- Tech
-
-
Tech
The gadgets, platforms, and software that make your digital life possible. if it bleeps, clicks or blinks, you’ll find it here.
-
Categories
-
-
Latest
- Pinterest is reportedly blocking vaccination searches Wednesday 2:53 PM
- Nike’s self-lacing smart sneakers malfunction days after release Wednesday 2:50 PM
- The simple way to connect Apple TV and HomePod Wednesday 5:00 AM
- Did Elon Musk just host PewDiePie’s meme review? Tuesday 8:53 AM
- YouTube is fueling the rise in flat earth believers Monday 11:04 AM
-
-
-
- Internet Culture
-
-
Internet Culture
There’s a community for everyone online.
-
Categories
-
-
Latest
- The truth behind the anti-LGBTQ emoji controversy Wednesday 1:37 PM
- John Mayer steps in to Photoshop Diplo’s Instagram Wednesday 9:28 AM
- This Kickstarter needs $4,000 to digitally erase the rat from ‘The Departed’ Wednesday 8:07 AM
- Bernie Sanders memes resurface after 2020 bid announcement Wednesday 6:27 AM
- The ‘Well yes, but actually no’ meme is here to help you explain things Tuesday 12:07 PM
-
-
-
- Streaming
-
-
Streaming
You’ve cut the cord—now what?
-
Categories
-
-
Latest
- Report: Disney yanks YouTube ad spending following child exploitation accusations Wednesday 7:56 PM
- These people are organizing Fyre Fest live-action role-play parties Wednesday 6:35 PM
- Stop exploiting the Jussie Smollett case to discredit LGBTQ hate crime victims Wednesday 3:28 PM
- The best Netflix original movies of 2019 Wednesday 3:20 PM
- Tristan Thompson disables Instagram comments after reports he cheated on Khloe Kardashian Wednesday 11:25 AM
-
-
-
- IRL
-
-
IRL
Where your off- and online identities collide.
-
Categories
-
-
Latest
- These people are organizing Fyre Fest live-action role-play parties Wednesday 6:35 PM
- White woman berates Mexican restaurant manager for speaking Spanish Wednesday 4:12 PM
- Stop exploiting the Jussie Smollett case to discredit LGBTQ hate crime victims Wednesday 3:28 PM
- The truth behind the anti-LGBTQ emoji controversy Wednesday 1:37 PM
- Introducing ‘boner culture,’ this Gamergate blogger’s latest cause Wednesday 11:16 AM
-
-
-
- Social
-
-
Social
If it happens online, it’s here.
-
Categories
-
-
Latest
- Report: Disney yanks YouTube ad spending following child exploitation accusations Wednesday 7:56 PM
- These people are organizing Fyre Fest live-action role-play parties Wednesday 6:35 PM
- White woman berates Mexican restaurant manager for speaking Spanish Wednesday 4:12 PM
- In Pixar short ‘Kitbull,’ a cat and pit bull become unlikely friends Wednesday 3:48 PM
- Stop exploiting the Jussie Smollett case to discredit LGBTQ hate crime victims Wednesday 3:28 PM
-
-
-
- Bazaar
-
-
Bazaar
The Bazaar specializes in the stuff you don’t actually need…but you really, really want.
-
Categories
-
-
Latest
- Allow your wallet to be your spirit guide during this rad anime sale Tuesday 10:43 AM
- 14 artsy cartoon mugs that’ll help make your days more creative Monday 12:15 PM
- Get your nerd on with ThinkGeek’s Funko Pop B2G1 sale Monday 3:00 AM
- Play all your NES games in high def with the Hyperkin RetroN HD Tuesday 8:39 AM
- The Introvert Activity Book is perfect for those who find solace in alone time Monday 11:30 AM
-
-
-
- More
- Search
See all Editor's Picks →
See all Popular →
Represented by Complex Media, Inc. for advertising sales.
Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions Ethics
Latest
- Report: Disney yanks YouTube ad spending following child exploitation accusations Wednesday 7:56 PM
- These people are organizing Fyre Fest live-action role-play parties Wednesday 6:35 PM
- White woman berates Mexican restaurant manager for speaking Spanish Wednesday 4:12 PM
- In Pixar short ‘Kitbull,’ a cat and pit bull become unlikely friends Wednesday 3:48 PM
- Stop exploiting the Jussie Smollett case to discredit LGBTQ hate crime victims Wednesday 3:28 PM
- The best Netflix original movies of 2019 Wednesday 3:20 PM
- Pinterest is reportedly blocking vaccination searches Wednesday 2:53 PM
- Nike’s self-lacing smart sneakers malfunction days after release Wednesday 2:50 PM
- How to quickly get the Havoc weapon in Apex Legends Wednesday 2:48 PM
- The truth behind the anti-LGBTQ emoji controversy Wednesday 1:37 PM
- Tristan Thompson disables Instagram comments after reports he cheated on Khloe Kardashian Wednesday 11:25 AM
- Introducing ‘boner culture,’ this Gamergate blogger’s latest cause Wednesday 11:16 AM
- HBO debuts trailer for controversial Michael Jackson doc ‘Leaving Neverland’ Wednesday 10:46 AM
- Christian woman refuses to do taxes for lesbian married couple Wednesday 10:43 AM
- Political campaigns will be snooping on your phones in 2020 Wednesday 10:43 AM
We don’t know how, but Shaq spends $1,000 a week on apps

No matter how tall and rich and good-humored you are, you can still make terrible life choices.
At SXSW, retired basketball star Shaquille O’Neal told the Wall Street Journal he spends roughly $1,000 a week on mobile applications, or apps.
“Honestly I probably spend $1,000 on apps a week,” he said. To emphasize that this was the correct figure, he repeated himself. “Yeah. $1,000 on apps a week. Real money.”
Just a reminder: this is the same man who is currently asking people for contributions to crowdfund a video game sequel called Shaq Fu: A Legend Reborn. Why not stop buying so many apps and just use that money to fund the vanity project instead of soliciting payments from fans?
There are so many follow-up questions that needed to be asked after this objectively insane admission:
1. How many phones does Shaq have? Is he constantly deleting the thousands of dollars of apps on his gadgets or does he just buy a new phone every time he uses up all the memory?
2. How many hours does he spend using these apps per week?
3. When is he going to run out of apps to buy?
4. Why isn’t anyone telling him this is an absurd practice?
To give Shaq credit, he is a savvy tech investor; he invested in pre-IPO Google. He’s an astute businessman who capitalizes on his fame and he’s extremely likeable. But even for multimillionaire famous people, spending $1,000 a week on mobile apps is extravagant in a very specific and nonsensical way. Shaq’s app habit stands as a poignant reminder that, no matter how tall and rich and good-humored you are, you can still make terrible life choices.
H/T Wall Street Journal | Photo via Flickr/Bob Bekian (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Kate Knibbs
Kate Knibbs is a notable tech reporter and pop culture essayist. A former staff writer for the Daily Dot, her work has appeared in Gizmodo, the Ringer, AV Club, Digital Trends, Popular Mechanics, and Time.