Hollywood actor Tobey Maguire testified this week in a U.S. federal court regarding a high-stakes poker debt dispute involving billionaire banker and longtime poker player Andy Beal.
The dispute dates back to a private poker game held in Dallas in December 2019. According to court testimony, Maguire won a total of $15.6 million from Beal during the session, with approximately $7.8 million representing Maguire’s personal share.
However, Beal did not immediately pay the amount owed. Prosecutors stated that payment delays continued for an extended period and also affected side bettors who were owed additional sums. Court filings allege that Beal later proposed settling the debt for significantly less than the full amount, an offer Maguire declined.
Maguire told the court that he then hired attorney Tom Goldstein to help recover the unpaid poker winnings, paying roughly $500,000 in legal fees. During cross-examination, Maguire noted that in high-stakes poker circles, it is not unusual for large transactions and debts to occur without formal documentation.
Andy Beal is well known in the poker world for his legendary heads-up matches against elite professionals such as Doyle Brunson, Phil Ivey, Jen Harman, and Ted Forrest. His poker history has been documented in the book The Professor, the Banker, and the Suicide King.
The trial has also featured testimony from other high-profile figures in the poker world. Billionaire Alec Gores, who previously played against Goldstein, testified earlier in the case. High-stakes poker professional Vivek Rajkumar also took the stand, stating that he won several hundred thousand dollars playing poker with Goldstein and provided him with a short-term loan in 2020.
The case has drawn additional attention after prosecutors subpoenaed journalists connected to a 2025 feature story on Goldstein, raising concerns about press freedom.
Goldstein faces multiple charges, including tax evasion, filing false tax returns, and making false statements to lenders. The trial is expected to conclude in mid-February.
What began as a private poker game has now become a public courtroom dispute, offering a rare glimpse into the realities of ultra high-stakes poker and the financial risks behind it.