NBA icon Shaquille O’Neal reportedly bought dinner for an entire restaurant whilst out on a date with a mystery woman on Sunday night. O’Neal was out enjoying an evening meal with his date at Jue Lan Club - a Chinese restaurant located in New York.
After enjoying his food, the basketball legend was clearly feeling generous, as he settled the bills of everybody in the restaurant as well as his own, according to Page Six. O’Neal is said to have arrived at the Chinese eatery at around 8:30pm local time.
Enjoying his night with his mystery date, the former Orlando Magic and LA Lakers star ordered Beijing chicken and shrimp tempura, as well as the restaurant’s ‘signature chicken satay’.
When covering the bill of the whole restaurant, O’Neal did not want any recognition for his unwavering generosity after telling staff at Jue Lan Club to keep his kindness a secret from guests until he had left the restaurant. His generous act was also received by the waiting staff too, who received a hefty tip for the work.
According to the Page Six insider, the basketball legend was ‘extremely generous to staff, leaving “them the biggest tip they’ve ever received.” The whole restaurant bill unsurprisingly set O’Neal back a pretty penny, with the total sum said to be ‘well over $25,000’.
This is not the first time the ex-Lakers star has shown his generosity to the general public, after O’Neal covered the payment of a man purchasing an engagement ring last year. In a video uploaded on social media, the sporting legend can be seen making his way around a jewellery store.
Whilst doing so a man - who looks to be at the till completing a purchase - receives a pat on the back and a handshake from O’Neal, who hand a credit card to a member of staff. The lucky man waiting to collect his ring then thanked the basketball star, and is heard saying ‘I appreciate it’.
