Who needs a career as an actor if you can make $1M playing in shady poker games in hotel rooms. Well, that is exactly what Tobey Maguire did. For a period of three years from 2006-2009, Tobey Maguire earned approximately $30M gambling in what some are calling illegal poker clubs, but lets just say they operated in a very very gray area. The reason this is all coming out is because one of the guys Tobey played against stole $25M from investors to play in these poker games. So, the victims of this guy's cheating want their money back and are going after people who have it, like Tobey Maguire. Tobey was named in a lawsuit saying he won about $300K from this guy including one bet of about $110K. Hello Spidey.
I remember a blind item about this ring way way back in the day. It included Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Leonardo DiCaprio. Apparently no one like Leo playing though because he could not stand to lose. If he lost $50K he would go crazy. Who knew Tobey was so good at poker. Ben, Matt and Leo are not being sued, but Nick Cassevetes is and Gabe Kaplan. Oh, and Rick Salomon. Who knew he had that kind of money. It was a minimum of $100K just to walk in the door.
This will make a good movie.
ReplyDeleteboy, I hope Tobey paid taxes on those winnings. Otherwise, Bye Bye Spidey.
ReplyDeleteI cannot imagine having that kind of money at my disposal.
ReplyDeleteI ain't perfect, but gambling just doesn't appeal to me. I have a dozen casinos within 2 hours of me in Oklahoma that I never visit.
p.s. I always thought Tobey McGuire was goofy looking, but he's definitely getting better looking as he gets older.
ReplyDeleteHa! This is interesting gossip, I must say.
ReplyDeleteI always kind of figured DiCaprio as a cheapskate.
who knew! never imagined little baby-faced TM balled like that.
ReplyDeleteShannon Elizabeth was running games out of her house for a cut of the winnings.
ReplyDeleteRick Salamon got about 15 million for the Paris sex tape so he is set for life. So did Paris as much as she would have you believe she is rich from her "17 brands".
I actually find this interesting, too. Is it weird that I now kind of find Tobey Maguire hot?
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure I understand the entitlement of the out of pocket investors against those who ultimately ended up with the cash. It's unfortunate for them but there it is with non guaranteed investment arrangements. How would this be proven anyways given the underground nature of the games? I trust that tax receipts weren't issued at nights' end.
ReplyDeleteI wish them luck levying accusations and looking for pay back from any individual who is assumed to have benefited from their stolen funds. No doubt any ill gotten gains have been long since consumed and completely unrecoverable 3 to 5 years down the road.
Toby? Wow. All I have to say about that.
ReplyDeleteAs for Gabe Kaplan: He's a big poker player. And Mr. Welcome Back Kotter always gets into these shady kind of things. A decade ago, he involved in a breast implant penny stock deal that went bust. Forbes did a story about his involvement and the fallout from the mess (hint: Gabe lost money). http://bit.ly/85VuVN
There are a lot of "home games" being played out there. All you need is one friend in the loop and there is a high stakes poker game to be found around the LA area.
ReplyDeleteThis is in addition to all the legal card clubs and indian casinos within an hour's drive!
I do remember that blind, vaguely...we must dig it up!
ReplyDeleteAnd by "we", I mean "not me".
ReplyDeleteRick Salomon made a chunk of change off of the Paris Hilton sex tape.
ReplyDeleteAmazing thought that these are the same stars who go on TV, telethons, commericals and ask for average americans to donate hard earned money to all their causes, water, africa, earthquakes, UNICEF.
ReplyDeleteThen go home and toss around millions with each other on poker games tax free. Money that could be donated to "their causes".
Pretty disgusting to me.
Haha reminds me a lot of the beginning of Ocean's 11...maybe Matt Damon suggested it??
ReplyDeleteWow, real life Rounders also starring Matt Damon.
ReplyDeleteNot really surprised about Tobey. He's a babyfaced guy, but totally streetwise. He had kind of a rough childhood in LA. I've long thought he hustled before he made it big.
Maja is cracking me up today.
ReplyDeleteStacy that is one of my favorite part's of O11.
ReplyDeleteThis is supposed to be the 21st Century Rat Pack, so I'd say Johnny Depp was in there too.
ReplyDeleteI suppose if these poker games were illegal, then the winnings would be illegal, and as such could be claimed by the scammed investors?
ReplyDeleteNot only does he have a baby face, but he's always struck me as having kind of a blank look to him. Perfect Poker Face!
ReplyDeleteHoly Cow, if you're making that kind of money gambling, just imagine how much he's probably lost over the years.
ReplyDeleteToby, seek help 'cause you've got a problem.
Timebob-I agree with every word of your post. That is a big ol' pet peeve of mine, too.
ReplyDeleteI too was hoping someone, meaning not me, had dug up the old blind.
ReplyDeleteTimebob, you might be suprised to find out that the stars asking for your money are also giving generously of their time and their money. Most do simply for PR reasons, some actually care and take it several steps further.
From looktothestars.org Toby is involved in several of the standard charities and supports several others. Google shows him at many, many events teaching kids about healthy eating and lobbying for healthier school meals.
Think I found the BI he was referring to. There are two of them:
ReplyDeleteOne from 2008 (seems to fit Tobey for sure): http://www.crazydaysandnights.net/2008/09/todays-blind-items_08.html
One from 2007: http://www.crazydaysandnights.net/2007/06/todays-blind-items_18.html
Thank you, Google!
Rose: ..all - RED.
ReplyDeleteLove Ocean's 11.
@Zsa zsa:the 2007 Blind item on crazy loser poker guy is Dicaprio(he hides well his vices) and the 2008 BI is on Tobey M(he hides well his vices)
ReplyDeleteI am really curious how a law suit like that works! I am interested on seeing updates of this. And I am pretty sure Spidey didn't claim that $30M on his tax returns so I wonder...do major investigations start now on these players or is it just some internet gambling company trying to drum up some free advertising. ??
ReplyDelete^Good point re: the taxes.
ReplyDeleteI remember reading that TM was a big
poker player but I had no idea he made THAT much.
The quiet unassuming ones always surprise ya.
The 2007 blind was Russel Crowe, he does a voice over for the Patriots in the 2008 super bowl.
ReplyDeleteI think its stupid that they should be taxed on their poker earnings.
ReplyDeleteDoes the government really have to be up everyone's asshole for every little penny we get? Its dumb
And I also think Ben and Matt engaged in crazy hidden activity in their post (or maybe even pre) Good Will Hunting days.
ReplyDeleteThis just corroborates it.
*and by hidden crazy activity I mean all the usual: strippers and/or hookers, gambling, drinking, drugging etc.
ReplyDeleteThey both give me creeper vibes too, like they would share the same hooker or something. Yikes. There's such a thing as too close of friends
Thanks Zsa Zsa!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for such a great blog poker online.
ReplyDelete