Shaquille O'Neal mentioned he paid for a stranger's engagement ring as a result of a fee plan combine up practically ruined the person's proposal

• Shaq has made tons of of tens of millions because of his historic basketball profession and enterprise exploits.
• The NBA legend is understood to go on his luck to others via random acts of kindness.
• He informed Insider how the philosophy behind his giving has helped save a relationship and make him “Uncle Shaq” to youngsters. 

Shaquille O’Neal has earned extra money than he might ever probably spend because of his iconic basketball profession and his profitable enterprise strikes after retirement.

And now, he is grow to be recognized for passing on his luck to others via random acts of kindness.

“That is what I used to be taught — it is not a charity factor for me,” O’Neal informed Insider. 

“I am not the man that sits round and goes ‘Let’s go construct one thing after which name the media,'” he added. “That is by no means been me.”

As a substitute, the Corridor of Famer typically opts for extra delicate methods of giving again — although, at 7-foot-1, it is uncommon that he can get away with transferring within the shadows.

In 2021, a video of Shaq buying an engagement ring for an unsuspecting Zales buyer went viral despite the fact that he says he did not imply for it to get out. 

Part of that well-told story that really did not get out — till now, no less than — was the truth that the younger man “received his dates combined up,” in line with O’Neal.

“I feel he had another fee, however he informed his girlfriend that he was gonna suggest to her the following day,” O’Neal mentioned. “So he is speaking to the supervisor, saying ‘Hey man, you understand me, I all the time pay on time. Simply let me take the ring and I am going to convey it again.’ And the supervisor was like ‘No, no, no.'”

“I understand how it’s, engaged, married, you need every thing to be proper, so I could not let him go like that,” he added. “Think about going to that engagement factor with out that ring.”

—ESPN (@espn) April 7, 2021

Not solely did Shaq save a person some severe cash that day, however he additionally could very nicely have saved his relationship. 

These run-ins occur comparatively often for the four-time NBA champion, although he insists he would not search them out. He jokes that he is simply “the cash man” and that he turns into “Uncle Shaq” every time he has the possibility to assist a child out. 

If he finds himself in a BestBuy, for instance, and he hears a father or mother and little one discussing laptop computer choices, Shaq typically gives to pay for the one the child desires.

Shaq provides again via extra official means as nicely. Most not too long ago, The Shaquille O’Neal Basis teamed up with Icy Scorching to construct new services — together with a basketball court docket, turf discipline, and tennis court docket — at his personal Boys & Ladies Membership location within the Atlanta space.

As of late, Shaq calls Georgia’s state capital house. However rising up in Newark, New Jersey, he credited his native Boys & Ladies Membership with serving to him to “keep out of bother” and lay the groundwork for a profitable future in basketball and past.

It was solely pure that he’d attempt to provide the identical refuge for youths inside his neighborhood.

“I do know I am fortunate, I do know I am blessed, and I notice that there is more durable working folks on this world than me that do not have the monetary advantages that I’ve. So I simply all the time attempt to put myself in that place,” he mentioned.