All You Need to Know About Shaquille O'Neal's Family (Father to Six)
- Celebrity
-
- UPDATED JUNE 15, 2024
by Tasha Mayberry
580 shares
NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal proudly parents six children. He and his former wife, Shaunie O’Neal, share four children: sons Shareef and Shaqir, and daughters Amirah and Me’arah. Shaquille also has a stepson, Myles, from Shaunie’s previous relationship, and a daughter, Taahirah, with his ex-girlfriend Arnetta Yardbourgh. Shaquille O’Neal Explains Why His Daughters Can Stay Home ‘As Long As They Want’ but Sons Move Out at 18 Despite the separations, O’Neal maintains amicable relationships with his ex-partners. “I have two wonderful women who have given me beautiful, gorgeous children. I have to protect, provide, and love them forever,” he mentioned on The Pivot Podcast. On the topic of providing, O’Neal admitted his penchant for spoiling his children during Christmas, dubbing himself “Shaq-a-Claus” in a 2017 interview with Mila Kunis on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Asked about his holiday gifts, he replied, “Everything they want.com.” Although generous, Shaquille insists his children work hard. In November 2022, he told that while he supports their business endeavors, he expects a “resume,” “business plan,” and “numbers” to back their proposals. “I don’t give a s— what you are, because if it’s done the right way, I believe in nepotism,” he declared. Continue scrolling to learn more about O’Neal’s family of six.
Taahirah O'Neal, 27
Taahirah was born to Shaquille and his then-girlfriend Yardbourgh in 1996. She graduated magna cum laude from Oglethorpe University in 2019, as featured on TNT’s Shaq Life. She now works as a communications associate analyst at PepsiCo and helps manage social media part-time at her father’s entertainment company, Mine O Mine, according to her LinkedIn profile. On Nov. 16, 2022, Taahirah shared, then deleted, a joyful photo with her father at the premiere of his HBO series Shaq, captioning it, “Last night, I walked my very first carpet with my bestie at the premiere of his HBO documentary series,” expressing her honor to participate.
Myles O'Neal, 26
Myles, born to Shaunie in 1997, later adopted Shaquille’s surname. A familiar face in entertainment, he has been active on TV and fashion runways from a young age. He debuted on his mother’s show Basketball Wives in 2010 and reappeared on the family show Shaunie’s Home Court three years later. At 21, Myles made his runway debut at Dolce & Gabbana’s Spring 2018 show during Milan Fashion Week.
Shareef O'Neal, 23
Shareef, a budding basketball talent, faced a serious challenge at 18 when diagnosed with a congenital heart defect right before his freshman year at UCLA. The condition necessitated open-heart surgery. “I was the No. 1 player in California then. I thought I might never play again,” he shared on the Now For Later podcast. The surgery was successful, and he continued his career at UCLA and LSU, eventually leaving college to turn professional. “My dad once told me in the hospital, ‘Don’t let anyone tell you can’t do something.’ I’ve always remembered that,” he added.
Amirah O'Neal, 21
Amirah follows in her father’s footsteps as a college athlete, playing basketball for Texas Southern University after starting as a walk-on at LSU.
Shaqir O'Neal, 20
Shaqir, like his siblings, is passionate about sports. The forward for TSU committed to the university to “change the narrative” about historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), he told ESPN. “Expect a lot of buckets,” he confidently stated in an interview with Overtime. “I’m trying to make it to the league.
Me'arah O'Neal, 17
Me’arah, the youngest, recently marked the end of her time with her extracurricular basketball program, CyFair Elite Sports. In July 2023, she posted Instagram photos from her last game, captioning, “it’s officially all over… real bittersweet man imma miss it.
Shaquille O'Neal and Ex Shaunie's Relationship Timeline
Shaquille O’Neal’s illustrious NBA career spanned over two decades and six teams. However, his personal life, particularly his seven-year marriage to Shaunie, which ended in divorce, brings him regret. Their relationship began in the late 1990s after Shaquille joined the Los Angeles Lakers. Together, they experienced a lavish life, complete with a grand Beverly Hills wedding, six children, and a 31,000-square-foot home.
