Starkville native places $3.5 million bet on Houston Astros to win 2019 World Series

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – A Starkville native placed a big bet on his adopted hometown team.

Jim McInvale placed a $3.5 million bet on the Houston Astros to win the 2019 World Series.

McInvale, also known as “Mattress Mack” in Houston, made his bet in south Mississippi Tuesday at DraftKings at the Scarlet Pearl Sportsbook. This is the largest single bet in the short history of Mississippi Sportsbook.

If Houston wins the World Series, McIngvale will collect $11.2 million.

McInvale owns Gallery Furniture, based in Houston.

He is known for his big TV commercials and for opening his furniture stores as a haven to people flooded out of their homes during both Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Harvey. McInvale is also known for make large donations to his community.

His World Series promotion guaranteed customers a full refund on their mattress if they spend $3,000 or more – and the Astros win the entire series.

A similar promotion in 2017 had McInvale making good on his promise and paying more than $13 million in refunds when the Astros beat the LA Dodgers.

McInvale personally went to D’Ibverville to make the bet at the Scarlet Pearl.