Shaquille O'Neal Reveals Lucrative Paychecks for Razzie-Nominated Acting Roles

The basketball legend opened up about his acting career and the surprising salaries he earned for some of his panned films.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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In an appearance on the new podcast "Glass Half Full," NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal revealed the hefty paychecks he received for starring in several of his critically-panned acting roles, including $9 million for the 1996 film "Kazaam" and $6 million for "Blue Steel." O'Neal, who has been nominated for three Golden Raspberry Awards, or Razzies, over the years, said he doesn't take himself too seriously when it comes to his acting work, which was aimed at entertaining kids.

Why it matters

Shaquille O'Neal's candid comments about the lucrative salaries he earned for his much-maligned acting roles provide an interesting window into the business side of Hollywood, where star power can sometimes outweigh critical reception. His willingness to poke fun at his own acting abilities also reinforces his reputation as a larger-than-life personality who doesn't take himself too seriously.

The details

During an appearance on the debut episode of Craig Melvin's new podcast "Glass Half Full," O'Neal revealed the specific paychecks he received for some of his most notorious acting gigs. He said he was paid $9 million for the 1996 film "Kazaam," in which he played a genie, as well as $6 million for the film "Blue Steel." O'Neal also gave a shoutout to his "Blended" co-star Adam Sandler, saying he was paid $3 million for that role. While O'Neal's acting work has earned him three Razzie nominations over the years, he said he doesn't mind the criticism, joking that he would give the Razzie voters his bank account information.

  • The podcast episode featuring O'Neal's comments was released on March 10, 2026.
  • "Kazaam" was released in 1996.

The players

Shaquille O'Neal

A former professional basketball player who is known for his successful NBA career as well as his forays into acting, including roles in films like "Kazaam," "Blue Chips," and "Blended."

Craig Melvin

The host of the new podcast "Glass Half Full" where O'Neal made his comments about his acting career and salaries.

Adam Sandler

The actor and comedian who co-starred with O'Neal in the 2014 film "Blended."

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What they’re saying

“If you could say something to the people who nominated you for those Razzies, what would you say?”

— Craig Melvin, Podcast Host (Glass Half Full)

“I would say, I would give them my Bank of America account information.”

— Shaquille O'Neal (Glass Half Full)

“'Blended,' thank you, Adam Sandler. Three million.”

— Shaquille O'Neal (Glass Half Full)

“'Blue Steel' was about six million. And 'Kazaam' was about nine (million).”

— Shaquille O'Neal (Glass Half Full)

“They paid you nine million for 'Kazaam'?”

— Craig Melvin, Podcast Host (Glass Half Full)

What’s next

There are no clear future newsworthy moments related to this story.

The takeaway

Shaquille O'Neal's willingness to openly discuss the lucrative paychecks he received for his much-maligned acting roles, despite earning multiple Razzie nominations, underscores his ability to not take himself too seriously and find humor in his own shortcomings as an actor. His comments provide an interesting glimpse into the business side of Hollywood, where star power can sometimes outweigh critical reception.