Shaquille O’Neal’s maintenance bill for $26m private jet had fans’ jaws on the floor
- Shaquille O’Neal invested in a $20 million private jet last year
- The sports mogul previously stated he wouldn’t own one due to costs
- In fact, the figure left fans of the MVP in disbelief
Published on Sep 06, 2024 at 5:50 PM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Last updated on Sep 06, 2024 at 5:55 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
Shaquille O’Neal is big both in stature and business acumen – however, it turns out the maintenance bill for his $20 million private jet is just as huge.
The sports mogul previously stated that he wouldn’t own a private due to ‘too much maintenance’.
While his net worth of roughly $500 million can certainly cover it – it’s a hefty figure.
In fact, it left the loyal fans of the MVP in disbelief.
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The Bombardier Challenger 650 private jet
Back in 2010, Shaquille O’Neal told Jetset magazine that he wouldn’t get a jet ‘because there’s too much maintenance’.
However, he seems to have changed his mind after investing in a Bombardier Challenger 650 last year.
Matching its owner in the size stakes, the Bombardier Challenger 650 features the widest cabin in its class, carrying 12 people for a maximum range of 4,000nm at a top speed of Mach 0.85.
He’s previously shared what he has to do to fit into his Ferraris and Lamborghinis.
Inside the cabin, the white aircraft complete with his Dunkman symbol on the tailplane boasts a lavish interior with wood paneling and leather seating in neutral tones.
Maintenance costs for Shaquille O’Neal
Shaq certainly wasn’t wrong with his 2010 assertion, however.
According to Liberty Jet, using his jet for 200 hours a year would set back Shaquille O’Neal approximately $1,350,000.
That imposing figure includes $517,000 for fuel; $307,000 for cabin crew, $93,000 for an engine overhaul, and $792,909 for direct operating costs.
Fans spoke out in disbelief with one stating: “Mad money but he can pay for that easily.”
Another quipped: “This is why I catch public transport.”
The private jet isn’t the only vehicle that’s expensive to run.
Check out the breakdown of the Bugatti Chiron’s 8-figure price tag and why maintenance is so expensive.
Shaq’s $80 million superyacht also has a jaw-dropping weekly maintenance bill.
All Supercar Blondie contributors undergo editorial review and fact-checking to ensure accuracy and authority in automotive journalism. After gaining her BA Hons in French and English at the University of Nottingham, Amelia embarked on a vocational diploma from the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ). This led to numerous opportunities, from interning at Vogue to being on the small team that launched Women’s Health magazine in the UK, which was named the PPA Consumer magazine of the year for three years running. As Health, Beauty and Fitness editor, Amelia personally received a Johnson & Johnson Award and was shortlisted for both PPA and BSME titles. Since then, Amelia has created content for numerous titles and brands, including the Telegraph, 111 Skin, Waitrose, Red magazine, Stylist, and Elle, as well as being Head of Content at Vitality and Editor in Chief at INLondon magazine. “My superpower is translating technical jargon about the mechanical workings of a supercar into a relatable story you’ll want to share with your friends after you’ve read it.” After joining the SB Media family as a senior journalist in September of 2023, Amelia’s role has evolved to see her heading up the SEO output of the editorial team. From researching the most ‘Google-able’ key terms to producing evergreen content - it’s been a time of hard work, growth, and success for the editorial team and the Supercar Blondie website. “I like to think of myself as a ‘method journalist’. In other words: I live and breathe whatever I am writing about. When writing about fitness, I trained as a personal trainer, and as a beauty editor, I completed an ‘expert’ in scent diploma with the Fragrance Foundation. “During my tenure at Supercar Blondie, however, I did something I never thought possible: I passed my driving test at the age of 36. One day I’d love to train as a mechanic to better understand what happens under the hood, too. “My sweet spot is providing readers with a ‘takeaway’ (read: something new they didn’t know before) after reading every one of my stories. While I don’t claim to be an expert in the automotive world, I know the experts and bodies in the field to rely on to provide our readers with an informative and thought-provoking story every time they visit the site.”
