Poker pros will bet on anything, even when they’re not playing the game. Consider, for example, one professional poker player’s recent bet that he could consume $1,000 worth of food from McDonald’s in 36 hours.
Mike Noori, who’s won more than $400,000 playing live, accepted the challenge from World Poker Tour director Matt Savage. The conditions included a no-blender rule, and drinks wouldn’t count. Noori was also limited to McDonald’s locations in Flagstaff, Arizona, in case you were thinking he could run up the tab by going abroad.
Noori made it clear up front that he planned to put half of the budget into apple slices, the McDonald’s offering with the lowest calories-to-dollars ratio, but he was still facing down an insane 70,000 total calories.
The challenge attracted a ton of betting action, even with the odds set at 5-to-1 against Noori. Cardplayer.com reported that “more than $200,000 worth of action was booked for the bet,” although Noori claimed his personal stake was only “a tiny piece” of that.
Dressed in a Hamburglar costume, Noori finally began the challenge over the weekend. He broadcast part of the event live on Periscope, and the videos are sickening:
— Craig Chait (@McHamburgler1k) May 20, 2017
“The McHamburglar” started off with a mashed-up bowl of apple slices (about $50 worth), and supplemented that with five chicken breasts, some parfaits, and a “wall of guacamole.”
Unfortunately, that’s about where he hit the wall. At 10 hours in, he had only eaten $90 of food, and reported that his mental state was “shaky.”
About $150 ordered with about $55 in the fridge. 21 hours in, $95 consumed. On pace for about $150 worth in 36 hours. 😳🙄
— Craig Chait (@McHamburgler1k) May 20, 2017
After a break to play golf, he added in one more late-night McDonald’s run, choking down 4 nuggets, a McFlurry, and half of a small fry. The last straw appears to have been a Filet-O-Fish sandwich. He only took one bite before throwing it away.
Noori finally gave up at around $100 of food consumed, disappointing everyone who bet on him.
The important thing, though, is that he lived to tell the tale. And, he claimed on Twitter, he raised $14,000 for charity in the process. Not bad for a disgusting day’s work.