“I Was Stupid”: Having Rejected $3.5 Billion Rich Michael Jordan’s Offer, 17x Poker Champion Expresses Regret Over Missed Chance

15 NBA seasons, six championships, a globally popular sneaker empire, successful businesses and more make Michael Jordan a billionaire. It also gives him some gambling capacity. The five-time MVP has a reputation for enjoying a wager or two and could wear down his fellow players with his tendency for “no limits.” MJ has also maintained a longstanding friendship with one of the best poker players in the world. Shockingly, they’ve never played a single round of the game of chance.

The 17-time Poker champion spoke about his underrated friendship with His Airness during an appearance on the Chicken Dinner podcast. The most surprising part of the interview was when he confessed he lost the chance to play with the billionaire tycoon once.

Poker Champ regrets not playing against Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan enjoys poker more than the average person. It’s not surprising he formed a friendship with Phil Hellmuth, who has won 17 world titles in poker. While on the Chicken Dinner podcast, Hellmuth expressed his sore feelings for not taking Jordan’s poker invite. After hanging several times, the $3.5 billion man asked Hellmuth to play a round.

The poker star had been only a visitor in the town which restricted his ability for an impromptu poker match.  “He challenged me once and I didn’t have a lot of money in town,” Hellmuth told host Sam Panayotovich.

Hellmuth and many of Jordan’s associates would know he’s addicted to no-limit badugi. If you’re playing against the Chicago Bulls legend your pot better be loaded because he will drag out every session. While Hellmuth could easily take on the challenge, he couldn’t at that time.

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“I was stupid. I should have just called my friends and said, ‘Hey, (send me some money).’ And (Jordan) would have wanted to play until seven in the morning.” It sounds like he didn’t get another invite again either which makes Hellmuth probably regret it more.

Michael Jordan’s (in)famous poker nights

Even before he turned him down, Hellmuth knew a poker game hosted by MJ is the most thrilling experience. The poker pro disclosed that Jordan terrorized his fellow NBA stars during a card game. Knowing he can afford to, he often tried to buy their pots.

But Hellmuth is no small fry. He has more wins to boast of than Michael Jordan, who could get a little scary at poker. One of his high-stakes game ended with MJ threatening his rivals to extract a debt. “He’ll grind you down,” Hellmuth said about the billionaire.

MJ also has a plan B in case he’s running out of chips. “But I’m not some 23-year-old playing his first session with MJ. I [would] be like, ‘I’m leaving.’ I [would have given] him an hour’s notice, which is reasonable.”

Jordan’s other poker buddies should take the expert’s cue and do the same. It might save them some money.

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