Mattress Mack undergoing open heart surgery in latest health scare

Mattress Mack is going under the knife.

The Houston-area furniture proprietor, whose real name is Jim McIngvale, has gained notoriety nationally because of his wild promotions for free furniture if local sports teams win championships.

He funds the promotions in part by placing sizable futures bets on the outcomes.

Thursday morning, McIngvale announced in a video on X that he has had some health issues in recent months.

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“Marvin Zindler said it well. He said, ‘It’s hell getting old.’ I am getting a little older,” he said.

“I had a cellulitis in my leg a couple months ago and the people at the Texas Medical Center solved that problem. Now I’ve got a leaky mitral valve in my heart.”

He said he will be undergoing open heart surgery next Tuesday.

McIngvale, of course, could not let the health scare slide by without some salesmanship.

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“A lot of people are calling and asking what they can do for me,” McIngvale continued. “The best thing you could do for me is pray obviously, and if you need any furniture come out and buy furniture. That would ease a lot of my anxiety.”

He said he hoped to be back at work about 10 days after the operation.

“So please pray for me and the best way to cheer up my spirits … is to come buy some new furniture,” he reiterated.

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The size of McIngvale’s sports bets has drawn headlines for years.

Earlier this year, he bet $1 million on Houston to win the NCAA Tournament at +750.

He would’ve won $43 million on about $7 million of bets if the Astros had won the World Series in 2023.