Sports betting has become more popular than ever, attracting millions from different walks of life. The excitement of betting on a favorite team or athlete, coupled with the potential of walking away with a substantial payout, is a draw for many.
Celebrities are no exception to the allure of sports wagering. From A-list actors to chart-topping artists, many famous people love to bet on sporting events. In fact, some are known to be quite skilled, having raked in some substantial payouts over the years.
This article explores some of these famous celeb bettors. Let’s dive right in!
Aston Kutcher
Popular actor and investor Ashton Kutcher is one of the most well-known celebrities in the world of sports betting. Most other celebrities who love pre-match and live betting are all about the thrill. Kutcher takes a more analytical approach. He typically depends heavily on research and data to make his sports predictions.
According to an Esquire interview in 2013, Kutcher once worked with one of the biggest sports betting syndicates in America, placing sports bets on their behalf. They reportedly cleared $750,000 in winnings on college football within four weeks. That’s how good his skills were, even resulting in Vegas bookies banning him back then. Interestingly, Ashton’s betting interests and skills are said to remain even to this day.
50 Cent
Popularly known as “Fiddy,” the American rapper Curtis ‘50 Cent’ Jackson is undoubtedly one of the biggest musicians alive. Besides music, 50 Cent is known to be very passionate about sports betting and has spent his fair share of time placing bets on sports. Even some of his music highlights his betting adventure, such as verses like ”I lost money when I bet on Roy” and “Won money when I bet on Floyd.”
In 2012, 50 Cent claimed over $500,000 in profit when he backed the New York Giants to beat the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game. A few days later, he went on to challenge record producer Birdman to a $1 million wager on the Giants again to beat the New England Patriots during the Super Bowl. He also won this bet.
In 2015, Fiddy put down $1.6 million on Floyd Mayweather to beat Manny Pacquiao, which he also won. However, like any other bettor, 50 Cent has also experienced his fair share of losses in sports bets, as stated in some of his lyrics
Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Undoubtedly one of the greatest boxers alive, Floyd Mayweather is another celebrity known for his penchant for sports betting. This boxing champion is not one to shy away from putting lots of money on high-stakes bets. And unlike some other big names, Mayweather has actually managed to rake in a lot of money from his sports bets and is often seen flaunting his wins on social media.
In 2014, Floyd reportedly made about $4.7 million in winnings in the space of a month betting on NFL games. And in 2015, he had a 4-day winning streak, during which he cashed in over $827,000. Floyd bets on virtually any sports, from his beloved boxing to college basketball, NBA, NFL, etc.
Drake
The Canadian-born superstar singer and rapper Aubrey Drake Graham, popularly known as Drake, is another celebrity who’s not shy about his passion for sports betting. Beyond his chart-topping hits, Drake often makes the news for his high-stake wagers and ridiculous stake amounts. He was once rumored to have spent over $1 billion on sports bets within a year.
Drake made $700,000 betting on the Los Angeles Rams in the Super Bowl and another $800,000 on the Golden State Warriors to claim the 2022 Western Conference. More recently, he placed a $1.15 million wager on the Kansas City Chiefs defeating the San Francisco 49ers on 2024 Super Bowl Sunday. His prediction proved accurate as the Chiefs went on to win their second straight Super Bowl title, netting Drake a $2.34 million payout.
However, Drake is not without his fair share of losses over the years. He once lost a £300,000 wager betting on Jake Paul knocking out Tommy Fury during a boxing bout and another £1.7 million on Adesanya’s loss against Alex Pereira. In 2022, he recorded another of his biggest losses after losing a $1 million bet on Argentina winning the World Cup after the regular game ended in a 3-3 draw.
Others
Besides the aforementioned ones, many other celebrities have been known to enjoy placing bets on different sports. Other notable mentions include:
- Michael Jordan
- Charles Barkley
- Bryan ‘Birdman’ Williams
- Charlie Sheen
Conclusion
Celebrities, like regular people, also enjoy wagering on sports, either for the excitement or the possibility of winning. However, unlike regular people, these big names usually have a much bigger bankroll to play with.
While some of these famous people just bet on sports for the thrill of it, others, like those on our list, have landed some substantial payouts. Some celebs have even proven to be quite skilled, approaching this pastime with strategies that rival professional punters.