‘Always Talking About You a Billionaire’ — Charles Barkley Tells Shaq ‘Stop Lying,’ Saying ‘That’s A Big Lie’ His Net Worth Is ‘Only’ $700 Million’
- Personal Finance
ThePostMaster- 0
- 6 minutes read
Charles Barkley was supposed to be defending the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets. Instead, he torched Shaquille O’Neal‘s billionaire status — and did it in less time than a shot clock.
The moment unfolded on a recent episode of “Inside the NBA” after Barkley threw Charlotte into a list of Eastern Conference teams that had “played up to their potential.” That pick earned instant disbelief.
“They getting better, man,” Barkley said. “Sometimes you got to crawl before you can win.”
Shaq wasn’t buying it. “I bet everything I got,” he said.
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And that’s when Barkley took it personal.
“See, first of all, let me tell you something. You’re always talking about you a billionaire. I did some research. You only worth about 700 million.”
He didn’t pause.
“So stop lying about the other 300 million.”
A moment passed, then he added, “Stop lying about 300 million. That’s a big lie. Not a little lie.”
And as the show pivoted to Western Conference talk, Barkley slipped in one final jab. “Welfare Shaq,” he said.
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Shaq Built a Fortune. Barkley Did the Math
O’Neal spent 19 years dominating the NBA. He spent the next two decades doing the same in business — but with a different playbook.
He’s sat on boards, signed licensing deals, and negotiated endorsements that paid in shares, not salary. And he didn’t fall into that strategy by luck.
It worked. His portfolio ballooned. His brand grew. His face was everywhere.
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Shaq’s Net Worth Isn’t the Point
So Shaq may not officially be a billionaire — at least not according to Forbes or other public estimates. Still, he’s referred to himself that way on occasion, and it’s possible he’s using his own internal numbers or projections. Could he cross the threshold? Maybe. But Barkley made his point: $700 million isn’t a rounding error.
And while $300 million is a sharp jab between two very rich men, the gap between their reality and most people’s is hard to overstate. For the average household, even one percent of that figure is out of reach.
Most people don’t have an NBA salary or a celebrity brand, but investing in what speaks to you —and getting help from a financial advisor — can still be a smart place to start.
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