Shaquille O'Neal reveals emotional moment that inspired his famous generosity

Shaquille O'Neal has amassed an estimated net worth of $500 million thanks to his career as an all-time great basketball player, a rapper, an action-movie actor, a prominent TV analyst and a savvy business investor.

And "Big Diesel" has never been shy about using his immense wealth to give back and help out those in need.

The NBA icon's random acts of kindness down the years include paying for an engagement ring for a young person he was stood behind in a jewellery store queue, footing the funeral expenses of Dexter Rentz, a college football player who was killed in an Orlando shooting in 2020, and buying dinner and a new Mercedes-Benz for a young family of 11.

A prodigious gift giver, Shaq even once bought LeBron James a $450,000 Rolls Royce as a birthday present while the two megastars were briefly teammates on the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2009.

'Shaq' is a former NBA star (Credit:Getty)

And O'Neal opened up in an interview about where his giving spirit comes from, telling the story of an emotional moment with his late father that inspired his generosity.

"He’s driving and he sees a homeless guy in some army fatigues," O'Neal said, beginning the tale of the time he and his army veteran dad were out to get food one day when Shaq was young. "He’s talking to this guy and he recognised the platoon that the guy was from. The guy was down on his luck.

"We had like five double cheeseburgers left. My father had $20. In my mind, I’m like, ‘What are you doing, bro? Imma eat that later.’ I’m selfish at this point. We finally get some change. I get to stop eating army crackers and army cheese and this is my food.

"He gives the guy the food. He gets in the car and slams the door. He got a little tear in his eye and looks and said, ‘If you ever make it big time, make sure you help those in need.’ He just drive and didn’t say nothing the rest of the way home."

It was a lesson that O'Neal held dear long after his father's death.

"My father taught me not to really cry and be sad," O'Neal remembered. "When he passed away, I really let go because I didn’t get to tell him ‘Thank you’ enough."