Shaunie O’Neal is an American television personality, executive producer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist.
She is best known for creating and producing the popular reality TV series Basketball Wives, Basketball Wives LA, and Baller Wives, which follow the lives of women who are romantically linked to professional basketball players.
She is also the ex-wife of former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal and the mother of five children. As of 2023, Shaunie O’Neal’s net worth is estimated to be around $40 million.
Shaunie O’Neal’s Background and Early Life
Early Life and Education
In Wichita Falls, Texas, Va’Shaundya Karlette Nelson became Shaunie O’Neal on November 27, 1974. She is African-American and American. Los Angeles was her hometown, and she attended USC. Communications was her bachelor’s degree.
Entry into the Entertainment Industry
After college, Shaunie O’Neal started working as a film marketer for Fox Entertainment and later for A&E Networks. She also developed an interest in producing and creating her own content. She met Shaquille O’Neal in 1998 and they started dating soon after. They got engaged in 2000 and married in 2002 at the Beverly Hills Hotel.
Shaunie O’Neal’s Career and Success
Role as a TV Personality and Producer
Shaunie O’Neal rose to fame as one of the executive producers and cast members of Basketball Wives, a reality TV series that premiered on VH1 in 2010. The show chronicles the personal and professional lives of women who are married to or have dated NBA players. The show became a huge hit and spawned several spin-offs, including Basketball Wives LA, which debuted in 2011 and featured Shaunie as a recurring guest star.
Shaunie O’Neal also produced and starred in other reality TV shows, such as Shaunie’s Home Court, which follows her family life with her five children, and Shaunie & Keion’s Destination “I Do”, which documents her wedding to Pastor Keion Henderson in Anguilla in 2022. She also appeared as a guest judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Season 6 in 2021.
Creations and Contributions to Reality TV
Shaunie O’Neal is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in reality TV, especially in the genre of sports-related shows. She is credited with creating a platform for women who are often overshadowed by their famous partners to share their stories and perspectives. She is also praised for showcasing the diversity and complexity of women in the basketball world, as well as addressing social issues such as domestic violence, racism, mental health, and female empowerment.
Shaunie O’Neal has also been involved in various projects behind the scenes, such as developing new shows, mentoring aspiring producers, and collaborating with other networks and media outlets. She has received several awards and nominations for her work, such as the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Reality Series for Basketball Wives in 2012.
Business Ventures and Investments
Besides her successful career in television, Shaunie O’Neal is also a savvy entrepreneur and investor. She has launched several businesses over the years, such as a shoe line called Chinese Laundry by Shaunie O’Neal in 2011, a jewelry line called Forever Shaunie in 2014, and a podcast called Let’s Talk About It with Shaunie O’Neal in 2020. She has also invested in real estate properties, such as a mansion in Los Angeles that she bought for $12 million in 2018.
Shaunie O’Neal’s Personal Life
Marriage to Shaquille O’Neal
Shaunie O’Neal was married to Shaquille O’Neal from 2002 to 2011. They had four children together: Shareef (b. 2000), Amirah (b. 2001), Shaqir (b. 2003), and Me’arah (b. 2006). Shaunie also has a son named Myles (b. 1997) from a previous relationship, while Shaquille has a daughter named Taahirah (b. 1996) from his former girlfriend Arnetta Yardbourgh.
Shaunie and Shaquille had a tumultuous relationship that was plagued by rumors of infidelity and irreconcilable differences. They separated several times before finally filing for divorce in 2009. The divorce was finalized in 2011 after a lengthy and bitter legal battle over custody, alimony, and assets. Despite their divorce, Shaunie and Shaquille have maintained a cordial relationship and co-parent their children amicably.
Family and Children
Shaunie O’Neal is a devoted mother to her five children, who are all following in their parents’ footsteps in different ways. Her oldest son, Shareef, is a basketball player who currently plays for LSU after transferring from UCLA in 2020. He also survived a heart surgery in 2019 that sidelined him for a year. Her daughter, Amirah, is also a basketball player who committed to LSU in 2021. Her son, Shaqir, is a high school basketball star who has received offers from several colleges. Her daughter, Me’arah, is an emerging basketball talent who has impressed many with her skills. Her son, Myles, is a model and aspiring rapper who goes by the stage name Myles O’Neal.
Shaunie O’Neal remarried in 2022 to Pastor Keion Henderson, the founder and senior pastor of The Lighthouse Church in Houston, Texas. They got engaged in November 2021 after dating for two years and tied the knot in a lavish ceremony in Anguilla in May 2022. They have blended their families and are living happily together.
Philanthropic Activities
Shaunie O’Neal is also a generous philanthropist who supports various causes and charities. She founded the Shaunie’s Kids Foundation in 2012, which aims to provide education, health, and social services to underprivileged children and families. She also supports organizations such as the Boys & Girls Club of America, the American Heart Association, the Lupus LA Foundation, and the Women of Tomorrow Mentor & Scholarship Program. She has also participated in several fundraising events and campaigns for various causes, such as breast cancer awareness, domestic violence prevention, and COVID-19 relief.
Shaunie O’Neal’s Net Worth
Evaluation of Net Worth
Shaunie O’Neal’s net worth is estimated to be around $40 million as of 2023. She has accumulated her wealth from her multiple sources of income, such as her television career, her business ventures, her investments, and her divorce settlement from Shaquille O’Neal.
Sources of Income and Assets
Shaunie O’Neal’s main source of income is her television career as a producer and personality. She reportedly earns around $100,000 per episode of Basketball Wives, which has been running for nine seasons as of 2021. She also earns from her other shows, such as Basketball Wives LA, Shaunie’s Home Court, and Shaunie & Keion’s Destination “I Do”. She also makes money from her podcast, Let’s Talk About It with Shaunie O’Neal.
Shaunie O’Neal also earns from her business ventures, such as her shoe line, her jewelry line, and her book deal. She also makes money from her investments in real estate properties, such as her mansion in Los Angeles which she bought for $12 million in 2018. She also received a hefty divorce settlement from Shaquille O’Neal in 2011, which included $10 million in cash, half of their properties, and $20,000 per month in child support.
Future Prospects and Projects
Shaunie O’Neal is expected to increase her net worth in the future as she continues to expand her career and portfolio. She has several projects lined up for 2023 and beyond, such as producing new shows for VH1 and other networks, launching new products and brands under her name, and investing in more properties and businesses. She is also planning to write a memoir about her life and experiences. She is also looking forward to spending more time with her husband and children and enjoying their new chapter as a family.
