Shaquille O'Neal is without a doubt one of the most recognized names on and off the basketball court. Frequently referred to simply as "Shaq", debuted on the basketball scene in 1992 as the number one draft choice for the Orlando Magic and was named Rookie of the Year in 1993. In 2004, he returned to Florida from Los Angeles where he played for the Lakers to join the Miami Heat, his fourth NBA championship followed in 2006. Midway through the 2007-08 season he was traded to the Phoenix Sun, followed by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2009-10 season. O'Neal played for the Boston Celtics in the 2010-11 season before retiring. Off the court, Shaq has established himself as a role model, supporting education most notably through literacy programmes. He is the founder of the "Real Model Foundation", the beneficiary of proceeds from the sale of his namesake collection by Audemars Piguet.

Audemars Piguet has created limited edition timepieces in collaboration with brand ambassadors including Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Juan Pablo Montoya, Rubens Barrichello and Sachin Tendulkar all of which are highly coveted by collectors across the globe.