Celebrity Super Bowl Bets | The Most Outrageous Wagers Made
Without a doubt, the Super Bowl is known as the biggest showdown in sports. It attracts both gridiron super fans and those who don’t typically follow the sport as they come together to watch the two elite final teams battle for the championship title and rings.
But the excitement around the game isn’t limited to the field, no sir or ma’am! The halftime show, commercials, and betting also receive a ton of attention, especially among the celebs who tend to gamble substantial stacks on the outcomes.
We thought we’d take a look at these celebrity Super Bowl Bets and the most outrageous wagers made.
Drake
Rapper and infamous sports bettor Drake is among the world’s biggest sports bettors, often placing bets in the six-figure range, including for Super Bowl LVII.
By the Friday morning before the game, he had already wagered nearly $1 million, with the largest portion on the moneyline. His bets also included large amounts on various prop bets.
His Instagram posts revealed his bets:
- $700,000 on Chiefs moneyline (+110)
- $60,000 on the tight end as MVP position (+900)
- $50,000 on Patrick Mahomes for the 1st TD (+1400)
- $50,000 on JuJu Smith-Schuster for the 1st TD (+1900)
- $50,000 on Kansas City to win both halves (+400)
- $30,000 on Kansas City winning every quarter (+2000)
- $25,000 on Travis Kelce for MVP (+900)
These bets were independent and not part of a single-game parlay.
All and all, Drake had a successful game, winning his largest bet despite underperforming props.
50 Cent and Birdman
In 2012, ahead of Super Bowl XLVI, a Twitter feud unfolded between rappers 50 Cent and Birdman over the New York Giants and New England Patriots. This was the year the Patriots, with a perfect 18-0 record, were defeated by the Giants, partly due to David Tyree’s memorable helmet catch. Birdman initiated the challenge with a daring $5 million bet on the Patriots.
After 50 Cent won $500,000 betting on the Giants in the NFC Championship, he upped the stakes, proposing a $1 million bet to Birdman via Twitter (now called X): “up 500,000 off the last one. F— it I’ll bet it back and I’ll put a 1,000,000 on my G MEN. STUNNER you got the # hit me back if you want it.”
Though Birdman didn’t accept the wager, 50 Cent still gambled a million on the Giants. Whether this bet led to a friendship with Tyree is unknown.
Norm MacDonald
If this beloved comedian were still with us (RIP, King), he might not be cheering for the Atlanta Falcons this time. In their previous Super Bowl appearance (Super Bowl XXXIII), where Atlanta was a 7.5-point underdog against the Denver Broncos, MacDonald took a huge risk. On Larry King Live, he revealed that the most significant gamble he took was betting on Atlanta to win outright. He could have tripled his bet, but instead, he lost $400,000 when the Falcons were defeated 34-19.
MacDonald told King, “That’s why I quit gambling. The depression and anxiety are overwhelming, and in the end, it’s all futile.”
Charles Barkley
Before the New England Patriots became a powerhouse in the 2000s, they were 14-point underdogs against the St. Louis Rams, also known as “The Greatest Show on Turf,” in Super Bowl XXXVI. It seems almost alien now to see the Patriots not favored in a championship game. However, Charles Barkley took a leap of faith in the Patriots, betting $550,000 in Vegas. The Patriots triumphed over St. Louis 20-17. Yet, this victory doesn’t offset Barkley’s numerous other losses.
Mr. Vegas
Bob Stupak, a Las Vegas casino magnate and poker player famously known as “Mr. Vegas,” was no stranger to high-stakes gambling. His bet on Super Bowl XXIII was the beginning of an unprecedented streak in gambling history.
Stupak bet on the Cincinnati Bengals, seven-point underdogs against the San Francisco 49ers. Unlike MacDonald, he chose the Bengals to cover the spread, not to win. The game ended with a thrilling 92-yard drive by Joe Montana, resulting in a 20-16 loss for Cincinnati but a massive win for Stupak.
Phil Ivey
Poker champion Phil Ivey, alongside gambler Billy Walters, placed a $2 million bet on Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV. The Colts were five-point favorites, and Ivey bet on the moneyline, which would have resulted in a smaller payout. However, the Colts lost 31-17. Despite this setback, Ivey likely continues betting on the Super Bowl, given his nearly $20 million earnings in poker tournaments.
Phil Mickelson
Ahead of the 2000-2001 NFL season, golfer Phil Mickelson made a $20,000 bet on the Baltimore Ravens, who were 28-to-1 underdogs to win the Super Bowl. His reasoning was their “off-season player acquisitions.” Against the odds (and to the surprise of many except Mickelson), the Ravens triumphed over the New York Giants 34-7 in Super Bowl XXXV, netting Mickelson a $560,000 windfall.
Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
Boxer Floyd Mayweather, Jr., known for his high-stakes gambling, particularly stands out in the world of athlete wagerers. Residing in Las Vegas, Mayweather frequently flaunts his winning slips on his X account (previously known as Twitter), betting substantial amounts on various sports events, from college basketball to NFL playoffs.
During the playoff game between New England and Denver, while the public was enamored with Tim Tebow, Mayweather confidently bet over a million dollars against him. One thing to note, though, is Mayweather’s tendency only to showcase his wins, leaving his losses a mystery.
Takeaways
The American Gaming Association, the leading lobbying group for commercial casinos, estimates that approximately $16 billion will be bet on Super Bowl LVII. This staggering amount includes various methods, from sports betting apps to casual bets among friends and family.
It’s challenging to quantify the exact amount bet through informal or unregulated means, so the $16 billion figure should be viewed cautiously.
It’s anticipated that at least $1 billion will be legally wagered through state-regulated sportsbooks. The bulk of this betting action is expected to come from Las Vegas, where sportsbooks have only twice lost in the Super Bowl in the last thirty years. Those are some good odds!
