Shaquille O’Neal is a true businessman at his core. Yet beneath the brand deals, he remains a die-hard Marvel superfan—especially when it comes to the Hulk. On the court, he likened his dominance to the Hulk—crushing opponents with sheer force. As a young kid, he was deeply inspired. So, when his eyes landed on a cherished Marvel gem, he was almost on the brink of parting with half of his net worth!
He offered $300 million—over half his net worth—for the one-of-a-kind piece just to get his hands on a precious item from a New York jeweler. Adam Mirzoeff of East Continental Gems had previously sat down with O’Neal to talk about his iconic collaboration with Marvel to create a one-of-a-kind collectible. It’s a gauntlet, not just any, but a screen-accurate Infinity Gauntlet worn by one of the most powerful forces in the Marvel Universe, Thanos.
While watching the movie with his kids, Mirzoeff was moved by how much power the gems held in the story. Though O’Neal maintained a serious face throughout, he couldn’t hide his excitement when he mentioned his final offer to Mirzoeff. “So a billionaire art collector is watching this show, and he offers you $300 million…do you let it go? $300 million, that’s my last and final offer.” O’Neal asked on behalf of a billionaire seemingly hiding his own interest!
The replica Infinity Gauntlet is adorned with six gemstones representing powers: Time, Space, Reality, Mind, Power, and Soul. Independent appraisals value the emerald (Time), Mozambique ruby (Reality), sapphire (Space), amethyst (Power), garnet (Soul), and diamond (Mind) at $25 million total.
Sep 15, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Former NBA player Shaquille O’Neal stands on the sidelines before a game between the New Orleans Saints and Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images
Mirzoeff acknowledged the temptation but declined the offer. “Honestly, I look at the one of one collection as an opportunity. If you had Babe Ruth’s rookie card (something like that)… you don’t want to give away!” he said.
So, whether O’Neal was interested or not, an opportunity to own this iconic piece was missed. But why is Shaq so invested in this item related to Thanos? The answer is perhaps in his love for superheroes.
How Shaquille O’Neal’s “delinquent” days forged his Superhero obsession
The Big Aristotle is a huge admirer of superheroes. Then again, who isn’t? But why does he feel such a deep connection with them? Is it because he himself is a superhero? Is it because fans call him Superman? Not quite, as a child, he enjoyed watching superheroes on screen because of a particular aspect of his own behavior.
Long before he terrorized NBA courts, Shaquille O’Neal was a “medium juvenile delinquent,” as he admitted on The Jordan Harbinger Show, spending afternoons grounded and glued to the TV, where superheroes became his escape and inspiration. With every apology letter and missed curfew, young Shaq found solace in the epic struggles of Marvel’s mightiest: the Hulk’s raw power mirrored his own on–court dominance, while Superman’s moral code offered a model he desperately needed.
“Growing up as a medium juvenile delinquent always on punishment, (I) at least had an opportunity to watch tv and just see superheroes and get entrenched inside the stories they were telling,” he said. He even expressed a desire to star in a Marvel movie with the Avengers.
That childhood affinity translated to his adult life in two striking ways. First, in 1997, he stepped into the shoes of Superman’s steel-armored cousin as the title character in Steel, becoming one of the first Black actors to lead a comic-book movie. Even if the film grossed just $1.7 million at the box office. Second, his unfulfilled dream to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe persists: on multiple talk-show appearances, Shaq has joked about “kicking Robert Downey Jr.’s a—” on the Avengers set, only to acknowledge that channeling Thanos himself might be his ultimate role.
For the Los Angeles Lakers legend, superheroes aren’t just childhood heroes. Every grounding led to a new comic, every punishment deepened his empathy for underdogs, and every on–screen battle fueled the fearless competitor he became. It’s why—even at 52—he still proudly proclaims his identity not just as “Shaq,” but as a lifelong member of Marvel’s greatest.
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