Drake's $1 Million Super Bowl Bet Falls Short Amidst 'Drake Curse' Narrative

Global music artist Drake has experienced a significant financial setback after placing a US$1 million bet on the New England Patriots to emerge victorious in the recent Super Bowl. The outcome of the game saw the Patriots lose 29-13 to the Seattle Seahawks, resulting in the forfeiture of Drake's substantial wager.

Drake had publicly shared details of his bet on Instagram, accompanied by the bold statement, "Bet against me if you dare." The failed wager, which carried an estimated potential return of US$2,950,000, has reignited conversations about the widely discussed 'Drake Curse,' a perceived pattern of athletes and teams experiencing misfortune after receiving endorsement or support from the artist.

This recent loss adds to a string of high-stakes bets placed by Drake that have not paid off. In 2016, he reportedly lost US$60,000 on the NBA finals. The following year, a US$1 million bet on the Toronto Maple Leafs in the NHL proved unsuccessful against the Florida Panthers. Furthermore, prior to the 2025 Super Bowl, Drake wagered a seven-figure sum on the Kansas City Chiefs, who were ultimately defeated by the Philadelphia Eagles.

Beyond football and hockey, Drake's involvement in sports betting has also extended to mixed martial arts. In 2022, he lost US$2 million on a UFC bout where he backed Israel Adesanya against Alex Pereira. Despite Adesanya being a favourite, Pereira secured a technical knockout victory in the fifth round, claiming the UFC middleweight title and causing Drake's bet to go awry.

While the 'Drake Curse' has become a popular topic of discussion, the artist himself has previously addressed the phenomenon with amusement. He referenced the Toronto Raptors' NBA championship victory, suggesting it dispelled any notion of a curse affecting team success, citing Kawhi Leonard's decisive shot as evidence.

"The Drake Curse is funny to me, honestly," Drake was quoted as saying. "First of all, the Raptors won a championship, so nobody could ever talk to me about the Drake Curse. The Toronto Raptors are NBA champions. If there was a Drake Curse, Kawhi [Leonard] would’ve never hit that shot, we would’ve never beat the Warriors. There is no Drake curse, but it’s funny, though."

Despite his past dismissals, Drake has acknowledged his struggles with sports betting, admitting that it is "not my gift." He further commented on the pattern of his losing bets, stating, "I’m sure if you’re a Drake curse believer, there will be plenty more content in the future to confirm your theories because, for whatever reason, my slips do not cash out."