Of course, March 6 isn’t just any day—it’s Shaquille O’Neal’s birthday, It is an event! And this year, his kids and friends made sure it was one to remember. From heartfelt Instagram tributes to a jaw-dropping surprise gift, the Big Diesel was feeling the love all around. And his kids made sure to make it one to remember. Taahirah O’Neal, Shareef O’Neal, Shaqir O’Neal, and Me’Arah O’Neal each took to Instagram, flooding their father with love and heartfelt wishes.
Taahirah, Shaq’s eldest, went all out, dedicating her entire Instagram story to him. Meanwhile, Shaqir posted a nostalgic snap of himself as a child, sitting comfortably on his father’s lap. But the biggest surprise of the day came from an unexpected source. Well, you see, the birthday love didn’t stop at home. Over the past year, Shaq formed a special bond with Effortless Motors, a California startup. And on his big day, they took their appreciation to another level.
CEO Ahmad Abdelrahman FaceTimed Shaq with a surprise that left the big man speechless. “Happy birthday, Shaq. It’s your birthday. Guess what? I got you a brand-new 2025 Chevy truck for your birthday that I’m gonna hook up. Just for your birthday. You’ve done a lot for me all year, and this is the perfect day to return your favor, man.”
While Ahmad didn’t spill the details to keep the surprise intact, it’s no secret that this is one expensive gift. The 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 starts at $37,645, but depending on the trim and options, it can go all the way up to $70,995. And Shaq’s reaction when he found out?
“Hold on, I’m about to cry,” Shaq said before hilariously pretending to tear up. Of course, he was joking, but the gratitude was real. “I love you guys. I appreciate it. Thanks, my guy,” he said.
But how did Shaq and Effortless Motors even become friends? Now, that’s a story worth telling.
Instagram mishap to Shaquille O’Neal’s friend
Of course, Shaquille O’Neal has always had a thing for cars, but his connection with Effortless Motors? That’s all thanks to LeBron James—though not in the way you’d expect. Earlier, O’Neal had the startup’s CEO, Ahmad Abdelrahman, on The Big Podcast, where they laughed about how their first encounter was pure chaos. It all started when one of Abdelrahman’s interns decided to get creative, posting a fake clip on their Instagram page.
The video showed a Bugatti being loaded onto a truck, supposedly for James. But here’s the problem—James had never bought that car from them. And when he saw the post, he wasn’t having it. Taking to Instagram, the Lakers star reshared the clip, blasting the dealers in all caps: “Stop the [cap]!! LIARS!! I don’t know y’all and I don’t even have that car. CLOUT CHASERS.” Safe to say, that plan backfired.
No one expected the post to actually reach James. “It’s a Bugatti, a high-ranked car, so we’re trying to show him some praise, you know? And we’re a small page, I didn’t think in a million years anybody would ever see that,” Abdelrahman admitted. But not only did James see it—so did Shaq.
And Shaq’s response? Classic. “My thing was, Bron is 6’9’’, 6’10’’, I know ‘cause he’s a friend of mine. If he can fit into this car, cause I thought it was his, if he can fit into this car and he don’t want it, I’mma call old boy up.”
And just like that, what started as an Instagram mishap turned into an unexpected friendship.
The post ‘I’m About To Cry’: California Startup Leaves Shaquille O’Neal in Tears With $70,995 Birthday Gift appeared first on EssentiallySports.
