SHAQUILLE O’Neal has joined the jet set by buying his first private jet.

After renting private planes for many years, the NBA legend has shelled out $27million for a Bombardier Challenger 650.

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Shaquille O’Neal inspects his new $27million private planeCredit: instagram.com/masonwrightblvckbox

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The Bombardier Challenge 650 has luxury fittingsCredit: instagram.com/masonwrightblvckbox

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The jet has Shaq’s ‘Dunkman’ logo on the tailpaneCredit: instagram.com/masonwrightblvckbox
The white private jet has a lavish interior, with cream leather seating and wood paneling.

It can accommodate 12 people and has a range of 4,000 nautical miles.

In a unique, personal touch, the plane features Shaq’s Dunkman logo on the tailplane.

O’Neal has changed his tune from a 2010 interview in which he said he was unlikely to ever purchase his own private jet.

“No, I don’t think so. There’s too much maintenance,” he told Jetset magazine.

“If I own something, I like to know what is going on.

“I don’t want to get screwed in a bad deal. I’ve seen it happen to other guys.”

O’Neal, who has an estimated personal wealth of $400million, said at the time he had no desire to purchase a private plane as a means to show off his wealth to other athletes.

“Yeah, some guys do,” he added.

“But I don’t do that. I’m a man of the people.”

Some fans believe the seats in O’Neal’s plane are too small for the basketball legend, who is seven-foot-one and around 340 pounds.

“Big Shaq, you need Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner with bigger seats. Plane too small for you,” one fan said.

“Too small for Shaq. Yeah needs an Airbus A380,” another added.

Fellow NBA superstar Michael Jordan recently traveled to Europe on his own $61million Gulfstream private jet.

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Some fans think Shaq is too big for his private jetCredit: instagram.com/masonwrightblvckbox

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A wider view of the private jet, which can seat up to 12 peopleCredit: instagram.com/masonwrightblvckbox