Mattress Mac under the knife.
The Houston-area furniture owner, whose real name is Jim McIngvale, gained national notoriety for his wild promotions for free furniture if local sports teams won championships.
It finances promotions in part by placing large future bets on results.
On Thursday morning, McIngvale announced in a video clip on Channel X that he has been suffering from some health problems in recent months.
“Marvin Zindler said it well. He said, 'It's hell getting old.'” He said, “I'm getting a little old.”
“I had cellulitis in my leg a few months ago, and the staff at Texas Medical Center solved that problem. Now I have a leaky mitral valve in my heart.
He added that he will undergo open heart surgery next Tuesday.
Of course, McIngvale couldn't let the health scare pass without some salesmanship.
“A lot of people are calling and asking what they can do for me,” McIngvale continued. “The best thing you can do for me is to pray obviously, and if you need any furniture, go out and buy furniture. That would relieve a lot of my anxiety.”
He said he hopes to return to work about 10 days after the operation.
“So please pray for me and the best way to lift my spirits… is for me to come buy some new furniture,” he repeated.
The size of McIngvale's sports bets has made headlines for years.
Earlier this year, he bet $1 million on Houston to win the NCAA Championship at +750.
He would have won $43 million on about $7 million in bets if the Astros won the World Series in 2023.
