Shaquille O’Neal confronts his sons over the management of his fortune: “We are not rich, I am rich”

Former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal is one of the richest athletes in the world, not only because of his triumphant career - which already made him score high on the list of highest earners during his time on the court - but also due to the countless advertising campaigns he has been part of and his post-retirement life as an entrepreneur.

Despite being established as one of the world’s richest athletes, O’Neal’s decision on the way to manage his money has risen the tensions between his sons.

Shaquille’s decision questioned by his family

In a recent interview with the New York Post, O'Neal revealed his desire to see his sons create a future by their own means, instead of having everything easy because of his fortune. The ex-basketball player has made clear to his sons that they are not going to get anything for free, and if they want to be someone in life, they will have to work for it.

If they want him to invest in any of their companies, they will have to present their ideas as any other entrepreneur would do to get financiation.

O'Neal said: “There is a rule: education. I don’t care if they play basketball or not. I would like one of my kids to be a doctor, hedge fund owner, pharmacist, lawyer, business owner, someone to take over my business. But I tell them that I am not going to give it to them. They have to earn it.”

This way of managing his fortune has made his sons angry as they don’t understand why his father wants to eliminate his fortune from the family equation.

O'Neal: “I am not going to give you anything”

“My kids are old enough already. They got mad at me. I’m not really upset, but they don’t understand me,” O’Neal said.

“I tell them all the time, 'We're not rich, I'm rich.' You have to have a bachelor's degree and then if you want to invest in one of your companies, you must present it to me. I am not going to give you anything,” he added.