Shaquille O’Neal no longer owns his massive Orlando mansion as of 2024, but the story behind it reveals a lot about the NBA legend’s personal life.
During a 2018 appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Shaquille O’Neal shared a surprising fact about his 76,000-square-foot mansion – he only used two rooms. “The kitchen because I like to eat, and the bedroom because I like to sleep,” he joked, offering a glimpse into his surprisingly simple lifestyle despite the enormous size of his home.
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Curious, DeGeneres asked, “What about the living room or a den?” Shaq shook his head. “No, I never go to the theater, never go to the gym,” he admitted, leaving much of the house untouched.
DeGeneres then asked Shaq how many bathrooms were in his house, to which he casually replied, “I think 15.” DeGeneres joked, “You know you’re supposed to flush the toilets and run the water once a week so it doesn’t smell.” Shaq laughed, admitting, “I never knew that.” DeGeneres playfully suggested that his housekeeper should be taking care of it, to which Shaq responded with a grin, “I don’t have a housekeeper; I clean it myself.” The audience cheered before he quickly added, “Just playing,” drawing more laughter.
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The exchange showed Shaq’s ability to balance humor with a glimpse into his life, revealing that even with all the luxury, he keeps things lighthearted and down-to-earth.
The mansion in Windermere, Florida, was packed with extravagant features, including a 17-car showroom, a cigar room, a wine cellar, a custom theater, and even a Miami Heat-themed basketball court. However, Shaq admitted during a podcast interview that the house didn’t always bring him happiness. He opened up about feeling lonely in the mansion after his divorce from his ex-wife, Shaunie Nelson. “I built this house for them,” he shared. “But after the divorce, I would come home to a 76,000-square-foot house with nobody there but me. That was the worst part.”
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Shaq purchased the property back in 1993 for around $3.95 million. After nearly three decades, it proved difficult to sell. The mansion was initially listed at $28 million in 2018, but after struggling to find a buyer, he had to lower the price multiple times. By January 2019, the price dropped to $22 million, and later to $16.5 million after making some updates and switching real estate agents.
Even with the updates and price reductions, Shaq’s mansion remained on the market for a while. In January 2021, he thought he had a buyer, but the deal fell through. Finally, in October 2021, the mansion was sold to a dentist for $11 million – far below the original asking price. Shaq later admitted, “I’m actually sick that I sold it,” but didn’t dwell much on the loss.
While it’s no longer his residence, the story of Shaq’s mansion shows that even celebrities with vast fortunes and gigantic homes can feel the weight of isolation. Despite the luxury, sometimes you need two rooms to live in – and the people who matter most to share it with.
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This article NBA Legend Shaq Only Used 2 Rooms In His 76,000 Sq Ft. Mansion: ‘The Kitchen Because I Like To Eat And The Bedroom Because I Like To Sleep’ originally appeared on Benzinga.com
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