Shaquille O'Neal bought this 2004 Rolls-Royce Phantom after salesman asked unbelievably annoying question and now it's for sale
Published on Nov 03, 2026 at 5:29 AM (UTC-5)
by Alessandro Renesis
Last updated on Nov 03, 2026 at 5:29 AM (UTC-5)
Edited by
Mason Jones
By his own admission, Shaquille O’Neal is a bit of a car hoarder, a point that was proven years ago when he bought three Rolls-Royce Phantom sedans out of spite.
Shaq felt challenged by the salesman, and ended up buying a several Rolls-Royces.
Well, now one of those is for sale.
A brief recap of what happened with this Rolls-Royce
He must have looked like an everyday basketball fan rather than a multi-millionaire superstar.
Or at least that’s what the salesman must’ve thought.
Because, unaware of who he was, he asked if he could ‘even afford these cars’.
Shaq didn’t take it well and decided to buy three separate Rolls-Royce Phantoms on the spot, spending around $1.3 million in a single afternoon.
Years later, Shaq openly admitted that it was one of the most impulsive and financially reckless moves of his life – especially since the rude salesman walked away with a massive commission check.Well, now one of these cars is for sale.
Why this car depreciated so much
The 2004 Rolls-Royce Phantom you see here is remarkable for two reasons.
First, this was the first Rolls-Royce model to debut under BMW’s ownership.
Second, its connection to Shaquille O’Neal.
Even so, this Phantom is unlikely to command that high a sum in the market.
The thing is, Shaq sold the car in 2018, and it has since accumulated around 45,000 miles.
While it carries a colorful backstory, this is still a 22-year-old Phantom with significant mileage.
And modern Phantoms depreciate quite sharply.
This isn’t an analog sports car, it’s a comfortable luxury sedan, which means its navigation system, infotainment, and mobile phone integration are obsolete.
But it’s still a Rolls-Royce, which means repair bills can be astronomical.
Couple that with the stellar MSRP and it’s easy to see why it depreciates so badly.
In general, 2000s Phantoms go for between $50,000 and $90,000.
Shaq’s collection is wild
Shaq’s collection is crazy, not just because of what he owns, but mainly because nearly all of his cars are customized.
With exceptions, for example the Cybertruck, most cars are too small for Shaquille O’Neal.
As a result, the NBA legend has had to modify his cars just so he could fit in them.
He’s done it with Ferraris and Lambos, and he’s even done it with a Lucid Air.
Shaq is the owner of the only two-door Lucid Air in the world.
Imagine that.
Alessandro is an automotive journalist with 10 years of experience covering supercars, automotive history, emerging vehicle technology, and luxury transportation. He wrote the first article published on SupercarBlondie.com when the website launched in 2022 and has since built a reputation for insightful reporting across the automotive and transportation industries. His expertise is grounded in hands-on experience. Alessandro has driven every Tesla model ever produced, from the original Roadster to the Cybertruck, and regularly covers the latest developments in electric vehicles and automotive innovation. His passion for transportation extends beyond cars, he has even flown a Boeing 787 Dreamliner simulator in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. His reporting spans everything from classic American muscle cars and rare automotive discoveries to luxury yachts, private aircraft, high-end watches, and cutting-edge vehicle technology. Known for his deep knowledge of automotive history and ability to uncover the stories behind iconic vehicles, Alessandro brings readers a blend of historical context, technical expertise, and first-hand experience.
