“If we eat fast, I’ll quadruple that.”: 25-Year-Old Shaquille O’Neal’s $200 Tip in LA Deli, Came Thanks to $120 Million Contract 

Shaquille O’Neal is known these days for having a big heart. The Lakers legend and current c0-host of Inside the NBA on TNT, has always been like that. Even when he was a young star arriving in Hollywood for the first time. He came from a humble family and he knew one thing – he should be generous.

So much so that his big heart has become something of a legend these days. From tipping $4000s to buying TVs for couples at Walmart, his generosity has only grown over the years.

Shaq loves to give, even when he was just a 25-year-old, he was ready to help the less fortunate. Even if that meant him getting a meal at his favorite deli, just that much quicker.

“If we eat fast, I’ll quadruple that.”: 25-Year-Old Shaquille O’Neal’s $200 Tip was so he could eat his favorite sandwich!

Yes, behind tipping, there is a little bit of an incentive. As Rick Reilly of Sports Illustrated learned when he was interviewing Shaq. When they went to one of Los Angeles’ most famous delis.

At Jerry’s Deli in West Hollywood, Shaq was feeling rather hungry, so he asked the waiter, “What’s the biggest tip you ever got?”. The wait staff replied, “Mmmm … fifty bucks,”. Shaq wanted his sandwich, bad, he said “If we eat fast, I’ll quadruple that.”. 

And a man of his word, O’Neal did indeed pay off the waiter his much-deserved tip once he got his food quickly. Which one? You might be wondering. It is the famous sausage-and-cheese omelet.

Even at 25, he wasn’t too over the top and he knew when to give back. Shaq was raised well. And even though he had just earned a big $120 million contract, he knew not to go over the top.

Shaq’s generosity knows no bounds and it is thanks to his mom, Lucille!

Shaquille O’Neal is known for his generosity and willingness to tip large amounts of money to service industry workers. He has been known to tip servers at restaurants upwards of $1,000 and has even tipped a delivery driver $2,000 for bringing him food.

Shaq has said that he believes in treating people well and showing appreciation for their hard work, and his tipping habits reflect this philosophy. All of this was developed thanks to his mom, Lucille O’Neal.

Hailing from a poor family in New Jersey, O’Neal was taught that once you have made it, you should be courteous and help those you can. Some may view his tipping habits as excessive. But to him, it is just a kid from New Jersey who is giving back.