with Pepsi, Icy Hot, and Papa John’s, among others.
• Business ventures: His investments include Shaq’s restaurants, a real estate portfolio, and an early stake in Ring doorbell that reportedly paid off handsomely.

The implication: O’Neal’s post-NBA earnings have likely surpassed his playing salary, making him a case study in athlete wealth management.

What is Shaquille O’Neal’s height?

Shaquille O’Neal stands at 7 feet 1 inch (2.16 meters), a measurement confirmed by Britannica (encyclopedia) and NBA.com (official league site). His weight is listed at 325 pounds (147 kilograms) per official NBA stats.

What is Shaquille O’Neal’s shoe size?

His shoe size is commonly reported as US 22 or 23, though the exact number varies by source. EBSCO Research Starters (academic database) notes the discrepancy, with no single authoritative source settling the matter.

What is Shaquille O’Neal’s weight?

His playing weight was 325 pounds (147 kg), as recorded by the NBA. Post-retirement, his weight has fluctuated, and he has publicly discussed managing it in the context of his sleep apnea diagnosis.

The pattern: O’Neal’s physical dimensions are so extreme that even basic measurements like shoe size become a matter of debate.

How many children does Shaq have?

Shaquille O’Neal has six children from three mothers. His children are Taahirah, Myles, Shareef, Amirah, Shaqir, and Me’arah, according to EBSCO Research Starters (academic database).

Why did Shaq’s wife leave him?

Shaquille O’Neal married Shaunie O’Neal in 2002, and they divorced in 2011. Shaunie has cited reported infidelity and time apart as reasons for the split, as documented in People (celebrity news magazine). Shaq has publicly acknowledged his role in the marriage’s failure.

How many baby mamas did Shaq have?

Commonly reported as two or three. Shaunie O’Neal is the mother of four of his children (Shareef, Amirah, Shaqir, and Me’arah). The mothers of his older children, Taahirah and Myles, are not publicly named in most sources.

Does Shaquille O’Neal have a son?

Yes. He has two sons: Myles O’Neal (born 1997) and Shareef O’Neal (born 2000). Shareef played college basketball at UCLA and LSU.

Who is Shaquille O’Neal’s wife?

Shaquille O’Neal was married to Shaunie O’Neal from 2002 to 2011. He has not remarried. Shaunie is now married to Keion Henderson, a pastor.

The catch: O’Neal has been open about the challenges of co-parenting, stating in interviews that he supports all the mothers of his children financially and emotionally.

What is Shaq diagnosed with?

Shaquille O’Neal has been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, a condition he has discussed publicly since at least 2014. In October 2025, he partnered with Eli Lilly (pharmaceutical company) to raise awareness for moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea.

Does Shaquille O’Neal have ADHD?

There is no confirmed diagnosis of ADHD for Shaquille O’Neal. The question is frequently asked online but lacks authoritative confirmation from any credible medical or biographical source.

O’Neal has also undergone multiple knee surgeries related to his NBA career, as noted by Healthline (health information publisher).

The trade-off: O’Neal’s size gave him an unmatched advantage on the court, but it also contributed to long-term health challenges that he now manages publicly.

What is Shaquille O’Neal’s education background?

Shaquille O’Neal attended Louisiana State University (LSU), where he studied business before leaving early for the NBA draft. In 2012, he earned a Doctorate in Education (Ed.D.) from Barry University (private university in Florida).

What jersey number did Shaquille O’Neal wear?

O’Neal wore multiple jersey numbers during his NBA career: #32 with the Orlando Magic, #34 with the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns, #33 with the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers, and #36 with the Boston Celtics, per Basketball-Reference (sports statistics site).

His NBA achievements include 4 championships, 3 Finals MVP awards, and 15 All-Star selections, as documented by Britannica (encyclopedia).

The pattern: O’Neal’s education journey — from leaving LSU early to earning a doctorate — mirrors his broader life arc of reinvention beyond basketball.

Timeline

• March 6, 1972: Born in Newark, New Jersey (EBSCO Research Starters)
• 1992: Drafted #1 overall by Orlando Magic; NBA Rookie of the Year (Britannica)
• 2000–2002: Won three consecutive NBA championships with Los Angeles Lakers (Britannica)
• 2006: Won fourth NBA championship with Miami Heat (Britannica)
• 2011: Divorced from Shaunie O’Neal; retired from NBA (People)
• 2012: Earned Doctorate in Education from Barry University (Barry University)
• 2023: Publicly discussed sleep apnea and use of Zepbound (Healthline)

Confirmed facts vs. what’s unclear

Quotes

“I take care of all the mothers of my children. That’s just what you do.”

— Shaquille O’Neal, in a video interview

“Zepbound has helped me get my life back. I can sleep through the night now.”

— Shaquille O’Neal, via Healthline

“I had to move past the broken marriage. It wasn’t easy, but we’re in a good place now.”

— Shaunie O’Neal, in a published interview with People

Summary

Shaquille O’Neal’s life is a study in scale — from his 7’1″ frame and $400 million net worth to his six children and four NBA championships. But the most revealing chapter may be the one he’s writing now: a public health advocate managing sleep apnea, a businessman building a post-NBA empire, and a father navigating a blended family. For anyone looking at the trajectory of a sports legend, the lesson is clear: the real game starts after the final buzzer.

Frequently asked questions