Shaquille O’Neal used to pamper his ex-wife, Shaunie Henderson, with every luxury money could buy. But after the pair’s scheme, she had to gradually become less reliant on the four-time champion for her financial necessities. For Shaunie, the key to financial independence was turning her back on the finer things in life.
She spoke about her divorce from Shaq in her memoir, Undefeated: Changing the Rules and Winning on My Own Terms.
“I turned my back on mansions, luxury cars, private jets and a lifetime of wealth and privilege. As my marriage fell apart, I realized I had to find a way to establish financial independence. I never wanted to be dependent on a man again – for money, identity or anything,” Shaunie said.
Shaq and Shaunie were married from 2002 to 2010 before filing for divorce. The move was extremely tough for the couple, but Henderson highlighted the difficulties he faced in splitting with the A-list celebrity.
“For many years, my roles in life were clear: I was a wife, a mother. I was a daughter, a sister. At times, I was a great hostess: I cooked the meals, took the kids to school, helped with homework, wiped the tears. Now I came home with nothing,” Shawnee said.
Shaq traveled the country and excelled on the basketball court, while Shawnee worked hard at home and raising the kids.
When the divorce was finalized, Shaunie was awarded custody of her children, and she detailed the challenges she faced as a mother during this time, given the lack of financial independence that came with being married.
“In fact, the only thing I got out of the divorce, other than child support, was my car. So the sudden transition from wealth and comfort to no fixed address and three people in a bed was disorienting, but it was the first step towards regaining my independence and my life.”
However, Shaunie has been able to use her experience post-divorce to amass a net worth of $35 million.
How Shaq and Shaunie’s marriage fell apart
Though the two were in a happy romantic relationship, they both shared the same reasons for the breakdown of their marriage: initially, it was Shaq who filed for divorce in 2007, but Shaunie begged the two to reconcile, and the two later reconciled.
However, in 2009, Shaunie filed for separation from Shaq, which led to the pair agreeing to a divorce in 2010. The NBA legend eventually opened up about the divorce and put all the blame on himself for his failed marriage.
“I was once happy with my ex-wife, Shaunie, but I have to admit, I was a man. A man with too many options. I chose to be with some of those women, well, that’s my fault. In my heart, I meant no disrespect, but obviously, I shouldn’t have done it,” Shaq said.
Although theirs didn’t end happily, they’ve both moved on and are enjoying life to the fullest and have done a fantastic job co-parenting their six children.