How does a world-class skier get involved in the shady world of underground poker? Poker princess, Mary Bloom certainly knows a thing or two about it! Bloom, a former U.S. ski team member, would arrange high-stake poker games for Hollywood celebrities like Ben Affleck and Tobey Maguire and has seen the dark side of the game. Bloom penned down her experiences in a book that has been adapted for the big screen. So, keep reading to find out more about her in our Molly Bloom wiki.
Mary Bloom’s skier-turned-poker princess story, Molly’s Game, will hit theatres on Christmas Day. Molly Bloom’s movie tells the fascinating story of Bloom’s life from a star athlete to a poker game organizer for Hollywood’s elite.
Bloom’s life was nothing short of a rollercoaster ride! After being arrested by federal authorities, Bloom was looking at a lengthy prison sentence for hosting illegal poker games. But life dealt her a different set of cards, and now her story is an Oscar contender!
So, who is Mary Bloom? We’ve got the full scoop about the poker princess, right here.
An Olympic Skier from Colorado
Molly Bloom is from Loveland, Colorado, and graduated from the University of Colorado in Boulder with a degree in political science. Mary Bloom’s age is 39.
As a young girl, Bloom. .admired her brothers’ excellence in academics and sports and decided to follow them. Bloom was a star on the U.S. ski team, and she was ranked third overall in North America in 1998.
But, an injury cut short Bloom’s career. And, instead of going to law school like she planned, life took her in a direction that even she didn’t dream of going.
Life as the Poker Princess
Molly Bloom’s poker princess journey began in Los Angeles as a 26-year-old waitress. Her beauty and charming personality quickly earned her a place as an organizer for high-stakes poker games, some involving Hollywood stars like Ben Affleck and Tobey Maguire.
With millions of dollars changing hands at the poker table, Bloom profited from the deals. She took home a cool $4.0 million in one year!
Bloom lived a lavish lifestyle funded by her poker deals and quickly got accustomed to it.
“Growing up, my parents made sure we had what we needed, but it was always discount basics. All of a sudden I had cash, I had an American Express card, and I could buy myself whatever I wanted,” said Bloom.
“I shopped on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, 5th Avenue in Manhattan. I bought a Bentley, I chartered private planes, I had a staff, a driver and I rented $100,000 homes for summers in the Hamptons and in Malibu. It was shallow, but it was fun. A lot of my friends were bought these things by their boyfriends, but I loved that I did it all by myself,” Bloom added.
After moving to New York, Bloom continued her poker business but was soon embroiled in drugs, visits from members of the mafia, and illegal poker games in the Big Apple. It all ended after the FBI arrested Bloom in 2013. After pleading guilty, she got away with a probation and fine.
All of Bloom’s incredible stories find themselves in her book released in 2014 called Molly’s Game: From Hollywood’s Elite to Wall Street’s Billionaire Boys Club, My High-Stakes Adventure in the World of Underground Poker.
Bloom’s earnings are set to rise with the new movie, which will put the spotlight back on Bloom and her book. However, Mary Bloom’s net worth is unknown.
Molly’s Game: Tipped to Win Big
The new movie directed by Aaron Sorkin stars Jessica Chastain as Mary Bloom with Idris Elba playing the role of Bloom’s lawyer. It is all ready to make a significant impact in the upcoming awards season.
Bloom can’t believe how far she has come. In an interview after the London premiere of Molly’s Game, she talked about how her journey could have ended in prison instead of a film premiere.
“I just never imagined I would be here. Particularly after pleading guilty to a federal sentence, not knowing what consequences, long-term, that was going to hold for me. Having such exorbitant debt and no money. You know, I made a giant mess. So, to be here in London feels very magical and fairy tale-ish. It’s an extraordinary moment that was not foreseen.”
Jessica Chastain’s performance as the alluring Molly Bloom is magical. And, we can’t wait to watch Bloom’s story come alive on the big screen! Check out the preview below!
Molly’s Game releases in select theatres on December 25, 2017.
