The man who had once lit up every room he entered with his big smile and booming laugh was suddenly gone. Irv Gotti, the larger-than-life music mogul behind Murder Inc. Records, passed away at just 54. On February 5, Def Jam, the parent company of Gotti’s legendary label, confirmed Gotti’s death in a terse Instagram post.

Naturally, fans couldn’t help but reflect on Gotti’s golden years. Alongside his brother, Gotti founded Murder Inc. in the late 1990s, crafting a powerhouse that delivered platinum artists like Ashanti and Ja Rule. Moreover, his creative fingerprints touched the music of icons like Jay-Z, Nas, and DMX, making him a major force in shaping hip-hop and R&B’s golden era. His influence wasn’t just big—it was seismic.

Still, as tributes poured in, a particular quote from Def Jam struck a chord. “His creative genius and unwavering dedication to the culture birthed countless hits, defining an era of music that continues to resonate with fans worldwide,” their statement read. Interestingly, no cause of death was immediately given. However, during a sit-down with DJ Vlad, Gilbert Arenas learned the unsettling truth. Vlad mentioned, “Age 54, very young. He’s the one that want to k-ll you at one point for making him lose money on a spread,” cracking open a story no one expected. Gilbert Arenas recalled spotting Gotti at underground poker tables.

“That was sad, you know, I met with him. I used to see him at poker games,” Gil shared. But DJ Vlad quickly dropped the bomb, revealing, “He died playing poker… He had a heart attack while playing poker and eating Chinese food.” Gil, stunned, admitted he had no idea.

To make matters even heavier, Vlad added, “He had diabetes, which he never really took seriously, according to his brother Chris Gotti.” Reflecting on their bond, Vlad said, “Me and him have actually been really cool over the years… He was sick and wasn’t really taking it. Seriously, 54 is young… Rest in peace, Gotti.” But here’s the kicker—what about that $175k bet that made Gotti “want to k-ll,” Gil?

Gilbert Arenas’ wild shot that cost Irv Gotti $175k

Just imagine placing a monstrous bet—one so massive that even people sitting in the nosebleeds are whispering about it. That’s exactly where Irv Gotti and Ja Rule found themselves, betting big on a Golden State Warriors game, only to have Gilbert Arenas crash their dreams with one absolutely reckless move.

Naturally, the chaos unfolded during a 2022 VLAD TV interview when Arenas looked back on the hilarious, yet brutal, moment. Back in his Warriors days, Gil’s team was already down bad against the Houston Rockets. The game seemed practically over. Yet, somehow, the real heartbreak wasn’t happening on the court—it was brewing in Gotti and Ja’s wallets.

The pair initially put up $50,000 on the Rockets—then NBA favorites by eight—but as friends piled on, the insured sum ballooned to $175,000 in total. By the fourth quarter, with Houston leading comfortably, Cuttino Mobley sank two free throws to extend the lead to nine points and seemingly lock in the cover, at least in Gotti’s mind

Interestingly enough, at some point during the game, Arenas caught wind that Gotti and Ja had placed serious money on the Warriors to cover the spread. And if there’s one thing you should know about Agent Zero, it’s that he loved to stir the pot.

So, with the game already buried, Gil did what only he would dare to do. He dribbled up the court, launched a prayer from half-court, and watched it miraculously sink through the net. The crowd went wild for the shot, but little did they know, it shattered a $175,000 bet in an instant. “I came down and shot it,” Arenas later recalled on VladTV. “And I could see the disappointment on their face. I won. I won the game.”

The full scale of the loss only emerged when Gotti and Ja Rule appeared on the Drink Champs podcast, confessing that their $175,000 wager evaporated in an instant. “We wanted to kill Gilbert Arenas after that,” Gotti said, “The whole arena knew we had 175 [thousand dollars] on this. The refs knew. Everyone knew”

The real takeaway for fans and risk-takers alike? In sports, in music, and at the felt, success demands both audacity and caution. Cherish Gotti’s bold cultural bets, learn from Arenas’s impish half-court heroics, and heed the hard numbers swirling around sportsbooks.