Jamie Gold Sued for 50% of $12 Million WSOP Winnings
Jamie Gold, winner of $12,000,000 for the 2006 WSOP Main Event, has been sued for 50% of his winnings. According to CNN, Gold had a deal in place with Bodog.com to enlist celebrities to wear Bodog gear in the WSOP Main Event. In return, Bodog agreed to pay Gold's $10,000 entry fee in return for 50% of his winnings in the event. Crispin Leyser, a British television executive, agreed to split the winnings with Gold and allegedly has a voice mail message from Gold stating this fact. A Las Vegas judge has put a restraining order on the $12,000,000 in winnings until the matter is heard in court later this week. I find it funny that Gold who was an agent and used to dealing with written contracts, failed to have a written contract for this venture.
Could this be a tax evasion scam? I am not a tax expert but the thought passed my mind that if he gets half now,(2006), then next year(2007) he settles, or the case gets dropped and he gets the other half is there any tax benefit? Just a thought.