Celebrities Looking Tiny Standing Next to Shaquille O'Neal — Including David Beckham, Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber and More
Celebrities Looking Tiny Standing Next to Shaquille O'Neal — Including David Beckham, Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber and More
Zoey Lyttle, Stephanie SengweThu, April 9, 2026 at 3:39 PM UTC
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Shaquille O'Neal with (L-R) Simone Biles, Taylor Swift and Kevin HartCredit: Simone Biles/X; Shaquille O'Neal/Instagram; Michael Kovac/WireImage
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 Jay-Z to Jimmy Fallon and Justin Bieber.
Check out photos of the basketball legend making all his famous friends look tiny.
01 of 28
Shaq and David Beckham
David Beckham and Shaquille O'NealCredit: Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty
At exactly 6 ft., David Beckham wouldn't be considered short, but next to Shaq, you couldn't tell. The former pro-footballer did his best to level up to the former NBA star as they watched the Phoenix Suns take on the Brooklyn Nets during the 2025 NBA Global Games China in Macau.
02 of 28
Shaq and Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan and Shaquille O'NealCredit: Ryan Stetz/NBAE via Getty
At the same game, the former Laker was spotted walking out of the arena with 5-foot-9 Jackie Chan, who — even though he is a renowned martial artist — looked super short next to Shaq.
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Shaq with Omarion and LisaRaye McCoy
Omarion, Shaquille O'Neal and LisaRaye McCoyCredit: Arnold Turner/Getty
It was a double knock out as Shaq towered over 5-foot-6 Omarion and 5-foot-7 LisaRaye McCoy at the EBONY Power 100 Gala last November.
04 of 28
Shaq and Jay-Z
Shaquille O'Neal and Jay-ZCredit: Kevin Mazur/Getty
At a Fanatics Super Bowl party in 2020, a 6-ft.-2-in. Jay-Z came face-to-face with Shaq in a meeting of two G.O.A.T.s in their respective fields. Their friendship goes back to the '90s, when Jay-Z and Nas recorded verses for O'Neal's album No Love Lost — though the track didn't release until June 2024.
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Shaq and Taylor Swift
Shaquille O'Neal, Taylor Swift and Jamie SalterCredit: 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.”
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Shaq and Kevin Hart
Credit: Getty
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.
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Shaq and Gayle King
Shaquille O'Neal and Gayle KingCredit: Mike Coppola/Getty
Shaq was head and shoulders above a 5-ft.-10-in. Gayle King at a Fanatics party for the 2024 Super Bowl, where they matched in shades of red.
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Shaq and Josh Duhamel
Shaquille O'Neal and Josh DuhamelCredit: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty
All My Children alum Josh Duhamel, 6-ft.-4-in., only barely reached neck level when the pair snapped a photo at Mike Tyson and Jake Paul's boxing match.
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Shaq and Charlize Theron
Shaquille O'Neal and Charlize TheronCredit: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty
Also at the starry Tyson and Paul match, Shaq met Charlize Theron — who is 5-ft.-10-in — for the first time, and the former basketball player later posted the photo on Instagram, calling the actress "one of my favorite people."
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Shaq and Jennifer Hudson
Jennifer Hudson and Shaquille O'NealCredit: Denise Truscello/Getty
A 5-ft.-9-in. Jennifer Hudson — who has had O'Neal on her talk show several times — supported him at his foundation's annual The Event in Las Vegas. Shaq supported her (literally) on the red carpet, towering behind her as the two cheesed for a pic.
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Shaq and Conan O'Brien
Conan O'Brien and Shaquille O'NealCredit: Kevin Mazur/Getty
Shaq still had a couple inches over a 6-ft.-4-in. Conan O'Brien when the two met up at a Warner Bros. event in 2024 — O'Neal in his best black tie attire and O'Brien in his Canadian tuxedo.
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Shaq and Sarah Jessica Parker
Credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty
And just like that ... Sarah Jessica Parker found herself posing next to one of the tallest men in the world, and even Carrie Bradshaw's sky-high heels couldn't make up much of the height difference.
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Shaq and Maren Morris
Credit: Maren Morris/Instagram
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.
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Shaq and Pitbull
Credit: Getty
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.
15 of 28
Shaq and Victoria Beckham
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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.
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Shaq and Kelly Clarkson
Credit: Denise Truscello/Getty
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."
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Shaq and Justin Bieber
Credit: Getty
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!
18 of 28
Shaq and Lil Jon
Credit: Getty
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.
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Shaq and Joanna and Chip Gaines
Credit: Getty
Chip and Joanna Gaines teamed up to get on O'Neal's level on the red carpet in 2022. The Fixer Upper husband (5 foot 10 inches) 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.
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Shaq and Jimmy Fallon
Credit: Getty
In 2014, Shaq and Fallon swapped jackets during The Tonight Show. Fallon, who is 6 feet tall, swam in Shaq's suit coat while the former Lakers star struggled to squeeze on the host's clothes.
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Shaq and Jimmy Kimmel
Credit: Getty
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.
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Shaq and Kelly Ripa
Credit: Getty
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.
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Shaq and Hoda Kotb
Credit: Getty
The athlete dwarfed 5-ft.-10-in. Hoda Kotb on the set of the Today show in 2018.
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Shaq and Simone Biles
Credit: Getty
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 feet tall or several inches short of 5 feet.
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Shaq and Diplo
Credit: Getty
"one of us had an incredible high school basketball career and the other is @shaq," DJ and music producer Diplo, 5-ft.-10-in., joked on Instagram. In the photo, Diplo and O'Neal flashed peace signs at very different heights.
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Shaq and Lizzo
Credit: Getty
The "About Damn Time" singer, 5-ft.-10-in., and the NBA superstar looked up and down at each other from behind sunglasses.
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Shaq and Rashida Jones
Credit: Ben Trivett
In 2017, 5-foot-4 Rashida Jones looked comically small pointing all the way up at O'Neal in this exclusive shot for PEOPLE.
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Shaq and Megan Rapinoe
Credit: Getty
Shaq may be taller than FIFA Women's Champion, but when they posed for this photo, 5-foot-6 Rapinoe was on top of the world having been named Sports Illustrated's sportsperson of 2019.
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