Who Is Huck Seed?
Before he became one of poker's greats, Huckleberry Seed was a college basketball player. He stormed onto the poker scene in 1989, but his breakthrough came in 1996 when he conquered the Main Event at the World Series of Poker (WSOP), pocketing a cool $1 million. Seed boasts four career WSOP bracelets and has racked up over $7.5 million in live tournament cashes.
But ask many poker fans, and they'll tell you Seed is just as famous for what he does away from the table—his love of high-stakes prop bets. Huck Seed doesn’t just enjoy a side wager—he lives for them. And these aren’t your everyday bets. Some deserve entire documentaries. For those new to the term: a prop bet, short for proposition bet, is a wager—often absurd, extreme, or hilarious—that has nothing to do with the outcome of the game. In the poker world, they're practically tradition, an extra outlet for risk-hungry pros. For Huck Seed, they’ve become a way of life.
Top 7 Craziest Huck Seed Prop Bets
1. 18 Hours Neck-Deep in Water
Phil Hellmuth wagered $50,000 that Seed couldn’t stand in water up to his neck for 18 straight hours. Seed suited up in a wetsuit and waded into the ocean. But after just three hours, the brutal cold and relentless strain of staying upright forced him to admit defeat. He climbed out, acknowledged Hellmuth's win, and immediately paid up.
2. The $10,000 Backflip
Standing 6’6” (198 cm), Seed bet Howard Lederer that he could land a backflip within 48 hours. He even recruited his uncle, a former acrobat, to coach him. Hanging over a pool in a harness, Seed drilled for two grueling days. At the buzzer, he delivered a flawless backflip for Lederer—reportedly, while more than a little drunk. That's dedication to the bet.
3. Fifty Yards on One Leg
In another wager, Seed claimed he could beat Lederer in a 50-yard dash—but by hopping the whole way on one leg. Lederer backed out after seeing Seed’s preparation, conceding the bet before it started and handing over $5,000 on the spot.
4. Desert Golf Marathon
Seed once insisted he could shoot under 100 for a full round at a Las Vegas golf course. That sounded too easy, so he agreed to steeper odds: play the entire 18-hole course four times in a single day, each round under 100 strokes, using only three clubs (putter, sand wedge, and a 5-iron). He had to do it on foot, no carts, in brutal 48°C desert heat. After six rounds, he finished the challenge and won the bet. He even inspired fellow pro Erick Lindgren, who later repeated the feat and pocketed $340,000.
5. A Year Without Shaving
Seed once bet he wouldn’t cut his hair or shave for an entire year. He nearly pulled it off—but had to trim up just days before the deadline, when a family funeral required a more formal look. He lost the bet, but proved even the toughest gamblers have their limits.
6. Crossed Wires: The Weight Exchange Challenge
Together with regular betting partner Howard Lederer, Seed accepted a bizarre challenge from backgammon player Mike Svobodny: each would win $50,000 if they could swap body weights within a year. At the time, Lederer tipped the scales at nearly 140 kg, while Seed barely cracked 90 kg. Unsurprisingly, neither man came close to winning this outrageous bet.
7. Mile Run Under 4:40
Legendary Doyle Brunson once bet Seed couldn’t run a mile in under 4 minutes, 40 seconds. Seed clocked a 4:47—losing the bet, but still an impressive feat for a man in his forties.
Right on the Line Between Crazy and Lifestyle
Seed once admitted: “People think I always win these bets. The truth is, I probably lose more than they realize.” But for Huck Seed, it's never just about the money. His prop bets prove that poker isn’t simply about chips—it's a test of character, nerve, and sometimes, plain old common sense.
In some ways, Huck Seed is poker’s Forrest Gump—a living legend whose wild challenges are just outlandish enough to be true. His story isn’t only about crazy bets. It’s a tale of stepping into the unknown, chasing adrenaline, and exploring the wild, weird outer edges of gambling culture.
In an era where poker’s top pros often seem like silent calculators behind sunglasses and hoodies, Huck Seed is a reminder that poker is still a show. And his prop bets? They're pure entertainment—the shot of fun this world needs.
Sources: Pokernews, Pokerfirma, 2+2, PokerTube