According to various sources, a private game reminiscent of movie scenes took place in Dallas in December 2019. Tobey Maguire, known not only as Spider-Man but also as a feared poker shark in the 'Molly’s Game' scene, defeated billionaire Andy Beal for an incredible $15.6 million.
Of this amount, $7.8 million was a direct debt to Maguire, while the rest were side bets against other participants. However, the problem arose when it came time to settle accounts. Although Andy Beal is known for his fabulous wealth, he allegedly tried to avoid paying the debts.
Unconventional Settlement of Legal Services
Evidently, Beal originally proposed settling the debt for an amount significantly lower than what he actually owed. However, the actor did not agree to lower the sum and hired Tom Goldstein, a well-known poker lawyer, to collect the debt.
This move was successful, and Maguire managed to secure the money, but the details of the payment for legal services are more than curious:
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Maguire paid Goldstein $500,000 for his help.
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However, he did not send this amount directly to the lawyer but, at Goldstein's direction, transferred it to real estate magnate Bob Safai.
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The reason was that Goldstein himself owed Safai $14 million from poker and wanted to repay part of his debt this way.
Maguire stated in court that such 'triangular transactions' are nothing unusual in the poker world and often occur without any documentation.
Andrew Beal is immortalized in the poker community thanks to the book 'The Professor, the Banker, and the Suicide King', which documents his battles against an elite team of professionals known as 'The Corporation,' which included names like Phil Ivey, Doyle Brunson, and Barry Greenstein. Although Beal announced that he would quit poker after one of his major losses, the current court case proves that he remained active in private games.
On the other hand, Tobey Maguire confirmed his reputation as a player who cannot be intimidated. Although he was portrayed in an unflattering light as a cruel and moody 'Player X' in the movie Molly’s Game, Maguire in this case showed that he could secure his winnings legally.
Court Aftermath
While Maguire appeared at the trial only as a witness for the prosecution, Tom Goldstein's prospects are worse. He faces charges of tax evasion, falsifying tax returns, and bank fraud. Prosecutors claim that Goldstein used poker payments to avoid paying taxes and conceal his real income.
This story is a reminder that in the world of high-stakes poker, the line between games, business, and the law can sometimes dangerously blur. However, for fans of the game, it offers a fascinating glimpse into the backstage of private games, where millions move between celebrities and billionaires often based solely on verbal agreements.
Sources: Columbia Pictures, Medium, Wikipedia
