Do not, in any circumstances, tell Kobe Bryant about this. 'Shaq' is above him on our rich list. Bryant may have had more success on the court when all was said and done, but O'Neal has the edge on him financially so far.
O'Neal was a shooting star from his first day as a professional. During his debut season with Orlando Magic, he became the first player since Michael Jordan to win 'Rookie of the Year' and make the All Star team in the same season. A giant of a man, one of the heaviest and tallest ever to play the sport, O'Neal stood out. His personality is as large as his frame, and that made him a celebrity outside the world of baseball. His endorsement deals include, bizarrely, licensing his name to a kung fu video game which has nothing to do with the sport he played, and he's also made the transition to the wrestling ring, appearing at one of WWE's WrestleMania events.