How often do we see the fun-loving Shaquille O’Neal miss out on some family time? From visiting numerous colleges with his youngest daughter, Me’Arah, to surprising his mother, courtesy of his eldest daughter, Taahirah, the NBA icon seems like a perfect dad. However, that doesn’t change the fact that O’Neal is busy throughout the year owing to his gigs as a basketball analyst, entrepreneur, DJ, and more. Despite his peers at TNT enjoying their summer break, Shaq chose not to rest. That commitment did lead to him missing out on Taahirah’s birthday celebrations, though.

Turning 28 this year, Taahirah can be seen celebrating her birthday month with close friends on Instagram. Despite staying close to his eldest daughter, Shaquille O’Neal couldn’t join the celebrations due to his job as a DJ. He spends much of his time honing his skills as a DJ. But you will be surprised to know that O’Neal doesn’t even get paid for it. Even now, O’Neal is out for a European trip with his son, Myles, to mesmerize his fans as DJ Diesel.

The 4x NBA Champ was out in Romania on the 19th, taking over the crowd with his EDM sets. Nevertheless, that meant he wasn’t there to celebrate with his daughter. Yesterday was the Day 2 celebration for Taahirah. In the first Instagram Story, she posted a picture of her outfit. For Night 2, she went for a simple look with a chic black dress. The next was a snap from the location and the third Instagram Story had a clip where Taahirah’s friends could be heard singing her a birthday song. She was born on July 19, 1996, to O’Neal and his ex-girlfriend, Arnetta Yardbourgh.

Just around this time, O’Neal had to gear up for his concert tour- Shaq’s Summer of Bass. The NBA legend had already made the commitment for which he has to travel across Europe and North America. The Los Angeles Lakers legend had concerts on both July 19 and 21 at Cluj, Romania and Boom, Belgium, respectively. This will continue till the October of this year. One would ask why O’Neal travels across the globe for a job that, according to him, doesn’t even pay him anything.

Why does Shaquille O’Neal love his DJ Job despite no financial gain?

Shaquille O’Neal boasts a net worth of $500 million. Much of his earnings are from his work at TNT and his important investments, such as the Big Chicken chain, Papa John’s, and more. However, O’Neal isn’t interested in making money from his DJing job.

He is quite successful in the music world and could earn millions. However, he chose not to. He gets paid but not by money. Instead, it is with the satisfaction and enjoyment of playing the best music for his fans. “I want you to jam out. I want you to have fun. I’m not about promoting myself and having people go, ‘Look, who’s that?’” Shaq expressed last year via Yahoo Entertainment. But a little part of it is for the DJ himself, to revisit his excitement in the NBA.

“When I DJ, it gives me the same adrenaline rush as a playoff championship game. That’s why I do it,”  he admitted. Importantly, all of it stemmed from the fact that music helped him get out during difficult times. Thus, call it an act of giving back, DJing for free is not the only thing Shaq has embraced.

The Big Aristotle also collaborates mostly with the up-and-coming and lesser-known artists to support them. It is simply his love for music that drives him. After releasing multiple albums as a rapper in the 90s, Shaq ventured into Electronic Dance Music after retirement. Last year, he also released his first EDM album, Gorilla Warfare, which got quite popular among fans.

The 52-year-old was last spotted at Taahirah’s surprise party for her grandmother. Celebrating Shaq’s mom, Lucille’s 70th birthday, Taahriah made all the arrangements and invited family and friends. While the night was for Lucille, the 7’1 giant can’t escape the cameras easily. He might have missed Taahirah’s birthday party, but the celebrations are not over yet. There’s still a chance he might join in the celebrations later in the week.