Shaquille O’Neal purchased a 2004 Rolls-Royce Phantom to resolve a wager with a car dealer over whether he could afford such a vehicle. The incident unfolded during his tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers, when he entered a dealership in informal attire and ignored every price listed—until the salesperson posed a pointed inquiry.
The dealer asked O’Neal directly: “Can you afford them?” The basketball star interpreted the remark as a challenge. Rather than leaving, he immediately acquired three Rolls-Royces. One of those vehicles, a 2004 Phantom VII, has recently reappeared at auction with just 45,000 miles logged.
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The Phantom VII marked the first Rolls-Royce model developed under BMW’s ownership, engineered to command attention through its imposing dimensions. At its introduction, it exceeded the length of a Ford Excursion, a full-size SUV. Powered by a 6.75-liter V-12 engine, an expanded version of BMW’s 750i unit, it delivered 453 horsepower and 531 pound-feet of torque, with nearly 400 pound-feet available by 1,000 rpm. The six-speed automatic transmission emphasized its effortless, almost weightless character.
Exterior features showed the Phantom’s extravagant design: coach doors equipped with built-in umbrellas, self-righting center caps, and a retractable Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament. Inside, the cabin showcased walnut paneling, buttery leather upholstery, and lambswool carpets, alongside six-zone climate control and, unexpectedly, rear picnic tables. The driver’s seat recline was so extreme that O’Neal reportedly rarely operated any of his three Rollers, though this example retains substantial mileage.
