'Mattress Mack' wins nearly $75M after betting on Astros to win World Series

HOUSTON, Texas -- A prolific Texas gambler with a knack for attention-getting bets won nearly $75 million after the Houston Astros won the World Series, including what sportsbooks say would be the largest payout on a single legal sports bet in U.S. history.

Jim "Mattress Mack" McIngvale of Houston has wagered a total of $10 million with numerous sportsbooks on an Astros victory.

His bets include a $3 million wager made back in May with Caesars Sportsbook at 10-to-1 odds. It pays him $30 million, which Brad Harwood, a spokesperson for the sportsbook, said is the largest payout on a single legal sports bet in U.S. history.

"I have no fear in me," McIngvale said before the big win on Nov. 1, while giving away mattresses in Atlantic City to military personnel, veterans and first responders at Harrah's casino. "I have a high tolerance for risk. If I lose, there's always another day."

McIngvale has a long history of large bets on the World Series, Super Bowl and NCAA Final Four tournament. He links the bets to try to cover the cost of promotions at his mattress store in Houston; Now that the Astros won this year, customers who bought high-end mattresses will get their money back.

Mattress Mack's big bet on the Astros could mean savings for his customers

In addition to his $3 million bet with Caesars, McIngvale bet $2 million with BetMGM; $2 million with Barstool Sports; and $1 million each with Wynn, Unibet and Betfred.

"This last week has been especially... beyond words," McIngvale said in a statement on social media, where he also posted a photo of himself with a suitcase full of cash.

McIngvale figures he's up "probably a couple million net" in the six or so years he has been making large bets on sports championships.

But it doesn't always work out for him. He lost nearly $10 million on the most recent Super Bowl, backing the Cincinnati Bengals over the eventual champion Rams.

He also whiffed on an Astros World Series bet in 2021, on Alabama in the national college championship game, as well as on NFL futures bets on the New England Patriots and Tennessee Titans.

The Associated Press and CNN Wire contributed to this report.