The infamous 'Drake curse' seems to have claimed another victim, this time costing the rapper himself a hefty sum. Over the weekend, Canadian superstar Drake lost a $200,000 wager after publicly backing internet sensation-turned-boxer Jake Paul against the formidable former heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua.
Mismatch in the Ring Ends in Dramatic Knockout
The highly anticipated fight in Saudi Arabia presented a classic clash of backgrounds. On one side was Anthony Joshua, a decorated Olympic gold medalist and two-time world champion. On the other was Jake Paul, the YouTuber who has seriously pursued a professional boxing career in recent years. The experience gap proved decisive inside the ring.
Anthony Joshua delivered a powerful and decisive knockout in the sixth round, emphatically ending the contest. A visibly hurt Jake Paul was seen spitting blood immediately after the fight and questioned if his jaw was broken. "Anthony's a great fighter, I got my ass beat, but that's what this sport's about," Paul stated in the ring's aftermath. He later confirmed, "Yeah, it's definitely broke," revealing it was broken in two places.
Despite the brutal defeat, Paul remained defiant about his future in boxing. "I love this so I'm going to come back and get a world championship belt at some point," he declared, showcasing his unwavering ambition.
Drake's Wager and the Revival of the 'Curse'
Just before the fight, Drake placed his $200,000 bet through the crypto casino Stake. He shared his support on social media with a post that read, "Jakeyyyyy boy. Lock in." Given Joshua's pedigree, Paul was already considered a significant underdog. The moment Drake's bet became public, fans and commentators across the internet quickly resurrected the long-running 'Drake curse' meme.
This popular online narrative suggests that athletes or teams publicly endorsed or backed by the 'Hotline Bling' singer often end up losing. The bet on Jake Paul provided fresh fodder for this belief, as Joshua's dominant victory seemed to align perfectly with the so-called curse.
A History of High-Stakes Losses and Hidden Profits
This is far from the first time Drake's very public sports bets have gone awry. In May 2024, he lost $565,000 betting on Tyson Fury to beat Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight title, a fight Usyk won. Earlier, in November 2023, Drake wagered $355,000 on boxing legend Mike Tyson to defeat Jake Paul, another bet that failed when Paul won by unanimous decision.
Each high-profile loss adds more fuel to the 'curse' mythology, painting Drake as an unlucky charm for fighters. However, the overall financial picture for the rapper's gambling habit is more nuanced. According to data from a website tracking his publicly disclosed wagers, Drake is actually in profit overall.
The data suggests that from 82 public bets totaling roughly $35.75 million, Drake has seen returns of about $36.17 million, leaving him with a net profit of approximately $413,000. His most successful betting arena has been the NFL, where he is reportedly up by $1.68 million. Conversely, soccer bets have been less kind, resulting in losses of around $1.90 million. The rapper is also known for his active interest in UFC and MMA, having placed 25 publicly discussed bets on fights in the octagon.
While the 'Drake curse' makes for entertaining social media buzz, the numbers indicate that for the rapper himself, it's all part of the high-stakes game.
