Drake has never been afraid to flaunt his considerable wealth, often shelling out hundreds of thousands of dollars — if not more — especially in the arena of sports gambling.
Via his relationship with Stake, an Australian-Curaçaoan online casino company, Drake has been offered a platform to unleash his inner Warren G. Harding, particularly during sporting events.
Despite all of Drake’s bravado, he hasn’t been all that successful with his wagers. The five-time Grammy winner has placed bets on countless sporting contests over the years. More often than not, he comes up short. The internet has taken notice, christening his struggles with a wicked nickname: “The Drake Curse.”
Whispers of that hex surfaced once more Friday night. Jake Paul and Mike Tyson’s boxing match has entranced legions of boxing enthusiasts and casual viewers alike. Drake is no exception, rounding off his interest in the bout with a kiss — and a play slip.
With that, here’s what you need to know about Drake’s big-money bet in Paul vs. Tyson
Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson betting odds
Per Bet MGM, Paul is the -150 favorite, while Tyson is the +160 underdog.
How much did Drake bet on Mike Tyson to beat Jake Paul?
Drake placed a $355,000 bet on Tyson to defeat Paul outright, he revealed on Instagram on Friday night. If Tyson were to end the night with his hand raised, the 58-year-old would net Drake an estimated $1,011,750.
What is the ‘Drake Curse’?
Drake has bet on several sporting events over the years, and wears the jerseys of various teams and franchises. When he attempts to be a part of the action, the team or person he sides with usually loses.
Sharing his bets on social media has often resulted in groans or opportunities for trolling. Some of the effects of the ‘Drake Curse’ include:
- August-September 2015: The ‘Drake Curse’ begins after the rapper is seen kissing tennis superstar Serena Williams. He attends the U.S. Open to witness her quest for the Grand Slam, but Williams loses in the semi-final.
- October 2018: UFC star Connor McGregor brings Drake out before his match with Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229. Nurmagomedov goes on to destroy McGregor in a one-sided beatdown.
- April 2019: Drake dons a Maples Leafs jersey in the playoffs, and Toronto promptly loses to the Bruins in seven games.
- June 2019: Drake bets for Joshua to beat Andy Ruiz Jr., a replacement opponent for Jarrell Miller. Ruiz beats Joshua in what is considered one of the biggest upsets in heavyweight boxing history.
- August 2022: Drake bets $200,000 on Kamaru Usman to beat Leon Edwards at UFC 278 for the UFC welterweight title. Edwards beats Usman following a dramatic comeback kick to the head.
- November 2022: Drake holds Team Canada jerseys alongside players. Team Canada becomes the first World Cup team since 1978 to attempt at least 20 shots and one penalty kick and not score a goal.
- February 2023: Draft bets $400,000 on Jake Paul to KO Tommy Fury, who wins via split decision.
- April 2023: Drake bet put down a $1 million Bitcoin stake on Gervonta Davis winning outright against Ryan Garcia. “Tank” beat Garcia via seventh-round knockout.
- August 2023: Drake bets $250,000 for Nate Diaz to beat Jake Paul outright. Paul beat Diaz via unanimous decision.
- September 2023: Drake placed a $500,000 bet for Israel Adesanya to successfully defend the UFC middleweight title against Sean Strickland at UFC 293 via knockout. Strickland dominates the fight and wins the belt via unanimous decision.
- October 2023: Drake put down $850,000 for Logan Paul to knock out Dillon Danis. Paul beat Danis via DQ.
- February 2024: Drake bet $1.15 million for the Kansas City Chiefs to beat the San Fransisco 49ers in the Super Bowl. The Chiefs won 25-22.
- March 2024: Drake bet $615,000 on Francis Ngannou to win outright over Anthony Joshua. Joshua downed via second-round knockout.