Jamie Gold Sells His 2006 WSOP ME Bracelet
May 20, 2013 12:49 pmBack in 2006, Jamie Gold won the World Series of Poker Main Event for a staggering $12 million, but now seven years on has inexplicably decided to sell the gold WSOP bracelet he was awarded to commemorate his victory.
I say inexplicably, but many poker fans have already decided the reason Jamie Gold has put his bracelet up for auction on the Heritage Auctions site is because he must be busto. Consequently, the poker forums have been awash with fans weighing in and giving their opinions on the 2006 Main Event winner.
Jamie Gold’s victory caused a wave of controversy at the time after his “business partner” the TV producer Bruce Crispin Leyser demanded part of Gold’s winnings for paying his entry into the main event. Consequently, $6 million of Gold’s WSOP earnings was kept in the Rio Hotel and Casino’s vault until Leyser and Gold eventually settled the matter outside of court. Its not known how much of the remaining money Gold would have then kept, but last year’s WSOP Main Event winner Greg Merson’s situation may offer a clue. As was reported in an article on taxabletalk.com after he won the $8,531,853 top prize:
“He’ll owe self-employment tax ($247,424), state income tax to Maryland ($469,252), and federal income tax ($2,976,850), for a total tax bite of $3,693,526. He’ll actually get to keep $4,838,327 (he’ll lose an estimated 43% of his winnings to taxes).”
Following his 2006 win, Bodog subsequently ended their business relationship with Gold, and the 43 year-old’s poker resume has failed to inspire ever since. Aside from his $12 million win in Vegas, the California resident has added a total of just $245,468 to his tournament earnings over 9 years of play.
As for the WSOP bracelet he is selling, it is described on Heritage Auctions as featuring; “259 stones including over seven carats of diamonds and 120 grams of white and yellow gold. Rubies are inset to create the red of the heart and diamond suits, while a sapphire represents the spade and three black diamonds the clubs. The clasp is stamped “14K.”