Shaquille O’Neal’s 2004 Rolls-Royce Phantom Is Heading to Auction

One of three Rolls-Royce sedans bought on a whim by NBA superstar Shaquille O’Neal is currently up for auction on Bring a Trailer. The story behind the purchase dates back to O’Neal’s time playing for the Lakers, when he walked into a dealership wearing sweats and balked at the $400,000 price tags.

After a salesman challenged whether O’Neal could actually afford the cars, the four-time NBA champion bought three Rolls-Royces on the spot to prove a point. The specific vehicle now heading to auction is a glossy silver 2004 Phantom sedan, representing the debut model year for the Phantom VII—the first generation of Rolls-Royce built under BMW ownership.

At launch, the sedan was longer than a Ford Excursion, carrying a massive road presence matched by its physical dimensions. Under the hood sits an enlarged version of the BMW 750’s V-12 engine, displacing 6.75 liters.

The powerplant cranks out 453 horsepower and 531 pound-feet of torque, with nearly 400 pound-feet available right from 1,000 rpm. Power is routed through a six-speed automatic transmission.

Inside and out, the Phantom comes loaded with signature luxury touches, including coach doors with integrated umbrellas, self-righting wheel center-caps, a retractable Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament, walnut trim, leather upholstery, deep-pile lambswool carpets, rear picnic tables, and six-zone climate control. Although Shaq claimed he barely drove his trio of luxury sedans, this particular example shows 45,000 miles on the odometer. The online auction wraps up on November 3.