Bruno Mars 'Gambling Debt' Rumor Put To Rest By MGM

Highlights

• MGM Resorts refuted rumors that Bruno Mars racked up a $50 million gambling debt, calling the claims "completely false."
• Bruno Mars' ostensibly maintains a profitable, long-term relationship with MGM, through Vegas residencies and business ventures.
• With massive album and ticket sales, Mars has earned hundreds of millions of dollars in his career.

A wild rumor has been circulating, holding that multi-award winning singer/songwriter Bruno Mars owed $50 million in gambling debts to Las Vegas-based MGM Resorts International.

First mentioned by NewsNation, the outlet credited an anonymous "well-placed Vegas insider" with tipping them off to the potentially reputation-damaging story.

Claims about Bruno Mars' "gambling debt" at MGM Resorts International are layered — here's what we know so far.

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The 'Bruno Mars Gambling Debt' Rumor, Explained

On March 14th, NewsNation's digital entertainment page, The Scoop, reported:

"Is Bruno Mars enjoying his MGM partnership a bit too much? The singer, who once supported himself as a professional poker player, has been known to rack up large debts at the tables, but a well-placed Vegas insider said, 'He owes millions to the MGM (from gambling).' His debts have gotten as high as $50 million, the source added.

"'(MGM) basically own him,' the Vegas insider added.

"'He makes $90 million a year off of the deal he did with the casino, but then he has to pay back his debt ... after taxes (Mars makes $1.5 million per night).' Ninety million after taxes is closer to $60 million, for those who were wondering."

The Scoop bills itself as "the ultimate back-to-the-office water cooler cheat sheet, your go-to source for all things everyone really wants to know!"

This "scoop" in particular is credited to reporter Paula Froelich, whose bio says she's a "Senior Story Producer and On-Air Contributor for NewsNation," a "New York Times bestselling author, and an award-winning journalist with over two decades of experience in writing, reporting, and leading start-ups."

But according to a spokesperson for none other than MGM Resorts International, Froelich allegedly got the Bruno Mars story wrong.

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In a statement supplied to Entertainment Tonight, MGM Resorts International issued the following response to rumors about Mars' purported gambling debts:

"We’re proud of our relationship with Bruno Mars, one of the world’s most thrilling and dynamic performers. From his shows at Dolby Live at Park MGM to the new Pinky Ring lounge at Bellagio, Bruno’s brand of entertainment attracts visitors from around the globe. MGM and Bruno's partnership is longstanding and rooted in mutual respect.

"Any speculation otherwise is completely false; he has no debt with MGM. Together, we are excited to continue creating unforgettable experiences for our guests."

Representatives for Mars hadn't commented on the rumors at press time. But Mars has had issues with gambling in the past, as he told Chris Heath with GQ in an extensive 2013 profile.

Bruno said that he was just 19 (underage in terms of gambling) for his very first casino visit, and Mars told Heath:

"I remember my first bet, my hand was shaking, and a guy called me out on it and embarrassed me."

Mars said he lost $100 that night, and told Heath: "You gotta lose. You just have to lose to win, to understand."

It's not known how much money Mars has lost or won by gambling over the years — but if the GQ article is any indication, the entertainer enjoys having "high-roller" status.

Far from costing him money, the MGM Grand has been a great source of income for Mars — in the tens of millions of dollars.

Gambling wins and losses aside, let's a look at how lucrative a Vegas residency has been for the performer.

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Viva Las Vegas!

Mars' track record winning awards is beyond impressive; he has sold more than 130 million records globally, won 15 Grammy Awards, eleven American Music Awards, 13 Soul Train Awards, four Brit Awards, and was the first artist to achieve six Diamond-certified songs in the United States.

With all that success, it's no wonder he was offered Las Vegas residencies — first at The Chelsea, from 2013 to 2015, and then at the MGM Grand.

In 2016, MGM Resorts International announced a "long-term relationship" with Mars, one that brought his "Uptown Funk" moves to the Park Theater at Monte Carlo in Las Vegas, and The Theater at MGM National Harbor in Maryland.

Tickets for MGM Grand shows ranged from $99.50 to $550, and attendees have the option to "add on" a pre-show reception and VIP "luxe" packages which range in price from $539 to $1,500 per person.

Mars' original agreement with the company lasted through August 2023. But the deal was apparently so lucrative that it was extended, with five additional shows added in December 2023, including two New Year's Eve weekend performances, according to the company.

In addition to performing, Mars also became a Vegas business owner. He recently announced that he was teaming up with the Bellagio Resort & Casino to open a "cocktail lounge and jazz bar, called The Pinky Ring, on the Strip in early 2024."

The Pinky Ring will take the place of the Lily Bar and Lounge, which closed its doors in July 2023. The bar's name is an homage to jewelry that Mars displayed in the video for his hit, "$24K Magic."

In the video, Mars wears pinky rings on both hands and encourages Vegas gamblers to "put your pinky finger to the moon," as a way to celebrate their winnings.

In a press release, Mars said:

I've been performing in Vegas for years, and I've always wanted a place where I could throw glamorous parties when I'm in town.

A place that felt like my personal penthouse suite, with live music and sensational cocktails. The Pinky Ring is that.

In 2021, Billboard reported that he had earned around $60 million for his Las Vegas residencies.

In addition to his solo gigs, Mars teamed with Anderson .Paak to form the "super duo" Silk Sonic in 2021, and played multiple shows at the Park MGM.

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Out-of-This-World Album And Ticket Sales

It's hard to believe that Mars has only released three solo studio albums so far, with his debut album Doo-Wops & Hooligans certified 7x Platinum by the Recording Industry Association Of America (RIAA).

Moreover, Bruno Mars' solo tours have reportedly earned him around $500 million between 2013 and 2018.

The breakdown was reportedly $138 million grossed for The Moonshine Jungle Tour (2013 to 2014), and $367 million for the 24K Magic Tour (2017 to 2018) — we were unable to locate firm touring figures for Doo-Wops & Hooligans.

Mars and Anderson .Paak released An Evening With Silk Sonic in 2021. The album was certified Platinum with a reported 1,130,000 copies sold.

They earned a spot among the top 50 highest earning tours of 2022, bringing in $50.40 million across 34 shows.

At the age of just 38, Bruno Mars could still have a long career ahead of him, whether as a solo artist or as part of Silk Sonic.

That potential longevity should guarantee him plenty of cash on hand, should Mars still get the urge to hit up the black jack tables every now and again.

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