Arnetta Yardbourgh is an American businesswoman, wellness consultant, professional coach, and philanthropist. Born in Houston, Texas, she has built a career focused on coaching, personal development, wellness, and helping others improve their lives.
She is also widely known because of her past relationship with basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal. The couple dated during the 1990s and welcomed a daughter, Taahirah O’Neal, before continuing their lives on separate paths.
Beyond her connection to Shaquille O’Neal, Arnetta has her own professional story. This article explores her early life, education, business career, relationship, daughter, personal life, physical appearance, and other important details about her journey.
Quick Bio
| Full Name | Arnetta Marie Yardbourgh |
| Known As | Arnetta Yardbourgh |
| Date of Birth | December 10, 1971 |
| Birthplace | Houston, Texas, United States |
| Zodiac Sign | Sagittarius |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | African-American |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Current Residence | Houston, Texas, United States |
| Height | 5 feet 8 inches (180 cm) |
| Weight | 121 lbs (55 kg) |
| Hair Color | Dark Brown |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
| Relationship Status | Single |
| Children | Taahirah O’Neal |
| High School | Judson High School |
| Universities | Schreiner University, University of Houston, Houston Christian University, Walden University |
| Profession | Businesswoman, Wellness Consultant, Professional Coach, Philanthropist |
| Company | AY & Associates, LLC |
| Known For | Shaquille O’Neal’s former girlfriend and mother of Taahirah O’Neal |
Who Is Arnetta Yardbourgh?
Arnetta Yardbourgh is a businesswoman and professional wellness consultant from Houston, Texas. She has spent many years working in coaching, consulting, business, and personal development.
Her name became familiar to basketball fans because she previously dated former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal. Their relationship began in 1992 and ended in January 1996.
Arnetta later continued building her professional life away from sports fame. She became involved in several business and coaching roles while also raising her daughter, Taahirah O’Neal.
Early Life and Background
Arnetta Marie Yardbourgh was born on December 10, 1971, in Houston, Texas. She grew up in the United States and later continued to make Houston her home.
Her zodiac sign is Sagittarius. Arnetta is American and comes from an African-American background, while Christianity is listed as her religion.
Although her relationship with a famous basketball player brought wider attention, Arnetta developed a life centered on education and professional growth. Her later career shows a strong interest in wellness, communication, and coaching.
Arnetta Yardbourgh’s Education
Arnetta attended Judson High School in San Antonio and graduated in 1990. She later attended Schreiner University, continuing her studies after completing high school.
She also studied Speech Communications at the University of Houston. Her educational journey included graduate studies and humanities at Houston Christian University, along with training in Co-Active Coaching through the Coaches Training Institute.
Arnetta continued her higher education at Walden University. In 2014, she completed a doctorate in psychology, adding another major academic achievement to her professional background.
Her Career as a Businesswoman
Arnetta has worked in several professional areas during her career. Her experience includes business ownership, publishing, life coaching, wellness consulting, professional coaching, and leadership roles.
One of her earlier positions was as a greeting card publisher at On The Real Inc. She worked there from August 1997 until October 2002 before moving further into coaching.
From November 2002 until December 2009, she worked as a life coach for OTR Life Coaching Inc. These experiences helped shape the professional coaching and consulting work she later pursued.
AY & Associates, LLC
Arnetta is the founder and owner of AY & Associates, LLC. She established the business as a boutique company focused on coaching, wellness, and consulting services.
She has worked as a professional coach and wellness consultant through the company since February 2010. This position became an important part of her professional identity.
Her work combines several areas in which she has gained experience over the years. Coaching, personal development, wellness, and consulting remain central parts of her business career.
Other Professional Roles
Arnetta’s career has included several additional roles. She worked as a coach for Houston Coaches from 2002 until 2018 and also served as a wellness consultant at Tri Fit in 2013.
She entered the basketball business world as President of Sugar Land Legends. The men’s semi-professional basketball team was based in Sugar Land, Texas, and Arnetta held the position from January 2013 until January 2017.
She has also been connected with Femfessionals LLC DBA FemCity since July 2015. Her varied work history reflects her experience across business, wellness, leadership, and professional coaching.
Arnetta Yardbourgh Relationship With Shaquille O’Neal
Arnetta Yardbourgh and Shaquille O’Neal started dating in 1992. At the time, Shaquille was beginning the professional basketball career that would eventually make him one of the sport’s biggest names.
Their romantic relationship lasted for around four years. The couple separated in January 1996 and did not marry during their time together.
Despite ending their relationship, Arnetta and Shaquille remained connected through their daughter. Their relationship later became focused on co-parenting and supporting Taahirah as she grew up.
Arnetta Yardbourgh and Shaquille O’Neal’s Daughter
Arnetta and Shaquille share one daughter, Taahirah O’Neal. She was born on July 18, 1996, around six months after her parents ended their romantic relationship.
Taahirah grew up with connections to both of her parents. Rather than becoming known primarily through basketball, she developed her own professional interests in communications and social media.
She has worked as a communications associate analyst for PepsiCo. Taahirah has also worked part-time as a social media assistant with her father’s entertainment company, Mine O Mine.
Arnetta Yardbourgh’s Life as a Mother
Motherhood has been an important part of Arnetta’s personal life. After separating from Shaquille O’Neal, the two continued their connection as parents to their daughter, Taahirah.
Arnetta and Shaquille moved forward with separate personal lives while sharing responsibility for their daughter. Their relationship therefore continued beyond their years as a romantic couple.
Taahirah eventually developed her own career and identity as an adult. Her professional path in communications reflects a life that has extended beyond simply being the daughter of a basketball legend.
Is Arnetta Yardbourgh Married?
Arnetta Yardbourgh has never been married. Her best-known romantic relationship was with Shaquille O’Neal, whom she dated between 1992 and January 1996.
She is listed as single. Her personal life has remained much quieter than her professional career and her past relationship with the former basketball star.
Her public identity today is strongly connected with her work as a businesswoman, coach, and wellness consultant. She has continued developing her career while maintaining a relatively private lifestyle.
Who Did Shaquille O’Neal Marry?
After his relationship with Arnetta ended, Shaquille O’Neal later married television personality Shaunie Henderson. Shaquille and Shaunie married in 2002.
Their marriage eventually ended in divorce in 2011. Shaunie became known for her television career and her work as one of the executive producers of the reality series Basketball Wives.
Shaquille has been romantically linked with other women since his divorce. However, Arnetta remains an important part of his family story because they share their daughter, Taahirah.
Arnetta Yardbourgh’s Height and Appearance
Arnetta Yardbourgh stands approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall. Her height is also listed as 180 centimetres, while her reported weight is around 121 pounds or 55 kilograms.
She has dark brown hair and dark brown eyes. These basic physical details have often appeared alongside information about her career and background.
Her professional image is closely associated with business, wellness, and coaching. She has maintained a polished public presence while keeping much of her everyday personal life away from widespread attention.
Life Away From the Spotlight
Although Arnetta became known because of her relationship with Shaquille O’Neal, she has not built her life around celebrity attention. Much of her career has developed through coaching, consulting, and business.
Her educational achievements also form an important part of her story. She continued studying across different institutions and developed knowledge related to communication, humanities, coaching, and psychology.
This combination of education and professional experience helped Arnetta establish an identity separate from her famous former partner. Her work has remained centered largely on personal growth, wellness, leadership, and consulting.
Where Is Arnetta Yardbourgh Now?
Arnetta Yardbourgh resides in Houston, Texas, the city where she was born. She has continued her professional work as a businesswoman, coach, and wellness consultant.
Her company, AY & Associates, LLC, remains one of the main parts of her career. Through the business, her professional focus includes coaching, consulting, and wellness.
She is also known as a philanthropist and motivational speaker. While her past relationship continues to attract interest, Arnetta has developed a professional life that stands on its own.
Final Thoughts
Arnetta Yardbourgh is much more than Shaquille O’Neal’s former girlfriend. She has built a long career as a businesswoman, professional coach, wellness consultant, and philanthropist.
Her education and work experience show her interest in communication, psychology, wellness, and personal development. She has also held leadership positions and created her own coaching and consulting company.
Her relationship with Shaquille O’Neal remains an important part of her story because they share a daughter, Taahirah O’Neal. Still, Arnetta’s career and achievements have given her an identity beyond that famous connection.
(FAQs)
Who is Arnetta Yardbourgh?
Arnetta Yardbourgh is an American businesswoman, professional coach, wellness consultant, and philanthropist. She is also widely known as Shaquille O’Neal’s former girlfriend and the mother of his daughter, Taahirah O’Neal.
How old is Arnetta Yardbourgh?
Arnetta Yardbourgh was born on December 10, 1971, in Houston, Texas. Based on that birth date, she turns 55 years old in December 2026.
Who is Arnetta Yardbourgh’s daughter?
Her daughter is Taahirah O’Neal, whom she shares with former NBA player Shaquille O’Neal. Taahirah was born on July 18, 1996, and has worked in communications and social media.
Did Arnetta Yardbourgh marry Shaquille O’Neal?
No. Arnetta Yardbourgh and Shaquille O’Neal dated from 1992 until January 1996, but they never married. They remained connected after their separation because they share a daughter.
What does Arnetta Yardbourgh do for a living?
Arnetta works as a businesswoman, professional coach, and wellness consultant. She is the founder and owner of AY & Associates, LLC, a company focused on coaching, wellness, and consulting services.
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