A viral claim during Super Bowl week suggested Drake received $400 million related to a Super Bowl wager. That story spread quickly online and attracted attention because of the size of the number and Drake’s public profile. This article examines the public record, summarizes what mainstream reporting and fact-checkers found, and explains how readers can verify similar claims. The focus is on evidence: what was posted, what was missing, and why the nine-figure claim does not stand up to scrutiny.

Multiple reputable fact-checkers found no evidence that Drake received $400 million from a Super Bowl bet.

Drake publicly shared betting slips that together showed about $1.15 million in posted stakes for Super Bowl LVIII.

The $400 million figure likely traces to reporting about a separate music deal, not a sports payout.

Quick answer: did the Drake Super Bowl bet pay $400 million?

Short verdict

The short, evidence-based answer is no: there is no credible documentation that Drake received $400 million from a Super Bowl wager, and multiple reputable fact-checkers debunked the claim within days of its circulation in February 2024 Reuters fact check.

Why this matters

Extraordinary monetary claims about public figures spread quickly and can distort understanding of how betting and payouts work; accurate information matters for readers, bettors and media consumers assessing the scale and plausibility of such reports.

What the reporting shows: Drake’s public betting activity around the Super Bowl

The betting slips Drake posted

Contemporary coverage shows Drake publicly posted betting slips that, together, reflected roughly $1.15 million in posted stakes on the Kansas City Chiefs for Super Bowl LVIII; those posts were widely reported by mainstream outlets CNN reporting.

Who gave Drake $400 million for a Super Bowl bet?

There is no credible evidence that anyone gave Drake $400 million for a Super Bowl wager; fact-checkers found the claim unsupported and public posts showed about $1.15 million in posted stakes.

How much he wagered publicly

The posted slips document the amounts Drake shared, but they do not and cannot by themselves prove that a nine-figure payout occurred or that any third party paid him $400 million; fact-checking outlets that reviewed the public posts found no evidence of such a payout Reuters fact check.

Timeline: how the $400 million claim appeared and was debunked

When the rumor surfaced

The $400 million claim began circulating on social platforms during Super Bowl week in February 2024, presented in social posts that combined eye-catching round numbers and minimal sourcing.

How quickly fact checkers responded

Major fact-checkers published debunks within days, tracing the claim and reporting there was no supporting documentation from bookmakers or other primary sources AP News fact check.

Check the original fact checks and reports

For readers who want direct source material, check the evidence and fact checks listed in the appendix below to see the original reporting and the debunking work.

View sources and fact checks

Tracing the number: could the $400 million have come from elsewhere?

Music industry reporting and unrelated deals

One plausible origin for the $400 million figure is reporting about Drake’s 2022 record deal with Universal Music Group, which some outlets estimated at roughly that amount; that music-industry figure is unrelated to any Super Bowl wager and appears to have been conflated with betting rumors in social posts Variety coverage.

Funded Plays Challenges

View sources and fact checks

Why confusion can occur between different headlines

Large, round numbers and repeating headlines create a simple cognitive shortcut: readers see a familiar figure and may assume the same number applies to a new story, which helps explain how the music-contract number could be misapplied to a betting claim.

Why a nine-figure Super Bowl payout to an individual is implausible

How sportsbook payouts work in practice

Close up of a printed betting slip beside a smartphone showing a blurred social media feed referencing a drake super bowl bet on a dark minimalist table

Fact-checkers noted not only the lack of any bookmaker confirmation but also that typical sportsbook limits, liquidity and odd structures make a single-event, nine-figure payout to an individual highly unlikely in normal practice AP News fact check.

Odds and limits that constrain payouts

Sportsbooks manage risk through maximum liability limits and hedging, and public reporting found no evidence of a sportsbook or league recording a nine-figure payout tied to a Super Bowl touchdown or game outcome in this instance USA TODAY fact check.

How reputable fact checks reached their conclusions

What fact-checkers looked for

Organizations such as Reuters, AP News, USA TODAY and Snopes searched for bookmaker confirmations, authenticated payout records and other primary documentation when evaluating the claim and reported that none of those elements were found Reuters fact check.

Key types of evidence that were missing

The absence of credible bookmaker statements, tax or legal filings and authenticated payout records was central to the fact-checkers’ conclusions that no one had paid Drake $400 million related to a Super Bowl bet AP News fact check.

What actually would be needed to prove a $400 million Super Bowl payout

Kinds of documents and confirmations that would be credible

To substantiate a nine-figure payout, a reader should expect at minimum authenticated bookmaker payout records or an explicit, verifiable statement from the paying entity, corroborating legal or tax filings, or sworn testimony; without those items, public betting slips only show posted stakes and not confirmed payouts CNN reporting.

Quick verification checklist for extraordinary payout claims

bookmaker statement
authenticated payout record
tax or legal filing

Check official documents and reputable fact checks

Why those are missing here

Fact-checkers concluded that none of the credible proof items were published or available for the Drake claim, which is why they labeled the $400 million story unsupported after their searches of public records and industry sources Reuters fact check.

Role of viral posts and misattribution

Social posts during high-visibility events like the Super Bowl can amplify short, striking claims before verification occurs, and fact-checkers traced the rapid spread of the $400 million story across platforms during the event week AP News fact check.

Amplification by celebrities and influencers

When influencers or accounts with large followings repeat an unverified number, the claim gains reach quickly and can detach from the original context, especially when the figure matches a previously reported headline from an unrelated domain such as music deals. See additional coverage of his Super Bowl bets on Capital XTRA.

Practical steps to verify a celebrity betting claim yourself

Quick verification checklist

Start by searching established fact-checkers and major news outlets for debunks, then look for direct bookmaker statements or government filings; screenshots or reposted social media posts are insufficient evidence on their own and should prompt deeper verification USA TODAY fact check. For local reporting or examples, see a local report, or consult our Funded Plays blog for guides.

Where to look for credible confirmation

Credible confirmation usually comes from an official bookmaker statement, a published payout record, tax or regulatory filings or consistent reporting from multiple reputable news organizations; if those are absent, treat the claim as unverified. You can also review details on how Funded Plays evaluations work.

Typical errors to avoid when reading about big celebrity bets

Mistaking stake for payout

A common error is to conflate the amount wagered with the amount received; posted stakes show what was risked or posted publicly, not the final payout, which depends on odds and whether a ticket was settled as a winning claim CNN reporting.

Minimalist 2D vector split image showing stacked headline cards for music coverage on the left and sports coverage on the right illustrating conflation drake super bowl bet in a Funded Plays style

Relying on unverified screenshots

Unattributed screenshots can be edited, incomplete or misleading, so they should never be taken as definitive proof; seek original documents or direct statements instead and compare across reputable outlets before accepting dramatic figures as fact.

Short case study: how outlets covered Drake’s Super Bowl wagers

Major outlets’ headlines and checks

CNN reported on the betting slips Drake posted and the approximate posted stakes, while Reuters, AP News and USA TODAY each published fact checks finding no evidence of a $400 million payout, and those accounts align on the basic facts regarding posted stakes and the lack of payout proof Reuters fact check. See related reporting from the National Post.

Where coverage agreed

The consistent elements across coverage were the reported posted stakes of about $1.15 million, the circulation of an unverified nine-figure claim on social media, and the absence of corroborating bookmaker or legal documentation to support a $400 million payout CNN reporting.

Lessons for readers: critical thinking and media hygiene

Developing healthy skepticism

Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence; before sharing a sensational figure, look for multiple independent confirmations from reputable news organizations or primary documents rather than relying on a single social post.

How to share responsibly

If you see an unverified claim, wait for fact-checkers or major outlets to confirm it, note the difference between stake and payout when discussing betting amounts, and cite primary sources where possible.

Conclusion: who gave Drake $400 million? The concise takeaway

Final summary

There is no credible evidence that anyone gave Drake $400 million for a Super Bowl bet; fact-checkers concluded the claim was unsupported and Drake’s publicized posted stakes for Super Bowl LVIII total about $1.15 million rather than nine figures Reuters fact check.

Where to go for more information

Readers who want to inspect primary reporting and the fact checks can consult the sources listed in the appendix for direct links to the original coverage and debunking, or visit Funded Plays for further resources.

Appendix: primary sources and further reading

Direct fact-check links

Reuters offers a clear fact check that found no evidence Drake received $400 million for a Super Bowl bet Reuters fact check.

AP News also examined the claim and reported no corroborating bookmaker or primary evidence for a nine-figure payout AP News fact check.

USA TODAY published a fact check with similar conclusions about the lack of evidence supporting the $400 million claim USA TODAY fact check.

Related reporting on Drake’s deals and wagers

CNN reported on the betting slips Drake posted and the approximate posted stakes on the Kansas City Chiefs CNN reporting.

Variety’s coverage of Drake’s 2022 Universal Music Group deal shows where a roughly $400 million figure exists in the public record for an unrelated music contract, which likely contributed to the confusion Variety coverage.

Did Drake post his Super Bowl bets publicly?

Yes. Media reported that Drake shared betting slips that together showed roughly $1.15 million in posted stakes on the Kansas City Chiefs.

Is there any proof someone paid Drake $400 million for a bet?

No. Major fact checks found no bookmaker confirmations, payout records or legal filings to substantiate a $400 million Super Bowl payout.

Where should I look to verify similar claims?

Check established fact-checking organizations, major news outlets, and for primary documents such as bookmaker statements or official filings before accepting large monetary claims.

If you care about accurate reporting on celebrity wagers, prioritize primary documents and reputable fact checks over viral posts. For this particular claim, the settled view from multiple credible outlets is that no one gave Drake $400 million for a Super Bowl bet. For readers who want to dig deeper, the appendix lists the original fact checks and reporting so you can review the primary material yourself.