Shaquille O'Neal was clearly feeling generous on Sunday night.
According to a report by Page Six, the NBA legend was spotted taking a mystery woman to luxury New York restaurant Jue Lan Club.
However, it wasn't just his date that Big Shaq ended up treating. After what one can only assume was a fun evening, the basketball star paid for his own dinner - then footed the bill for everyone else eating in the restaurant that night too, meaning he shelled out over $25,000.
The retired sportsman - who is now a sports analyst - is well known for his generosity. But even by his own standards, picking up the tab for a restaurant full of strangers is pretty benevolent.
An insider told Page Six that Shaq and an unidentified female (who he described as "my date") arrived at Jue Lan Club around 8:30 PM on Sunday (June 12). The pair ordered Beijing chicken, shrimp tempura, and the restaurant’s signature chicken satay.
When it came to paying the check, the 50-year-old didn't only pay for his own dinner. He also bought dinner for the whole server team - and for the whole restaurant.
"To top that off, he paid for everyone’s check [who was] dining at the restaurant," the source told Page Six.
While the act was extremely generous, Shaq doesn't seem to have been looking for recognition or fame. He was reportedly very secretive about paying for his fellow diners and asked staff not to mention to the 40-plus tables of eaters that he had covered the cost of their meal until after he'd left the restaurant.
As for the total cost of everyone's food, Shaq's total bill reportedly amounted to "well over $25,000". As if this wasn't enough, the Lakers legend also made sure that Jue Lan's servers were well taken care of.
"He left them the biggest tip they’ve ever received," claimed the source.
The one mystery still remaining is the identity of Shaq's date. Since divorcing his ex-wife Shaunie in 2011, the star has been liked to actress Annie Ilonzeh, who he reportedly dated in 2021 - but it is unconfirmed whether she was the woman he dined out with at Jue Lan's.
