Posted on: November 25, 2025, 04:26h.
Last updated on: November 25, 2025, 04:26h.
- This film chronicles Mack’s journey from salesman to furniture industry leader.
- Examines headline-grabbing sports bets linked to daring promotions and marketing strategies.
- Highlights his daughter’s battle with OCD and their family’s emotional road to recovery.
An upcoming film centered around Texas’ most famous furniture salesman and high-stakes sports bettor, Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale, is set for release in 2026.
The vibrant owner of Houston’s Gallery Furniture chain, McIngvale, aged 74, is well-known for placing enormous sports bets that often coincide with his business’ promotional efforts.
However, it’s uncertain how prominently the forthcoming film, “Mattress Mack,” will spotlight his gambling ventures.
From Rags to Riches
Set against the backdrop of Houston in the 1980s and 2000s, the film will portray his gritty ascent to prominence in the furniture industry, as noted by Deadline, while also addressing personal challenges, such as his youngest daughter’s fight against severe obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Actor Billy Magnussen, known for his roles in “Into the Woods,” “Game Night,” and Disney’s “Aladdin,” will portray the furniture mogul. The film is currently in its post-production phase.
“It’s about my life and my journey from rags to riches,” McIngvale shared with the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “Additionally, it’s a heartfelt father-daughter narrative detailing how [my wife] Linda and I supported our daughter through her struggles with suicidal thoughts and actions stemming from her severe OCD. She has since become a leading clinician in the field.”
Early in his career, McIngvale faced financial hurdles, prompting him to invest his last remaining funds in a television commercial.
As the commercial was being produced, he found himself dissatisfied with it. On impulse, he crafted an impromptu, fast-paced sales pitch to fill the slot. Thus began the flamboyant, high-energy selling style that would characterize McIngvale and his brand.
Bold Bets
In 2022, McIngvale placed significant bets on the Astros to clinch the World Series, with potential winnings estimated at around $75 million, one of the largest single payouts in sports betting history.
His losses have been notably sizable as well. In 2019, he wagered approximately $13 million on the Astros’ victory, only for them to lose to the Washington Nationals in Game 7.
He also bet around $9.5 million on the Cincinnati Bengals to win Super Bowl LVI, which resulted in a loss. Additionally, during the 2023 MLB season, he incurred another loss of about $8 million on the Astros.
These bets are not as high-risk as they seem. McIngvale views them as strategic hedges, counterbalancing potential losses with boosts in sales and visibility at his two Houston outlets.
He frequently aligns these bets with promotional offers, providing customers who spend $3,000 or more with a full refund if his pick succeeds. Should it fail, he retains the furniture sales income. If it wins, the sportsbook payout covers the refunds.
For Mattress Mack, this strategy effectively mitigates risk while also allowing Texans to feel financially connected to local teams, especially in a state where sports betting remains prohibited.