Time is money: a saying imposed quite often but Charles Barkley seems to have escaped this notion. But for Chuck money is money. “I don’t wanna be broke again. I was broke growing up…” Chuck’s words on Dan Patrick Show once reflected how much he values money. And it’s seemingly because of this practice that he avoids one luxury that many NBA stars enjoy quite often.
The topic came up during a conversation about Ohio State head coach Ryan Day’s success in the aviation business with Marquis Jets. The $5 Billion that the company earned in 9 years, as per Capitalism.com, is a testament to this success.
The discussion, however, led to Chuck confessing his own jet habits. “I used to fly Marquis jets all the time. I don’t fly private a lot… Probably private five times a year. But I use Shaq’s guy now.”
February 20, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; NBA great Charles Barkley is honored for being selected to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team during halftime in the 2022 NBA All-Star Game at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Now, if you’re wondering why someone like Charles Barkley doesn’t go all-in on private jets, it boils down to practicality and cost. Just to give you an idea, Shaquille O’Neal owns a Bombardier Challenger 650—a flying palace with cream leather seats, glossy wood paneling, and even a bed. Sounds tempting, right? Well, this $27 million masterpiece doesn’t come cheap to operate.
When asked if he owned a jet, Barkley didn’t mince words during one of his appearances on The Dan Patricks Show. “Hell no! You know how expensive those things are? Dude, every time one of those bad boys takes off, it’s like 25 thousand dollars. One way. That’s crazy. I’ve done it before…”
It’s refreshing to see someone like Chuck being so grounded—literally. He’s more than happy to leave the jet-setting lifestyle to Shaq and just enjoy the perks every now and then. However, money is the only factor behind Barkley’s reluctance.
Charles Barkley once suffered a major fraud with his finances
It’s worth mentioning Barkley’s choice to steer clear of private jets isn’t just about the hefty price tag. It’s tied to a painful lesson he learned the hard way. Imagine trusting someone with your entire livelihood, only to find out they’ve been taking advantage of you. That’s exactly what happened to Chuck during his early NBA days. And it almost left him with nothing.
Back in college at Auburn, the 11x All-Star met Lance Luchnik, the man who would become his agent. Feeling he had found someone dependable, Barkley put his faith in him. But years later, Barkley discovered that the very person he trusted had mismanaged his finances—and even stolen from him.
“I was broke after the first four years in the league because my first agent stole all my money,” Barkley revealed on an episode of The Dan Patrick Show. “If I ever see him again, I’m gonna beat him to a pulp. He never apologized.”
This betrayal became a wake-up call for Barkley. Since then, he’s been fiercely protective of his hard-earned wealth, determined never to relive such a nightmare.
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