Shaquille O’ Neal disclosed the importance of hard work, education, and how he instilled those core values into his six children, whose ages range from 16 to 24, on July 6 during a discussion panel with Earn Your Leisure. O’Neal, a guest, initially opened up about his success in business which played a helping hand in him accumulating his $400 million fortune.
O’ Neal’s six children include three boys named Myles O’Neal, 24, Shareef O’Neal, 21, and 18-year-old Shaqir ONeal. As well as three girls Taahirah O’Neal,24, Amirah O’Neal, 19, and 16-year-old Me’arah O’Neal.
The 49-year-old told financial adviser Rashad Bilal and educator Troy Millings on mark 28:02 that he imparted this monumental lesson early because he didn’t want his children to think they wouldn’t have to work because of his success.
“My kids are older now. They kinda upset with me. They’re not really upset but they don’t understand. I tell them all the time we ain’t rich. I’m rich. No, you got to have bachelor’s or masters and then if you want to invest in one of your companies, you would have to present it to me and I’ll let you know. I’m not giving you nothing. The girls, I’ll take care of the girls, but the boys, they’re not getting nothing.”
O’Neal added when asked if he sees his entrepreneurial skills being passed down to his children, including the boys, “Yeah, I do, but I try to let them figure it out. There’s one rule: education. I don’t care if you play basketball. I don’t care about none of that. Listen, I got six kids. I would like a doctor, somebody to own a hedge fund, a pharmacist, a lawyer, someone that owns multiple businesses, someone to take over my business. But I tell them I’m not going to hand it to you. You gotta earn it.”
Towards the end of the discussion, he listed an example of why he firmly believes this route is the best way to raise his children by sharing a story when one of his sons expected to get a Tesla for an all-A’s report card.
He said without disclosing which son or the year, “For Christmas one of my son got all A’s, I was like, ‘Man, go pick what you want.’ So he come back with a Tesla. I said, ‘You better take yo’ ass across the street to the Chargers. Better get you a Charger. You ain’t getting no motherf–king Telsa. You better get you a Charger, a V-6 at that.'”
Aside from spreading his knowledge to his children, O’Neal recently stunned the world when he revealed the many businesses he owns. In the same discussion panel, the NBA legend expressed he owns the brands Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, JC Penny, and Forever 21, just to name a few.
He said while asking the two hosts, “I don’t’ like to seem like I’m bragging, but I’m going to ask you a question. Who owns Marilyn Monroe … Who owns Elvis Presley? Who owns Forever 21? Who owns JCPenney? Me!”
