Bob Stupak
| Bob Stupak | |
|---|---|
 Stupak at the 2004 Plaza Ultimate Poker Challenge. |
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| Nickname(s) | The Polish Maverick[1] |
| Born | April 6, 1942 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | September 25, 2009 (aged 67) Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. |
| World Series of Poker | |
| Bracelet(s) | 1 |
| Money finish(es) | 8 |
| Highest ITM Main Event finish |
None |
| World Poker Tour | |
| Title(s) | None |
| Final table(s) | 1 |
Robert E. "Bob" Stupak (April 6, 1942 – September 25, 2009) was a Las Vegas casino owner and entrepreneur.
He was also a poker player, winning titles at the World Series of Poker and the Super Bowl of Poker. He also competed on the World Poker Tour, and various other tournaments, as well as cash games, including High Stakes Poker on GSN.
Contents |
[edit] Biography
[edit] Early Years and Family
Bob Stupak was the son of Chester and Florence Stupak. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[1]
At the age of 22 Stupak moved to Las Vegas and started a coupon book business, selling 2-for-1 restaurant coupons.[1] Stupak later moved to Australia to pursue a similar business venture, only to be asked to leave the country for alleged questionable business practices.[1]
While in Australia, Stupak was briefly married to Annette Suna, and they had a daughter, Nicole. From 1971 to 1985, Stupak was married to Sandra Joyce Wilkinson, and had two more children, Nevada and Summer.
[edit] In Las Vegas
Stupak returned to Las Vegas in 1971, eventually raising enough money to acquire a small, 1.5 acres (0.61 ha) parcel north of Sahara Avenue at Las Vegas Boulevard South. On March 31, 1974, Bob Stupak's World Famous Historic Gambling Museum opened for business. "The name was about 10 ft (3.0 m) longer than the casino," Stupak recalled years later. On May 21, an air conditioner caught fire and the building burned down.
In 1979 Stupak opened Vegas World, a casino known for its promotions and new twists on games. At its peak in the mid-1980s, Vegas World grossed $100 million per year.
In 1989, Stupak won a widely publicized million dollar wager on Super Bowl XXIII. Later that year, he won the Deuce to Seven Lowball championship bracelet at the World Series of Poker.
In 1995 Stupak suffered a motorcycle accident, breaking every bone in his face and going into a coma. Although the initial prognosis was that he would not survive, Stupak recovered, although with lingering health problems.[2]
At the time of his motorcycle crash, Stupak was at work developing The Stratosphere, a massive observation tower that would be the largest sign in Las Vegas. The tower opened in late April 1996 at a cost of $550 million but was a financial disaster. Many came to see the tower, but few stopped long enough to gamble, dine or shop. The Stratosphere went bankrupt three months after its opening.[1]
Stupak continued to plan Vegas projects, including a purchase of the Moulin Rouge Hotel and a huge hotel shaped like the RMS Titanic, but these endeavors never bore fruit.
Stupak appeared in the first season of the GSN series High Stakes Poker, in which he is remembered for not knowing what was going on at the table and disappearing. He also appeared at a final table during the first season of the World Poker Tour.
As of 2008, his total live tournament winnings exceeded $865,000.
[edit] Campaign for Lieutenant Governor
In 2006, Stupak unsuccessfully ran as a Democrat for Lieutenant Governor of Nevada.[2]
[edit] Death
Stupak died of leukemia on September 25, 2009, at the age of 67.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e Koch, Ed (26 September 2009). "Brash huckster and visionary Bob Stupak dies at 67: One of a kind made his mark as gambler, developer of Vegas World, Stratosphere". Las Vegas Sun. http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/sep/26/brash-huckster-and-visionary-builder-bob-stupak-di/. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
- ^ a b Curtis, Lynette (26 September 2009). "Las Vegas icon Bob Stupak defied the odds". Las Vegas Review Journal. http://www.lvrj.com/news/las-vegas-icon-bob-stupak-defied-the-odds-61743247.html. Retrieved 12 June 2011.
[edit] Further reading
- Smith, John L. 1997. No Limit: The Rise and Fall of Bob Stupak and Las Vegas' Stratosphere Tower. Huntington Press. ISBN 0-929712-18-8
[edit] External links
- World Poker Tour Profile
- Pro Poker Source Profile
- Hendon Mob tournament results
- PokerListings.com Player Profile
- John L. Smith Blog
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