Celebrities who love gambling, from Drake and Bruno Mars to Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley and Tiger Woods – but who bet $US1.5 million to side with Taylor Swift fans on last year’s Super Bowl?

Feb 22 , 2025

Headline gamblers include sports and entertainment celebrities Michael Jordan (left), Bruno Mars and Tiger Woods. Photo: Nexus

Musicians such as Bruno Mars and Drake and athletes including Michael Jordan have long made headlines thanks to their love of betting: online, in Las Vegas casinos and elsewhere

Many celebrities are known for taking risks – whether it’s in the roles they take on, the music they produce, or the opportunities they pursue outside their fields. When this is in the realm of their careers, the rewards are often worth the gamble. However, not all risk-takers are as lucky when it comes to placing (literal) bets.

What happens in Vegas

Bruno Mars had an eight-year residency in Las Vegas. Photo: @brunomars/Instagram

When rumours of Bruno Mars racking up a US$50 million gambling debt during his Las Vegas residency at Park MGM started circulating online in 2024, fans were shocked. Many wondered how the multi-Grammy-winning musician, who has often appeared on Forbes’ list of 100 highest-paid celebrities, could have lost so much money. Mars vehemently denied the rumours; a representative of MGM had to step in and make a statement refuting allegations that Mars was working off his gambling debt.

Rumour or not, Mars’ appearance in gambling-related news is far from rare. With the increasing popularity of online sports betting, betting sites are promoting a high-adrenalin, high roller image around gambling. Celebrity endorsement of these sites and online gambling in general has reinforced the perception.

Drake’s US$500,000 bet

Canadian rapper Drake has been a partner of cryptocurrency gambling firm Stake since 2022. Photo: @champagnepapi/Instagram

Rapper Drake has long promoted his “live large” lifestyle, taking to social media to show off his luxury purchases, from cars to mansions. During last year’s NBA season, the Canadian star shared that he had placed a bet on the Dallas Mavericks winning the 2024 championship; they lost the last game against the Boston Celtics 106-88 – and he lost US$500,000 in bitcoin.

The singer regularly shares his sports bets on social media. In February last year, posting on Instagram that he “couldn’t bet against the Swifties”, he bet US$1.15 million on the Kansas City Chiefs – the team Taylor Swift’s boyfriend Travis Kelce plays for – winning the Superbowl (they did).

In November, he bet US$355,000 that once-fearsome boxer Mike Tyson would beat YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul; Tyson lost. And last July, according to The Guardian, he staked US$300,000 on Canada’s Les Rouges beating Argentina – featuring Lionel Messi, widely seen as the world’s best player – in a Copa América semi-final. The result was what you’d expect.