With a career that spans sports, entertainment and education, the basketball legend is a huge star. In fact, standing at 7-ft., 1-in., he’s usually the biggest star in the room

Simone Biles, Taylor Swift and Jimmy Kimmel with Shaquille O’Neal. PHOTO: SIMONE BILES/X; SHAQUILLE O’NEAL/INSTAGRAM; RANDY HOLMES/ABC VIA GETTY

As these celebrities can tell you, meeting Shaquille O’Neal is a very big deal.

Towering at 7-ft., 1-in., the retired NBA pro can make anyone look small, from fellow athletes standing at an average height to smaller stars packing big talent. Despite his larger-than-life presence, O’Neal — who wears a shoe size 22 — is hardly intimidating. The all-star athlete is loved by A-listers tall and short, from Taylor Swift and Maren Morris to Jimmy Fallon and Justin Bieber.

Check out photos of Shaquille O’Neal posing with his famous friends of all sizes and making them look tiny in comparison.

Shaq and Taylor Swift

Shaquille O’Neal, Taylor Swift and Jamie Salter.SHAQUILLE O’NEAL/INSTAGRAM

The sports legend boasts countless accomplishments over the course of his lifetime and career, and at the 2024 Super Bowl, he marked another big milestone: Shaq finally met Taylor Swift, someone with whom he’s publicly hoped to cross paths.

He spoke to Page Six about his dream to meet the 5-ft., 11-in. singer just two days before he and Authentic Brands Group CEO Jamie Salter snapped a photo with her and gifted her with a custom football-shaped Judith Lieber bag bearing Travis Kelce’s jersey number, 87.

“If I see Taylor Swift and get to shake her hand, take a picture, I’ll be good,” the retired NBA star told the publication at Shaq’s Fun House Super Bowl party. “She’s a fabulous person. I’m happy for her. I’m proud of her. She’s done a lot. She’s definitely a cultural icon.”

Shaq and Maren Morris

The petite country singer posted a cheeky Instagram in October 2022 in which the four-time NBA Champion loomed over her. “Tall Guys,” Morris, who stands at 5-ft., 1-in., wrote in the caption.

Shaq and Pitbull

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In October 2022, Pitbull performed at The Shaquille O’Neal Foundation’s charity event. The night’s ticket sales and auction bids raised about $3.15 million for underserved youth — this photo of the 5-ft., 8-in. rapper and Shaq just came as a bonus benefit.

Shaq and Victoria Beckham

Reebok.

O’Neal and the former Spice Girl, 5-ft., 4-in., showed off their height difference in campaign photos for her 2018 Rebook collection. Beckham’s collaboration called back to ’90s-era fashion, and the on-court superstar joined for photos as a sign of the times gone by.

Shaq and Kelly Clarkson

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In 2021, The Shaquille O’Neal Foundation welcomed 5-ft., 3-in. Clarkson, among other megastar musicians, to its charity event stage. During her set, the “Since U Been Gone” singer hugged O’Neal and shared a sentimental message with the crowd.

“Shaq mentioned that he couldn’t afford daycare, his family couldn’t afford daycare. Mine couldn’t either. My mom just happened to work there so I got in for free,” Clarkson said. “But I love doing events like this, and I love hearing from artists. Everyone sees where we’re at.”

Shaq and Justin Bieber

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Bieber was among the celebs at O’Neal’s charity event in 2021. He and the NBA all-star shared a moment, highlighting their 16-in. height difference!

Shaq and Lil Jon

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This 5-ft., 6-in. rapper’s name has never been so fitting as it was when he posted with Shaq in May 2022. The two have been friends and collaborators for some time, and even produced a song together called “BANG” along with DJ NGHTMRE.

Shaq and Joanna and Chip Gaines

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Chip and Joanna Gaines teamed up to get on O’Neal’s level on the red carpet in 2022. The Fixer Upper husband (5-ft., 10-in.) knelt on all fours to give his wife (5-ft., 7-in.) some height, but her reality is well over a foot shorter than the NBA Hall of Famer.

Shaq and Jimmy Fallon

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In 2014, Shaq and Fallon swapped jackets during The Tonight Show. Fallon, who is 6 ft. tall, swam in Shaq’s suit coat while the former Lakers star struggled to squeeze on the host’s clothes.

Shaq and Jimmy Kimmel

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The three-time NBA Finals MVP appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! wearing tartan dress shoes. So when O’Neal posed next to the late-night personality, 5-ft., 11-in., his staggering figure and his size 22 shoes stole the show.

Shaq and Kelly Ripa

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Ripa, 5-ft., 3-in., took off her heels for a realistic side-by-side with O’Neal. “Hahaha!! #Shaq is still growing!” read the caption on this photo posted by LIVE with Kelly and Ryan‘s official Instagram account.

Shaq and Hoda Kotb

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The athlete dwarfed 5-ft., 10-in. Kotb on the set of the Today show in 2018.

Shaq and Simone Biles

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The two Olympic gold medalists posed for a photo at the Super Bowl in 2017, proving that athletic greatness can be packaged in anybody, whether they stand over 7-ft.tall or several inches short of 5-ft.

Shaq and Diplo

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“one of us had an incredible high school basketball career and the other is @shaq,” DJ and music producer Diplo, 5-ft., 10in., joked on Instagram. In the photo, Diplo and O’Neal flashed peace signs at very different heights.

Shaq and Lizzo

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The “About Damn Time” singer, 5-ft., 10-in., and the all-time great looked up and down at each other from behind sunglasses.

Shaq and Rashida Jones

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In 2017, 5-ft., 4-in. Jones looked comically small pointing all the way up at O’Neal in this exclusive shot for PEOPLE.

Shaq and Kevin Hart

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The notoriously tiny comedian — indeed, his first stand-up album was called I’m a Grown Little Man, a nod to his 5-ft., 2-in., frame — didn’t even pass the former NBA star’s pocket square in this photo from 2013.

Shaq and Megan Rapinoe

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Shaq may be taller than FIFA Women’s Champion, but when they posed for this photo, 5-ft., 6-in. Rapinoe was on top of the world having been named Sports Illustrated‘s sportsperson of 2019.