Trump-Betting Whale Speaks Out

Théo, The Trump-Betting Whale, tells the Wall Street Journal 'I Have Absolutely No Political Agenda'

"My intent is just making money," the man, who called himself Théo, said during a Zoom call with a reporter from The Wall Street Journal earlier this week. He described himself as a Frenchman who had previously lived in the U.S. and worked as a trader for banks.

Théo's huge wagers on Polymarket—a prediction market that isn't open to Americans—drew broad attention last month after the Journal reported that four accounts on the platform had been systematically purchasing wagers on a Trump victory. 

Last week, New York-based Polymarket said it had contacted the Trump whale as part of an investigation into the wagers. The company described the person behind the bets as a French national with extensive trading experience and a financial-services background.

"Based on the investigation, we understand that this individual is taking a directional position based on personal views of the election," Polymarket said in a statement.

The details in Polymarket's statement lined up with how Théo described himself. He confirmed that he had spoken to a member of Polymarket's legal and compliance team.

Théo emailed the Journal after the publication of an Oct. 18 article about his wagers. To prove that he was behind the Polymarket wagers, the Journal asked him to place a bet on whether Taylor Swift would announce that she is pregnant in 2024—one of the many small, nonpolitical wagers available on the platform. Minutes later, Polymarket's website showed that one of the four accounts, Theo4, had placed a small bet on Swift's pregnancy.