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Tony Bloom, known widely as “The Lizard,” has long been recognized as a legendary sports bettor, poker player, and shrewd businessman. In a world where professional gambling is often seen as a risky venture, Bloom has defied the odds. As reports circulate about his net worth soaring towards the trillion-dollar mark by 2040, many are asking the same question—how did he do it?
This article dives deep into the life, business empire, and future of Tony Bloom, who may soon become the world’s first trillionaire professional gambler.
Early Years: A Passion for Numbers
Tony Bloom was born in 1970 in Brighton, England. Even from a young age, Bloom had a fascination with numbers. As a student, he excelled in mathematics and statistics, often spending hours solving complex problems for fun.
During his teenage years, he began experimenting with gambling, placing small bets on football matches and horse racing. What set him apart, however, was his analytical approach. While others bet on gut instinct, Bloom used data.
By the early 1990s, Bloom had graduated from Manchester University with a degree in mathematics and quickly made a name for himself in the world of sports betting.
Rise to Stardom: Building the Gambling Empire
Throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, Bloom honed his skills in poker, competing in prestigious tournaments worldwide. He racked up millions in poker winnings, but it was sports betting where he found his true calling.
Bloom founded Starlizard, a betting consultancy and syndicate that remains shrouded in mystery but is regarded as the most successful gambling syndicate in the world. Starlizard doesn’t merely place bets—they shape markets.
Through sophisticated algorithms, proprietary data, and insider-level insights, Bloom’s company has been able to consistently beat bookmakers for decades.
His net worth skyrocketed during this period, thanks to a combination of betting profits, consultancy fees, and investments in technology-driven betting solutions.
The Business Beyond Betting: Brighton & Hove Albion
In 2009, Bloom became chairman of Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club, a team languishing in England’s lower leagues at the time. Investing over £300 million of his personal fortune, he transformed the club into a Premier League mainstay.
Under Bloom’s leadership, Brighton has enjoyed steady growth both on and off the pitch, securing sponsorship deals, TV rights, and ticketing revenue streams that continue to fuel Bloom’s empire.
He’s widely praised for applying his data-driven methodology to football management, using analytics to scout undervalued players and coaching staff.
Billionaire to Trillionaire: How Did He Get There?
As of 2025, credible reports suggest Bloom’s wealth has surpassed $150 billion, largely due to his increasingly diversified ventures:
AI-Powered Sports Betting: Bloom’s companies are at the forefront of AI-driven sports prediction models, licensing these technologies to major operators worldwide.
Crypto Betting Exchanges: A pioneer in decentralized betting platforms, Bloom holds a significant stake in multiple blockchain-based sports exchanges.
Global Sports Data Services: Beyond betting, Bloom’s empire includes sports data services utilized by media outlets, fantasy leagues, and sportsbooks.
Football Expansion: His ownership stake in clubs across Europe, South America, and even the U.S. has opened doors to global football markets.
Experts now predict that, with his accelerating annual growth—driven by AI, data, and digital currencies—Bloom could hit the trillion-dollar mark by 2040.
Timeline: Tony Bloom’s Path to Trillionaire Status
1970 Born in Brighton, England
1990 Graduates from Manchester University (Mathematics)
1995 Begins professional gambling and poker career
2000 Launches Starlizard betting syndicate
2005 Accumulates £100 million net worth
2009 Becomes chairman of Brighton & Hove Albion FC
2017 Brighton promoted to English Premier League
2025 Estimated net worth: $150 billion
2030 Dominates AI-powered global betting market
2035 Largest shareholder in decentralized betting platforms worldwide
2040 Projected to reach $1 trillion net worth
The Future of Tony Bloom’s Empire
Bloom’s success lies not only in his analytical genius but in his ability to adapt and innovate. Here’s what the future could hold:
AI and Automation
Bloom’s AI systems continue to evolve, giving him a near-unfair edge in sports prediction. With advancements in quantum computing expected by the 2030s, his predictive models may become even more precise.
Expansion Into New Markets
Esports, virtual sports, and emerging sports markets in Asia and Africa offer Bloom limitless growth opportunities.
Global Football Dominance
Many expect Bloom to eventually acquire or invest in a “Super League” style global club competition, merging his sports and business ambitions even further.
Could Tony Bloom Really Become a Trillionaire?
While it may sound unbelievable, Tony Bloom’s empire has all the hallmarks of future trillion-dollar businesses—scalable technology, predictive data, and global sports integration.
He could become the first person to turn gambling into a trillion-dollar fortune, rewriting the rulebook of wealth creation in the process.
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