Sean Depp agreed to a $800,000 buyout from Bill Perkins for his $1 million bet on his body fat percentage. [Image: Flickr.com / World Poker Tour]
Depp accepts the buyout
Three weeks ago, we all saw the selfie and I swooned like a Southern belle. Sean Depp has been on track and looking great in the last four months of his million-dollar bet with Bill Perkins. The six-time bracelet winner and former WSOP Player of the Year didn’t just spread a thirst trap. He also shared a dual X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan showing a body fat percentage of 23.9%.
Entering the challenge, he weighed 306 pounds and had a body fat percentage of about 40%.
In March 2023, Depp bet $100,000 at odds of 10-1 so that he could reduce his body fat percentage to just 17% by the start of the 2024 WSOP. Entering the challenge, he weighed 306 pounds and had a body fat percentage of around 40. %. Obviously the $1 million Perkins received was a tremendous incentive, but it was nonetheless a tall order and most people gave him little or no chance of reaching that goal.
Well, last night, according to Depp, he and Perkins agreed to an $800,000 buyout. The bet is officially off, but Dib is determined to hit his target anyway. He even offered to bet on himself if anyone doubted his guilt. It would be brave for someone to bet against a man who, after that, will certainly be remembered in history as one of the greatest bettors.
Poker players love weight loss and body fat props
These types of weight or body fat bets have been popular in poker for several decades. Back in 2010, six-time bracelet winner Ted Forrest bet Mike Matusow that we could go from 188 pounds to under 138 pounds in just two months. With $2 million on the line, Forrest ended up coming out on top even though the bet was never resolved.
In 2017, Matt and Jamie Staples won $150,000 from Bill Perkins after completing a very innovative bet with generous odds of 50-1. The brothers were given one year to be one pound heavier than each other. Initially, Matt weighed 134 lbs and Jaime 304 lbs, but on March 25, 2018, they weighed exactly 188.3 lbs.
In 2022, Doug Polk bet $200,000 against Perkins that he could drop from 27.7% body fat to 13.85% in 12 months. On February 10, 2023, Polk admitted defeat after his body fat percentage dropped to just 15.1%.
Escape hatch
After beating Polk, Perkins must have been imagining his chances of pocketing another six-figure sum from a poker pro after he entered the bet with Deeb. Body fat percentage bets are notoriously more difficult because you need to be precise about the type of diet and type of exercise you do. You need to cut down on carbs, but continue to eat healthy fats and plenty of protein. Cardio exercises are not as effective as weight training.
He went from 306 pounds to 221 pounds, and lost more than half of his body fat
However, realizing what was needed, Depp hired a team that knew how to get him there. On January 25, he posted a topless photo and a scan that showed he dropped from 306 pounds to 221 pounds, losing more than half his body fat along the way. Three weeks later, those numbers continued to decline, prompting Perkins to look for an escape route.
yesterday, Depp tweeted The results of some of the negotiations he completed with Perkins on Friday, February 16, he said:
“Last night after discussion with my wife Ashley, we decided to accept a buyout from Bill Perkins for $800,000. I can’t thank him and Charlie enough for the bet they made, it gave me the drive to prove everyone wrong. I’m still working on my goal of 17 %. I’m going there to show my kids that if I can do it, they can do a lot of things that people say are very difficult or impossible. I initially thought not to announce the acquisition because I’m determined to get there, but a lot of people have side actions “For not letting them know that Bill bought the deal and for what percentage.”
Design has always been his secret weapon
Dib was in a triumphant mood, still optimistic about his chances of hitting the target.
“If anyone doubts my ability to get there, I’m open to taking more bets on myself,” he said.
Speaking exclusively to VSO News Just moments after the announcement, Depp added: “If I want to do something, I will do it.” From day one, I was very committed. I was actually ready to start ozempic before the betting offer, so let’s just say I’ve already made up my mind.
It is clear that from the beginning, Deeb’s determination was his secret weapon. I asked him about the difficult days along the way, but he immediately downplayed it:
I knew the long-range electric car, so I had my eye on the target the whole time.
“No, it was never difficult. My coach, nutritionist, doctor and massage therapist kept me at peak performance levels the whole time. Being an MTT pro for 20 years, I knew electric car for the long haul, so I had my eye on the goal the whole time. Honestly I had very few cravings which made it easy.I cheated less than ten times, and when I did cheat, I only had the bare minimum of a snack.
Depp ended his statement by offering to help others in the community: “Anyone who needs advice on their own goals, do not hesitate to contact me – if I cannot help I can direct you to someone who can.”
He turns 38 in just ten days and is fully aware of the fact that he has turned his health around at a crucial stage of his life. He also wants to be a role model for his kids, so achieving his 17% body fat goal is important to him beyond any extra bets he might be booking from now on.
