Shaquille O'Neal's maintenance bill for his private jet is absolutely mind-blowing and left basketball fans stunned when they discovered how much it costs.
O'Neal - affectionately known as 'Shaq' - enjoyed a legendary NBA career, winning four championships, including a three-peat with the Los Angeles Lakers between 1999 to 2002.
He also played for the Orlando Magic and the Miami Heat before ending his distinguished career with a one-season spell with the Boston Celtics.
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The 7 ft 1 in superstar earned millions throughout his career, so, naturally, he purchased a private jet.
Michael Jordan has his own private jet, which he uses to attend events around the globe.
O'Neal was initially against the idea of owning a private jet, saying: “No, I don’t think so. There’s too much maintenance.
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"If I own something, I like to know what is going on. I don’t want to get screwed in a bad deal. I’ve seen it happen to other guys."
O'Neal, who has an estimated personal wealth of $400m, said he had no desire to purchase a private jet in order to show off his wealth to others.
"Yeah, some guys do," he added. "But I don’t do that. I’m a man of the people."
However, in 2023, O'Neal changed his tune after renting private jets for many years.
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He decided to drop a whopping $27 million on a Bombardier Challenger 650.
The jet has a lavish interior, with cream leather seating and wood panelling.
The swanky aircraft can seat 12 people and has a range of 4,000 nautical miles.
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Shaq also has his 'Dunkman' logo slapped on the tailplane, which makes it stand out from other jets.
He was right to be wary of the maintenance involved in owning a private jet; his maintenance bill is staggering.
According to Liberty Jet, using his jet for 200 hours a year sets O'Neal back approximately $1,351,204.
That figure includes fuel ($517,668), crew ($307,542) and engine overhaul ($93,174).
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For 400 hours of flying, the total running cost would increase to $2,144,112.
Topics: NBA, Shaquille ONeal
Nasir Jabbar