Report: Shaquille O’Neal Paid over $25K to Cover Every Bill in Manhattan Restaurant

Astrida Valigorsky/Getty Images

NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal dropped
over $25,000 on Sunday night to cover the bill for everybody inside
the Jue Lan Club in New York City.

Carlos Greer of the New York Post
reported Tuesday that Shaq arrived to the restaurant, which is located in the
Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, with an unnamed date for chicken and
shrimp.

The Basketball Hall of Famer proceeded
to purchase dinner for the eatery’s entire staff along with covering
all of his fellow diner’s bills, which he told restaurant workers to
only reveal to the customers after he left the establishment, per
Greer.

“He left them the biggest tip they’ve
ever received,” a source told the New York Post.

O’Neal didn’t respond to the outlet’s
request for comment.

The 50-year-old New Jersey native was
one of the most dominant players in NBA history, which helped him
earn an estimated $286.3 million in on-court earnings, per Spotrac.
Wealthy Gorilla projects his current net worth at $400 million.

In 2017, O’Neal told ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel
he’s always willing to pay for efficient service when he goes out to
eat.

“When I’m at restaurants, I am a big
tipper,” he said. “I like to show people my appreciation. So when
they come up to the table, I say, ‘The quicker I get my order, the
bigger your tip will be.’ And then the food will come fast.”

Shaq retired from basketball in 2011 and
currently works as an analyst for TNT’s Inside the NBA.