‘Got to go’: Shaquille O’Neal’s controversial parenting rules

Shaquille O’Neal has told his sons they have to leave the nest at 18, but the basketball icon enforces a different policy with his daughters.

Former Los Angeles Lakers star Shaquille O’Neal has told his sons they have to leave the nest at 18, but the NBA icon enforces a different policy with his daughters.

Speaking on the The Pivot Podcast this week, O’Neal detailed his house rules — the three boys will need to fend for themselves after they reach adulthood, while his three girls can stay at home as long as they need.

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“I tell my boys when y’all get 18 you all got to go. Girls can stay as long as they want,” he explained.

“Take your time. Go to college, get your master’s, get your doctorate, I’ll pay for it, take your time.

“I like my girls a little bit better. Because as a man you have to protect, provide and love your woman.

“I trust them more because they’re more sensitive, they’re more caring and they’re thinkers. You know how boys are. My boys, you bring something in front of them and they’re gone.”

O’Neal had his eldest daughter Taahira with former girlfriend Arnetta Yardbourgh, while he shared Me’arah and Amirah with ex-wife Shaunie O’Neal.

Shaquille O'Neal with his family in 2019. Photo by Michael Tullberg/Getty Images

Shaquille O'Neal with his kids in 2019. Photo by John Sciulli/WireImage

Last year, the 50-year-old explained that his kids don’t get a free pass just because their father is a Basketball Hall of Famer.

“My kids are older now. They kinda upset with me. Not really upset, but they don’t understand,” he told the Earn Your Leisure podcast.

“I tell them all the time. We ain’t rich. I’m rich.

“I don’t care if you play basketball. I don’t care about none of that. Listen, I got six kids. I would like a doctor, somebody to own a hedge fund, a pharmacist, a lawyer, someone that owns multiple businesses, someone to take over my business. But I tell them I’m not going to hand it to you. You gotta earn it.”

O’Neal is estimated to have a net worth of more than AU$500 million. His playing days over, he’s an analyst on TNT’s Inside the NBA and has a reported 50 different endorsement deals including Gold Bond, Reebok, Pepsi and The General. There’s also multiple US dining ventures like Papa John’s, Big Chicken and Shaquille’s.

In September last year, O’Neal opened up about his humble beginnings in an interview with the New York Post.

“I came from nothing,” he said. “But, just because I made it doesn’t mean I’m bigger than you, smarter than you — just because I have more money doesn’t mean I’m better than you.

“I’ve never been that way and I never will be that way.”

— with the NY Post

Originally published as ‘Got to go’: Shaquille O’Neal’s controversial parenting rules