If you’re looking for the giant gates with the "Superman" logo in Orlando, you’re about three years too late. Seriously. The famous "Shaq-apulco" estate in Windermere—the one with the 15-foot-wide bed and the indoor basketball court that basically defined 90s athlete excess—is long gone from his portfolio. He finally offloaded it in 2021 for $11 million after it sat on the market forever.
So, where does Shaquille live right now?
The truth is, Shaq doesn’t really have one "primary" spot anymore. He’s transitioned into a sort of nomadic mogul life. If you had to pin him down to a home base in 2026, you’d find him splitting his time between a surprisingly modest (for him) mansion in North Texas and a massive compound in the suburbs of Atlanta.
He's basically everywhere.
The Texas Takeover: Why Shaq Moved to the Dallas Area
Texas is where the action is for Shaq these days. He’s obsessed with the state. Maybe it's because he spent his high school years in San Antonio, or maybe it's the lack of state income tax. Probably both.
In 2024, Shaq made a big move that caught local paparazzi off guard. He sold his "starter" home in Carrollton—a 5,200-square-foot place he bought for $1.2 million—and upgraded to a more secluded spot in Heath, Texas.
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Heath is this affluent, quiet community in Rockwall County, right on the edge of Lake Ray Hubbard. His new place there is a Mediterranean-style marvel. It’s got six bedrooms, six bathrooms, and a massive pool area with a 500-square-foot guest house. Residents have been spotting him at the local Walmart and Home Depot, which sounds like a joke, but he’s actually there. He’s been very vocal about Dallas being his "midway point" for business. When he’s flying between his chicken franchises and West Coast meetings, he stops in Heath to reset.
But wait—there’s more to the Texas story.
As of late 2025 and into early 2026, Shaq has been hunting for a massive ranch near San Antonio. He’s reportedly looking at 40-plus acre properties in New Braunfels. He wants to be a "cowboy Shaq," apparently. He even told reporters at the 2025 Final Four that he’s actively looking for anyone with big Texas ranches to contact him.
The Georgia Compound: The Real "Big" House
While Texas is for business and rest, McDonough, Georgia, is where his roots are currently the deepest.
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He doesn’t just own a house here; he owns a collection of them. His main Georgia estate is a 14-acre compound about 30 miles southeast of Atlanta. This is the one you see in the background of his social media clips or when he's filming segments for Inside the NBA.
The property is intense:
- Two full residential structures.
- A three-stall barn (because why not?).
- An eight-bedroom main house with a 12-seat home theater.
- A custom "Shaq-sized" gym.
What's wild is that he keeps buying more land in this specific neighborhood. Between 2020 and 2022, he bought two more houses nearby. One is a 9,000-square-foot luxury home, and the other is a smaller 4,000-square-foot place that people think he uses for staff or family. It’s basically a Shaq-themed cul-de-sac at this point.
The Rest of the Empire: Vegas and Beyond
You can't talk about where Shaq lives without mentioning Las Vegas. He’s got a residency as DJ Diesel at the Wynn, so he needs a local spot. He owns a contemporary villa in the Las Vegas Valley that he picked up for about $1.9 million.
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It’s not as big as the Georgia compound, but it’s high-tech. It’s got a secret door leading to the primary bedroom and a "swim-up" bar. If you’re in Vegas during a big fight weekend or the Super Bowl, there’s a high chance he’s crashing there.
He also still holds a penthouse in Newark, New Jersey. This one is special to him because it’s part of a massive development project he partnered on to revitalize his hometown. It’s in the "Shaq Tower" (officially 777 McCarter). It’s less of a family home and more of a "boss's quarters" for when he’s doing business in the Northeast.
Why He Sold the Florida Mega-Mansion
A lot of people are still confused about why he left Florida. He lived in Windermere for almost 30 years!
Honestly? It was just too big. That house was 31,000 square feet. Even for a man who is 7'1", that is an exhausting amount of space. He originally listed it for $28 million in 2018, but the market for "eccentric athlete mega-mansions" isn't as big as you'd think. He eventually took $11 million just to move on.
He still has a presence in Florida, specifically a contemporary waterfront home near Miami (Davie/Fort Lauderdale area), but the era of him being "The King of Orlando" is officially over.
Actionable Takeaways for Real Estate Watchers
If you're tracking celebrity real estate or just curious about Shaq's strategy, there are a few things to keep in mind:
- Check the Trust: Shaq usually buys property under the "Chexy Trust." If you see that name on a deed in North Texas or Georgia, you know who’s moving in.
- Follow the Businesses: Shaq lives where he works. His "Big Chicken" franchise expansion is currently centered in Texas and the South, which explains his recent acquisitions in Heath and San Antonio.
- The "Midway" Strategy: Unlike other celebs who stick to LA or NYC, Shaq uses a hub-and-spoke model. Georgia is his media hub, Texas is his logistics hub, and Vegas is his entertainment hub.
If you’re driving through Rockwall County, Texas, or McDonough, Georgia, keep your eyes peeled. He isn't hiding behind 20-foot walls in some remote canyon; he’s usually at the local grocery store buying a gallon of milk like everyone else—he’s just a lot easier to spot in the checkout line.