Seven-figure wagers on Super Bowl futures aren’t unusual, but they typically come in closer to the game. This year, though, several million-dollar bets have already been placed with nine days to go — led by Houston furniture magnate Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale’s $2 million wager — while much smaller preseason stakes have ballooned into life-changing payouts.
A simple example: someone who risked $100 back in August on a preseason “exacta” — picking both teams and the winner — now stands to collect more than $300,000. Circa Sports recorded a $100 bet in late August that paired New England and Seattle and picked the Patriots to win at astronomical +310,000 odds (about 3,100/1). If New England pulls off the upset, that $100 would return roughly $310,000 — a far greater percentage gain than any single-million-dollar bet.
McIngvale returned to the headlines on Jan. 22 by putting $2 million on the AFC to win the Super Bowl at +200 at Caesars Sportsbook, a bet he made in Louisiana because Texas doesn’t yet offer regulated sports betting. He said he liked the added value of +200 and also tied the wager to a retail promotion: buyers of mattress sets over $4,000 at his stores would be refunded if the Patriots win. McIngvale emphasized the unpredictability of a single game and backed the conference underdogs.
Celebrities and athletes have also made big plays at Fanatics Sportsbook: Kendall Jenner staked $1 million on the Patriots moneyline at +190, while Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker put $1 million on Seattle’s alternate spread (-3.5) at -125. Fanatics and Jenner pledged $1 million to charity regardless of the result. Separately, a Circa bettor dropped $1.1 million on the Patriots moneyline at +188, which would yield about $2.068 million in profit if New England wins.
Back in August, a bettor at BetMGM constructed a multi-leg Seahawks ticket that began with a $50,000 wager on Seattle to make the playoffs and included bets on the NFC title and a Super Bowl futures ticket; those earlier legs already returned large sums, and a Super Bowl win would add roughly $3 million more, bringing total profit near $4.5 million. DraftKings customers who bought Seahawks futures at different prices also stand to make sizable gains.
New England’s unexpected 14-3 season after two 4-13 campaigns — following the hiring of Mike Vrabel — made earlier longshot Patriots futures look prescient. Examples include a DraftKings customer who put $10,000 on the Pats at +8000 last January (a potential $800,000 profit) and Dave Portnoy’s $50,000 at +3500 on DraftKings. BetMGM also showed a $30,000 Patriots futures ticket at +2200. All of these smaller-to-mid-size wagers could turn into six-figure wins if the Patriots lift the Lombardi.
Other notable high-stakes tickets already posted include a $180,810 Seahawks moneyline at -220 (Boomer’s Sportsbook), $55,000 on the Patriots +4.5 at Caesars, various Patriots futures tickets, and several Seahawks spread and futures wagers at Caesars. The story underscores how both massive single bets and modest preseason plays can produce headline-making results — while also serving as a reminder that these high-stakes gambles are made by players who can absorb big losses. Don’t wager more than you can afford to lose.
Fan Take: This surge of big-money and longshot preseason bets shows how much excitement — and financial speculation — the NFL generates beyond the field, turning even small, early wagers into huge narratives by game day. For fans, it highlights how unpredictable playoff runs and coaching turnarounds can reshape the betting landscape and keep interest and conversation around the sport buzzing through the Super Bowl.
