Billion Dollar Hollywood Heist

The A-List Kingpin and the Poker Ring that Brought Down Tinseltown (The Front Page Detectives Series)

By: Dylan Howard, Houston Curtis

Narrated by: Joe Barrett, Stefan Rudnicki

"Right out of the gate, the entire game was designed to empty the pockets of those rich, celeb-loving LA suckers." (Houston Curtis)

Leonardo DiCaprio. Alex Rodriguez. Tobey Maguire. Affleck. Damon. Cassavetes.

What do these people have in common? Not just fame and fortune; all these men are also alumni of the ultra-exclusive, high-stakes poker ring that inspired Aaron Sorkin's Oscar-nominated film, Molly’s Game.

But Houston Curtis, the card shark who cofounded the game with Tobey Maguire, knows that Sorkin's is the whitewashed version. In Billion Dollar Hollywood Heist, Curtis goes all-in, revealing the true story behind the game. From its origins with Maguire to staking DiCaprio's first game, installing Molly Bloom, avoiding the hookers and blow down the hall, and weathering the FBI investigation that left Curtis with a lien on his house - this is the no-holds-barred account of the world’s most exclusive Texas hold ’em game from the man who started it - with all the names and salacious details that Molly's Game left out.

With the insider appeal of Rounders, more A-listers than Ocean's 11, and the excitement of The Sting, Billion Dollar Hollywood Heist is the untold, insider’s story that makes Molly's Game look tame.

©2020 Dylan Howard and Houston Curtis (P)2020 Blackstone Publishing

Solid Story

It was a great account to really fill in the blanks from Molly’s game. He detailed who the actual players were vs. everyone just guessing. He also gives the ultimate insider view of what him and Tobey McGuire were really up to. A good lesson in here is you better think about all the angles before you put your money at risk in a home game. Hell possible cheating can happen at a casino on Live Tv just imagine what happens at an unregulated game with hustlers, card sharps, and degenerates. He addresses most of that, but like all hustlers I think he holds some back here and sugarcoats it in spots to not portray himself as a villain. He does protect Tobey and is pretty kind to him.

Incredibly Fascinating Story!

Great story about the details behind Molly’s Game and how poker was able to tie together so many different people.

Different Perspective

Curtis definitely has a different perspective on the famous Hollywood poker game than Molly.

His version of most of the events are probably true, but rather than say that he bashes Molly whenever he gets a chance. Most of what he says doesn't necessarily conflict with Molly's story. And those that do are details that probably don't matter all that much. Honestly, it's a little off-putting.

I guess everyone wants to be the hero of their own story (keep an eye out for my story about the software engineer that almost single handedly saved a struggling firm with his coding prowess).

For me, I think it would've been a much better listen without his obvious vitriol for Molly.

You reap what you sow

Was a good interesting listen but it was a bit hard knowing I somehow contributed to profits for the man behind Backyard Brawls and Ghetto Brawls. Seems he liked judging others by chose not to turn that mirror on himself.

Good it’s free

Really disliked the ongoing name-dropping or place/dropping without enough context to make sense of the point. Lots of details, which obscure actual plot. Did not enjoy. Sorry.