Shaquille O’Neal Admits He Spent $1,000 to Combat His ‘Smelly Feet’

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Shaquille O’Neal has a unique approach to self-care that comes at no small cost. In a recent episode of The big podcast with Shaqthe retired basketball giant discussed his penchant for regular pedicures.

“I’m giving about $1,000 because I know my feet stink,” Shaq revealed via the Sports Center Instagram. “I know they’re ugly and I like to paint them. I paint those things because it’s ugly and I want it to look beautiful.” The post also included a video of his toes painted a bright blue color.

The NBA Hall of Famer attributed his habit of painting his toenails to an incident advised by his mother, Lucille O’Neal. He told about a game where a painted toenail led to a remarkable performance.

“True story: One time I had a toenail ripped off and I didn’t want to play in the game,” Shaq said. “I tore my toenail off so (my mom) did something and then she put some red polish on the thing and I had 40 that game. So I thought, you know what, I’m just going to start painting my toenails. “

Shaqille O'Neal
Retired NBA player/television personality Shaquille O’Neal attends Shaq Attack Day at Nana’s Chicken & Waffles on April 17, 2024 in McDonough, Georgia. The former basketball star revealed he spent $1,000 on pedicures to get his…


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The 52-year-old legend isn’t shy about his color choices either. He likes lively and sparkling designs. “I like glitter and designs and all that stuff,” he added, “just to make it look nice because I have ugly, smelly feet.”

This routine has been part of Shaq’s regimen for years. In 2019, during a segment on Good morning America, he got a pedicure while explaining to co-hosts Michael Strahan and Sara Haines that the tradition started with his daughters. “One time I had a toe injury and my daughters were young,” Shaq explained. “They played games with Dad. They painted my toes and I had a good game, so it became part of my ritual. And it makes my feet look a little better.”

In a more unusual spa treatment, Shaq also shared his experience at a fish foot spa in Las Vegas, where he treated his feet to a fish nibbling cleanse. “The experience was amazing,” he shared on Instagram, “and the fish love my feet at the Fashion Show Mall.”