Shaquille O'Neal flies to San Luis Obispo after a Peruvian detour

Shaquille O'Neal flew from Driggs, Idaho to San Luis County Regional Airport on May 24, a 1-hour 55-minute hop in his Bombardier Challenger 605 (N3250N). The flight arrived just before sunset, capping a week that began with a rare international leg: O'Neal's jet had returned from Trujillo, Peru, to Dallas two days earlier, per flight data.

The Central Coast stop aligns with O'Neal's business portfolio. As a major Krispy Kreme franchisee and investor through Authentic Brands Group, he maintains a pattern of visits to California's smaller airports — last week he flew from San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara and then to Minneapolis. A Krispy Kreme franchisee conference was held in Monterey County this week, as reported by local business outlets, making the San Luis Obispo landing a plausible prelude to that gathering.

O'Neal's Challenger 605, purchased in 2023 and recognizable by its "Dunkman" tail logo, has logged 84 flights this year. The jet's home base is Atlanta, but its recent itinerary — Idaho, Peru, Dallas, California — reflects a schedule that mixes broadcasting duties with hands-on franchise oversight. For a man who built a post-NBA career on doughnuts and licensing deals, a quiet arrival in San Luis Obispo is just another Tuesday.