The murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has been headline news since his death, as has the search, arrest, and ongoing legal proceedings involving main suspect Luigi Mangione. Now, Polymarket is allowing wagering on the 26-year-old suspect's fate.
The event contracts prediction site, which rose to prominence during the 2024 presidential election race due to significant popularity, already received hundreds of thousands of dollars in bets on Mangione's future.
Mangione markets on Polymarket
The market that's attracted the most attention is whether the Luigi Mangione YouTube channel is real, which saw $157,000 worth of action. Polymarket gives it just a 1% chance of being real. YouTube’s Sarah Colvin-Rowley already revealed it was a fake account.
“We terminated the channel in question for violating our policies covering impersonation, which prohibit content intended to impersonate another person on YouTube.”
Other markets include whether Mangione was motivated by a denied health insurance claim. Media recently reported Mangione was suffering from chronic back pain following a surfing injury and subsequent injury in Hawaii. Authorities found three handwritten pages in Mangione’s bag while arresting him with details of his “ill will” towards corporate America. One excerpt reads, “frankly, these parasites had it coming,” according to police.
Polymarket also posted a market on whether the gun found with Mangione was 3D printed, which attracted $74,000 in bets, or whether he will be extradited to New York before 2025.
“I am co-ordinating with the District Attorney's Office and will sign a request for a governor's warrant to ensure this individual is tried and held accountable,” said New York Governor Kathy Hochul.
Bettors have placed $16,000 on the specific month Mangione will be extradited to New York.
What happened to the UnitedHealthcare CEO
Thompson, 50, was shot dead outside the Hilton Hotel in Manhattan, New York on Dec. 4. A hooded figure shot the health insurance provider boss twice, with CCTV capturing the murder. The suspect tried to shoot Thompson but had to unjam his gun before discharging the fatal wounds into Thompson’s leg and back.
Police subsequently released an image of the suspect, still hooded but half his face visible, captured on a different CCTV camera. While the authorities searched New York and Georgia, McDonald’s workers in Pennsylvania noticed a customer who looked similar to the image and alerted police, leading to Mangione’s arrest.
Mangione’s lawyer, Thomas Dickey, revealed his client intends to plead not guilty to charges against him, including firearms violations.
Controversy continues to follow Polymarket
Providing betting opportunities on a potential murderer's future is just one of several controversies following Polymarket in 2024. The company rose to fame during the 2024 presidential elections, topping the Apple App Store and attracting a huge bet from a bettor in France, which made a $48 million profit on Donald Trump winning the election.
However, shortly after this, Polymarket was shut down in France for breaching local gambling rules, and the FBI raided its U.S.-based CEO's home. Polymarket is not licensed to operate in the U.S.
