Peter Eastgate's WSOP Bracelet Nets $147,500
.jpg)
It may not match the haul he took in for winning the 2008 World Series of Poker, but Peter Eastgate’s gold bracelet did fetch a princely sum. The championship prize fetched $147,500 on eBay this week, as Eastgate sold the bracelet in order to raise money for UNICEF, a children’s charity.
According to reports, there were a total of 116 bids on the bracelet, which began bidding at $16,000. There was no word on the identity of the winning bidder.
Eastgate, a 24-year-old former professional poker player from Denmark, won the bracelet for finishing first in the 2008 World Series of Poker Main Event. The tournament had a field of 6,843 players, and first place won Eastgate an incredible $9.15 million along with the iconic bracelet that goes to every event winner. Eastgate has since retired from professional poker.
The bracelet itself was worth a great deal, even before sentimental value was considered. It is made from 168 grams of 18-karat white gold, and also contains 291 diamonds.
UNICEF – The United Nations Children’s Fund – provides humanitarian and developmental assistance to children and mothers in developing countries. They are entirely funded by contributions from donors and governments. Many people in North America know UNICEF best from the trick-or-treat boxes given to American and Canadian children at Halloween, which are used to collect change that is donated to the organization. In Europe, UNICEF is sponsored by the FC Barcelona football club, which wears a UNICEF logo on their shirts.