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Return of ‘Shaq-apulco’! Shaquille O’Neal Cuts Price on Florida Mansion

We often see luxe homes disappear from the market without enticing a buyer. New agents are then brought in for a reset of the marketing plan. Most times, a mansion appears back on the market at a lower price. But it’s rare to see an estate come back with a price cut and even more amenities.

Yet Shaquille O’Neal‘s famous “Shaq-apulco” in Windermere, FL, defies all norms.

Area security systems have been improved to the tune of $1.4 million, but the price tag on the Hall of Famer’s glam estate has been slashed from $28 million to $22 million.

Though still pricey, the massive, 31,000-square-foot mansion is a deal. It sits on a 4-acre waterfront lot and is the largest property in the exclusive enclave just outside of Orlando. Windermere is one of Florida’s finest residential areas, says real estate agent Dustin Fealy of The Agency.

“We wanted to create excitement with the adjusted price,” says Fealy, who is co-listing the property with The Agency’s Anne Marie Dietz. “We’re confident in the price, and feel we may get above asking for it.

“We want to create a brand that appeals to a specific clientele,” he continues. “We’re reaching out to specific buyers who’d appreciate the property.”

Fealy acknowledges the challenge of selling the one-of-a-kind mansion: “It’s a very unique home, considering Shaq’s personal taste. But it’s not a matter of the right price, but the right buyer. Price is only an issue in the absence of value, and there is great value here.”

Drafted by the Orlando Magic in 1992, O’Neal purchased this place a year later for a little under $4 million. He held onto it as he manned the paint for a number of teams, earning four championship rings in the process.

The property boasts 700 feet of prime Lake Butler frontage as well as a swimming pool with waterfalls, a spa, and a Tiki-style cabana.

There are custom elements as well: a room with a giant diesel truck cab appearing to be drive through the wall; numerous Superman logos throughout the estate, including one emblazoned on his roundish bed; and a full-size Superman statue at the end of his dock.

In total, there are 12 bedrooms, 11 baths, and four half-baths. High-end amenities include a 6,000-square-foot, indoor basketball court; a showroom-style garage; and a soundproof home theater.

There’s also a cigar bar with a walk-in humidor and wine storage, and an Egyptian-themed room with a triangular-shaped saltwater fish tank.

“Shaq at heart is a family man, believe it or not, and he has made the place feel like a real home,” says Fealy. “Despite its size, it doesn’t feel like a cold office building. It really does feel like home.”

He adds that a multigenerational family, a star athlete, or an A-lister with a large entourage would all be quite comfortable there.

Fealy explains their marketing team is targeting foreign and domestic buyers. “Our reach is worldwide,” he says. “Dubai, England, India, China. … No matter what soil they’re standing on, they could be comfortable here.”

O’Neal is finally giving up his own private paradise because he’s “spending more time in Atlanta and wants to establish himself long-term there,” Fealy explains. O’Neal is currently an analyst on TNT’s “Inside the NBA,” which is produced in Atlanta.

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