Molly’s Game is a recently released non-fiction movie based on the life of Molly Bloom. Starring Jessica Chastain as Molly Bloom, the film is the directorial debut of writer Aaron Sorkin. Nicknamed the Poker Princess, Molly-the would-have-been Olympic skier hosted high-stake underground celebrity poker games from east to west coast for a decade, up until FBI agents arrested her for illegally hosting poker games. Her clients were all A-listers; from Hollywood stars, sports superstars, and business tycoons. Unbeknownst to Molly, members of the Russian mob were her players too.
Molly’s Life in Short
Molly Bloom was a promising skier who entered the trials of the US winter Olympic team. She injured herself and lost all hope of being part of the winter Olympic team. She headed to LA and worked as a personal assistant to a Hollywood bar owner who later turned over the duty of a poker hostess. Everything seem to be easy breezy as Molly became the untouchable poker hostess. She ultimately put up her own underground services. Though Bloom does not sit at the poker table nor gets paid for her services, she was earning tens of thousands of dollars for a night’s work. The tips she received were more than enough to sustain her escalating extravagant lifestyle.
Her “work” finally caught up on her and on May 2014, she was arrested by the FBI for illegal gambling. She was fined $1,000 and was sentenced with 12-month probation for taking part in high-profile gambling ring. These poker tournaments attracted Hollywood biggies such as Toby Maguire, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ben Affleck, and Matt Damon.
Bloom was privy to some of the juiciest gossips in town, but she was discrete and was handsomely tipped for her confidentiality. She catered to the whims of her big time clients by inviting billionaire businessmen and top rated sports superstars to play against her regulars.
Things would have been different for Bloom if she just stuck with receiving tips. When she graduated into taking a rake, her little poker tournaments evolved into organized crime. She was also beaten up badly when she refused to share her profits with some Russian mobsters.
Celebrity Gamblers
Aside from the aforementioned regulars of Bloom’s poker games, there are other notable Hollywood celebrities who may not have been Bloom’s players, but were high-hitting gamblers.
Charlie Sheen’s ex-wife Denise Richards claimed that Sheen spent $20,000 weekly on sports betting.
Tiger Woods is a blackjack gamer and bets as much as $25,000 in one hand, and has reportedly won $1M on each night he played.
It was said the Pamela Anderson married Rick Salomon because of a $250 poker bet.
Michael Jordan’s early retirement was said to have been prompted by his gambling problem.
