You have to look for luck or, sometimes, invent it.
That was exactly what happened to
James Franklin McIngvale
(72)
.
In 2019, the furniture entrepreneur
bet $4.5 million
on the
Cincinnati Bengals
on
Super Bowl LVI
and set the record for the largest mobile bet in history.
Unfortunately for him, the team he invested that money for failed to win the title.
Three years later, Jim bet on the
Houston Astros
in the 2022 World Series and, this time, he was successful.
The man
He managed to take $75 million dollars
, the highest jackpot in the history of sports betting.
"I imagine that a bet is like flipping a coin," the man had declared to
Forbes
magazine after losing after betting on Cincinnati.
How and why did you start in the gaming world?
This is his story.
Jim McIngvale opened his first Gallery Furniture store, with just $5,000, in 1981.
James' beginnings
James "Jim" Franklin McIngvale was born on February 11, 1951 in
Mississippi, United States
.
Since he was little, James has always been interested in sports and betting.
He graduated from Bishop Lynch High School in Dallas and attended North Texas State University, where he played football in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
After graduating from college, McIngvale began working at a Dallas furniture store, where he learned a lot about the business that was to be critical to his future.
Jim, thanks to this experience, was inspired to open his own store.
He achieved his goal, moving to Houston with his wife, Linda, and opening the first
Gallery Furniture
, with just $5,000, in 1981.
McIngvale's start in the furniture industry was rocky.
Despite the economic crisis, he decided to differentiate himself from the competition in two key ways: with unique television commercials and the promise of same-day delivery.
The man's commercials, in which he waved wads of cash, gesticulated awkwardly and talked so fast it was almost incomprehensible, helped him "earn" the honor of having worst ads on local television multiple times in an annual survey conducted by students. Marketing from the University of Houston.
Gallery Furniture has annual revenue of $200 million.
Today, McIngvale's empire has three Gallery Furniture locations in the Houston area, including a massive store that houses a saltwater aquarium, tropical birds, exotic animals, and a giant jumping mat.
Today, this company dominates the Houston and all of Texas market, and has annual revenues of
$200 million and a net worth of $300 million.
The world of bets
In addition to being a successful businessman who achieved the American dream, Jim is known for his famous promotions, in which he assures that, if a certain sporting result occurs, he will return the money to all those who have purchased $3,000 or more in his store. .
He did it in 2019 and 2022.
Jim lost nearly $5 million on a sports bet in 2019, but sold $20 million worth of furniture thanks to his profitable promotion.
The businessman, in an interview with
Forbes
, assured that the sales were "spectacular" and that this time he had sold 1 million dollars in furniture only on Sunday morning.
Jim Mclngvale is famous for his crazy promotions and crazy sports betting.
On February 3, 2022,
Jim made history
.
As a result of the Houston Astros winning the 2022 World Series championship,
the man won $75 million
, the highest total jackpot in sports betting history.
From that moment Jim became a celebrity in the United States.
Everyone wants to meet him and some even dared to say that he has the
"Sport almanac"
magazine from the movie
Back to the Future.
Help for your people
McIngvale is known for betting, but there is a facet that is not widely recognized in him, that of his solidarity.
In 2021 he made national headlines for using his Gallery Furniture showrooms as temporary shelters for Houston flood victims.
It also housed evacuees from Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and nearly 400 victims of Hurricane Harvey in 2017. McIngvale provided food and shelter and also allowed pets in its showrooms, a rarity for those seeking temporary shelter.
Jim housed evacuees from Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and nearly 400 victims of Hurricane Harvey in 2017.
Gallery Furniture
also opened its doors during winter storm Uri in 2021, reportedly providing more than 3,000 meals to those in need.
McIngvale also helped build the first mobile stroke unit in the United States and annually awards private school scholarships to underserved children in the Houston area.
Speaking of his personal life, Jim recently signed a million-dollar contract with the University of Houston basketball team.
The deal allows Gallery Furniture to use the team's celebrity to bring fans to its doors.
Always avant-garde, always negotiating.
The man stated that he does not plan to stop playing luck and that next year he plans to make an even bigger bet.
look too
The country that does not exist and managed to "sneak" into two UN events
Ashrita Furman, the man with the most Guinness Record in history