Shaquille O’Neal, NBA legend and savvy businessman, found himself in hot water over an alleged misrepresentation concerning the price of his custom-made chopper. The bike, a product of West Coast Choppers, is a 14-foot black chrome behemoth that took over a year to build. The controversy unfolded when Jesse, the deal broker from West Coast Choppers, confronted Shaq at LA’s Century Club over the bike’s real cost.
Jesse claimed that O’Neal had purchased the bike for $55,000, a far cry from the $155,000 price tag that the basketball great had publicly declared. The confrontation was captured on camera, and Shaq had a somewhat surprising justification for the discrepancy.
O’Neal later explained in a widely-viewed YouTube post: “Well Jesse, the answer is, I wanted to make you look good. I only paid 50 [50,000] but if I tell them I paid 100 [100,000] when they come and ask for the same bike, you tell them a 100. Your profit is 100 [$100,000]. I was looking out for you, not for me.”
The rationale behind inflating the price, according to Shaq, was to boost the bike maker’s brand and profit margins, not his own prestige. Whether you view it as a cunning marketing move or questionable ethics, it’s undeniable that Shaq’s tactic turned heads. The video of his exchange with Jesse gained rapid traction online, shared by O’Neal himself on his Instagram story.
This episode is particularly intriguing when you consider Shaquille O’Neal’s own brand power and affinity for luxury vehicles. Known for his indulgent spending on high-end cars, Shaq has previously made headlines for splurging a million dollars in a single day on automobiles for himself and his family.
As one of the wealthiest NBA players globally, Shaq certainly doesn’t need to embellish a $55,000 purchase. Yet his unique approach to inflate the bike’s price serves as an unconventional marketing strategy that has got people talking—once again showcasing Shaq’s business acumen, for better or for worse.
[…] […]
[…] NBA superstar Paul Pierce appears to have quite the life even after he’s left the court behind. However a new […]
[…] know the price of meat is pretty ridiculous these days but we didn’t think 2023 would include meat heists. A couple of men in Harris County, […]
[…] Read the full story on The Backfire News […]
[…] Korean dictator Kim Jong-un has a taste for the finer things in life. Considering he’s celebrated as a deity among his people, who live a rather austere lifestyle, he […]
[…] a keynote address delivered during Oracle CloudWorld 2023, CTO Larry Ellison revealed the company’s new First Responder System. Using a “Satellite + Terrestiral Fail-Safe Mobile […]
[…] O’Neal’s collection recently saw the addition of a ‘Black Superman’-themed Dodge Charger Hellcat, masterfully crafted by customizer Eric Forbes. Not just stopping there, O’Neal’s latest addition is part of a ‘Hellcat triplet’ with two more in distinct grey and burgundy shades. The burgundy Hellcat is set to receive a ‘police’ theme transformation, further illustrating Shaq’s distinct taste. […]
[…] also because it accelerates so much faster than the Corolla they ditched to buy it. This type of mentality seems to be true with this rider in Arkansas as he blasts past a trooper, weaving through fairly […]
[…] old saying that money doesn’t buy taste certainly applies to Shaq’s new Ram TRX customized by Apocalypse. In its stock form, the TRX isn’t a bad-looking ride at all. […]