'Mattress Mack': Houston Astros superfan has wagered $10 million to win $75 million if staff wins World Sequence

Muricas News  — 

The Houston Astros are robust favorites to win the World Sequence, which begins Friday, and one of many staff’s most well-known followers goes all in on oddsmakers’ predicted end result for the “Fall Basic.”

Flamboyant Houston furnishings retailer proprietor Jim McIngvale, generally known as “Mattress Mack,” made a collection of bets – $10 million in all – earlier this 12 months on the Astros to win the World Sequence.

If the Astros do regain their MLB crown – the staff’s first title got here in 2017 – McIngvale will win an eye-watering $75 million, which has been broadly reported could be largest payout in sports activities betting historical past.

“The thrill may be very actual in Houston. Your complete city is fired up concerning the Astros,” McIngvale instructed reporters throughout a press convention, including that he had “excessive propensity for danger.”

“When Yordan Álvarez hit the house run to beat the Seattle Mariners in Sport 1 (of the American League Division Sequence), there have been seven million folks operating round giving one another hugs. “Profitable the wager is essential however what’s extra essential is giving a reimbursement to our prospects who purchased round $75 million value of furnishings,” mentioned McIngvale.

In an interview with Muricas News final 12 months, McIngvale mentioned he had wager $3.35 million again in June 2021 that the Astros would win final 12 months’s World Sequence.

McIngvale instructed Muricas News in October final 12 months that he made the massive wagers to cowl one other gamble of kinds – prospects who purchased sure mattresses that price $3,000 or extra will get their a reimbursement if the Astros win.

“It’s a hedge,” mentioned McIngvale, who’s well-known in Houston for his commercials and for his charitable work in the neighborhood, turning his shops into shelters to assist folks displaced by extreme climate occasions, comparable to Hurricane Harvey.

Throughout Thursday’s press convention, McIngvale mentioned that his first main wager was through the Houston Texans’ first season within the NFL again in 2002.

Mack added that his “spouse frets greater than” him over the enormity of his wagers.

As a passionate Astros fan, backing the staff was a simple choice for McIngvale, however he sees baseball’s impression as extra far-reaching.

“Baseball brings pleasure to the town. Your complete nation is split politically between Republicans and Democrats however baseball brings us all collectively; all races, colours and creeds,” mentioned McIngvale.

“And I say, due to the Houston Astros for bringing Houston collectively. I bought to all of the video games and I can’t let you know how many individuals are down there and it’s a giant deal to them.

“It’s their birthday, it’s their anniversary however they’re there cheering on the Houston Astros. No matter we will do to make folks’s lives higher by way of this excellent, magical sport known as baseball, we’re completely happy to do.”

Sport 1 of the 2022 World Sequence begins on Friday, October 28 at Minute Maid Park in Houston.