Molly Bloom: The Rise and Fall of the Princess of Poker
Molly Bloom earned fame and fortune as the "Poker Princess" by running exclusive, high-stakes poker games for Hollywood celebrities, hedge fund managers and star athletes. Her skills as a poker impresario enabled her to build a multi-million dollar empire in the 2000s, but it all came crashing down amid legal troubles and allegations of involvement with organized crime.
This comprehensive profile will trace Bloom‘s journey from Olympic hopeful to poker queenpin to convicted felon and now inspirational speaker and entrepreneur. Read on to learn the full story of the real woman who inspired the award-winning film "Molly‘s Game."
From Ski Slopes to Poker Tables: Molly‘s Origin Story
Molly Bloom was born in 1978 in Loveland, Colorado. She grew up in a middle-class family and discovered her passion for skiing at a young age. By her late teens, Bloom had become a world-class moguls skier with dreams of competing at the Olympics.
At 22, she was considered a top prospect for the U.S. Ski Team. Unfortunately, a devastating wipeout down the slopes resulted in a severely broken back that dashed her Olympic dreams forever.
After recovering from her injury, a restless Bloom moved to Los Angeles in her early 20s seeking new challenges. She worked various jobs before landing an assistant position in 2004 at a real estate company run by Darin Feinstein.
Building a Poker Empire Catering to the Stars
It was through Feinstein that Bloom first entered the world of high-stakes poker. Feinstein asked her to help organize private poker games around L.A. to entertain celebrity clients.
Starting with small buy-in events, Bloom‘s skills at catering to upscale clients and smoothing over personality conflicts allowed her to grow the games into a major business. Soon she was hosting twice-weekly games with a $10,000 buy-in and courting elite clientele like Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Ben Affleck, Alex Rodriguez and billionaire investors.
Bloom arranged for penthouse venues, extravagant food and drink, and security. Her charm, discretion and stellar service earned her the nickname “Poker Princess.” According to card player insider estimates,Bloom‘s games generated up to $4 million per year at their peak in the late 2000s.
A 2010 game offers an example of the stakes involved. Hedge fund billionaire Guy Laliberte bought in for $1 million. Rick Salomon risked $2.8 million. Tobey Maguire won over $1 million before losing it back plus another $400k. Bloom received $50k per game directly from the buy-ins as her cut.
High-Roller Problems – Battling Egos, Debtors and the Mob
However, running games for millionaire hotshots and egotistical celebs also brought plenty of problems. Many of her clients were terrible losers and drinkers, leading to ugly situations and unpaid debts.
For instance, Maguire once balked at paying his $1.5 million losses from asingle game, forcing Bloom to obtain the money from others to square his debt, a situation depicted in the film "Molly‘s Game."
In another case, poker pro Houston Curtis borrowed $2 million to keep playing but refused to repay and threatened Bloom‘s safety when she insisted. Bloom eventually banned Curtis from the game.
According to Bloom, the worst trouble began in 2009 when one player invited members of the Russian mafia into her orbit as protection. She believes this exposure eventually led to her downfall.
Busts, Trials and Sentencing – The Fall of the Princess
In 2013, Bloom was arrested along with over 30 others associated with her poker ring. She was charged with operating an illegal gambling business and money laundering. Facing 10 years in prison, Bloom decided to plead guilty to a lesser charge to avoid jail time.
In her 2014 sentencing, Bloom received one year probation, a $200,000 fine, and 200 hours community service. She was also ordered to forfeit $125,000 in earnings. The ordeal left her bankrupt and emotionally devastated.
Bouncing Back – Memoir, Movie and Entrepreneurship
After sentencing, Bloom returned to Colorado and slowly turned her life around. She published a well-received memoir titled Molly‘s Game in 2014 detailing her poker career highs and lows.
The book caught the interest of screenwriter Aaron Sorkin, who adapted it into a film of the same name starring Jessica Chastain as Bloom. Released in 2017, the acclaimed movie earned over $60 million worldwide.
On the entrepreneurship front, Bloom created a networking community for women called The Full Bloom. She also rebuilt her finances through public speaking engagements focused on inspiring others.
Bloom continues sharing her story and hard-won lessons through speaking, writing, and business ventures. Though her poker empire crumbled, Molly Bloom has rebounded through perseverance to do what she does best – overcome the odds.