John Daly Estimates $98m in Gambling Losses

Pro golfer John Daly has become legendary for his gambling losses. And Daly recently offered more on the exact extent of how much money he dropped through gambling.

Speaking on ESPN’s “30 for 30,” Daly said that he estimates losing around $50 million for his gambling career.

“We figured I lost about $98 million and won about $45 million gambling,” he said. “So, yeah, I lost around $50 million.”

As the Washington Post points out, this is actually $53 million after doing the math. And to offer a comparison, this is more than the estimated $44 million that New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady makes annually through endorsements and salary.

If there’s one saving grace for Daly, it’s the fact that he itemized gambling losses on his tax returns, thus saving him a fortune.

Another good thing that Daly has done includes cutting down on his high stakes gambling habits. As Daly told the Golf Channel, he no longer maintains the same habits, such as when he would play seven blackjack hands simultaneously for $15,000 each.

“I love the action. I love the adrenaline, going in there,” said Daly. “Now if I gamble, I play the $25 slots. If I hit something, I might move up to $100. But I don’t do what I used to do anymore.”

So does the 50-year-old regret his wild gambling sprees that occurred from 1999 to 2007?

“People are going to say that I should regret it, but I did it,” he said. “You know, I move on from it. I had a lot of fun doing it.”

Beyond gambling, Daly also developed a reputation as a big drinker who bucked the traditional, conservative golf image.

But during the 30 for 30 segment, he said that he only drank one time during a PGA tournament.

“I’ve been hung over. I might’ve been still drunk and played from the night before,” he said, “I do it that, but I never had any alcohol on the golf course — that I — except one time. That was the L.A. Open.”

Daly added, “It was so slow, and I played the back nine first and I think I’m two or three over. I went in the locker room and downed, like, five beers. I think I shot four under on the front nine. That is the only time I know I drank during a round and I played great that week.”

Daly’s 30 for 30 special aired on November 1st.