HOUSTON (KIAH) — Jim McIngvale, Houston’s famed furniture salesman and big-time gambler known to everyone as “Mattress Mack,” says he will be “fine” after checking into a local hospital on Saturday.
McIngvale posted a video on his X account that he was sent to the emergency room at St. Luke’s Hospital at the Texas Medical Center for some “cognitive” issues.
“I’ll be fine,” McIngvale said, noting, however, that he did not know how long he would be hospitalized.
A favorite among Houstonians and Texans for his generous spirit and enthusiasm for the local sports teams, McIngvale has spent over 40 years selling furniture in the Houston area and has become a part of the Houston culture.
Several people have expressed well wishes to Mattress Mack on X.
“Cecilia and I are praying for your swift recovery,” Texas Gov. Greg Abbott wrote to McIngvale.
“Get well soon!!” U.S. Congressman Chip Roy, (R-Texas), wrote in a retweet of McIngvale’s post.
McIngvale, 73, also has become known for making expensive sports wagers on big events, especially including Texas teams. He won over $75 million when he bet on the Houston Astros to win the 2022 World Series, the biggest payoff in the history of U.S. sports betting.
He has, however, had a series of losing bets ever since. That includes missed bets on the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL playoffs, the TCU Horned Frogs in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game, the Houston Cougars in the 2023 NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament, and a record $9.5 million loss on a Super Bowl LVI bet.