Drake is once again putting serious money behind a high-profile fight, this time backing Jake Paul with a massive wager ahead of his matchup against Anthony Joshua.
On Friday (Dec. 19), the Toronto rapper shared a screenshot on his Instagram Story showing a $200,000 bet placed through crypto betting platform Stake, picking Paul to defeat Joshua. The slip showed odds of 8.20, with a potential payout of $1.64 million if Paul pulls off the upset.
Drake captioned the post with confidence: “Jakeyyyyy boy. Lock tf in.”
While Anthony Joshua is a former unified heavyweight champion and one of boxing’s most established stars, Jake Paul has continued to position himself as a legitimate contender by taking on increasingly tougher opponents in recent years.
Drake’s wager is just the latest example of his well-documented love for sports betting. The rapper has become one of the most visible celebrity gamblers, frequently sharing six and seven-figure bets across boxing, UFC, the NBA, NFL, soccer, and even Formula 1. His partnership with Stake has turned many of his betting slips into viral moments, whether they cash or crash.
Over the years, Drake has famously bet on fighters like Conor McGregor, Israel Adesanya, and Tyson Fury, as well as on teams such as the Toronto Raptors, the Kansas City Chiefs, and various World Cup squads. His betting history has been so public and occasionally unlucky that fans have jokingly dubbed losses tied to his picks the “Drake curse.” Still, the rapper has shrugged off the narrative, often doubling down with even larger wagers.
Drake has also publicly supported Jake Paul in the past, appearing friendly with the influencer-turned-boxer and praising his rise in the sport. Betting on Paul against someone of Joshua’s pedigree, however, represents one of the more aggressive risks Drake has taken in combat sports.
