Brian Zembic, nicknamed the Wiz,[1] born 1961 (age 62–63), is a magician and high-stakes gambler specializing in blackjack and backgammon. In the late 1990s, he became famed as 'a man who would do anything to win a bet'. His most famous wager was in 1996 when he agreed to receive breast implants and keep them for one year in return for US$100,000 (US$190,000 in 2024). The year passed and he won the bet but he became accustomed to the breasts and did not have them removed.
Brian Zembic | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1961 (age 62–63) |
| Other names | The Wiz [1] |
| Occupation(s) | High-stakes gambler Magician |
| Known for | Professional gambler |
| Children | Mika b.2000 (age 23–24) |
Biography
editEarly life
editZembic was born 1961 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.[1]
The Breast bet
edit
In the summer of 1996, Zembic was gambling in a high-stakes game when the conversation turned to women's breast implants.[1] One of his friends, another gambler named Jobo, had the opinion that having implants in order to attract men was a crazy thing to do. Zembic disagreed and said that it was not a serious event and that the consequences were small. An argument ensued and the two agreed that they would enter into a wager where Zembic would receive breast implants and if he kept them in for a year he would win US$100,000 (US$190,000 in 2024).[1]
The two established a contract to work out the details. Zembic would pay for the operation to have 38C implants placed under his pec muscles.[1] Jobo placed the money with a third party to guarantee payment if Zembic won the bet. For a few months in 1996 he didn't follow through with the wager but in the fall of 1996 Zembic lost a large amount of money playing the stock market and sought out a surgeon to go through with the procedure in order to win the $100,000 prize to cover his losses.[1]
Through his gambling contacts he found a cosmetic surgeon who was also a gambler and after a few games of backgammon Zembic was able to get the $4,500 surgery in exchange for forgiving the doctor's debt.[1] In October 1996, Zembic underwent the breast augmentation surgery in New York City.[1] Jobo upon hearing that Zembic had undergone surgery offered to buy out the bet by paying $50,000 to cancel the wager but Zembic refused and said he would see the wager through for the full year and full $100,000.[1] In October 1997, he fulfilled the arrangements of the bet and Jobo deposited the full $100,000 into a Swiss bank account.[1][2]
After the one-year mark passed, he became a celebrity of sorts because of the wager. In 1999, his tale was the title feature in a book of short stories called The man with the $100,000 breasts and other gambling stories.[3]
Other wagers
editAlthough Zembic is a notorious gambler, he claims the 'breast bet' remains the most stupid he has ever accepted.[4] He has taken part in other wagers, including one for $14,000 when he lived in a bathroom for a week before the people he took the bet with bought him out for $7,000. He once played famous poker player Doyle Brunson in a ping pong game where the winner, Zembic, took $14,000. On another bet he slept the night in New York's Central Park with $20,000 on his person. He also lived in a box for a week to win another $25,000.
Other work
editOn March 25, 2005, Zembic played in the Season 2 of World Series of Blackjack where he lost to Jason Geraci, Michelle Richards, "MIT Mike" Aponte, and Eric Kiel (winner of a million dollar tournament) in round 9.[5] Zembic is also a professional magician.
Public appearances
editHe was seen by millions as the guy with the band-aids on his nipples on The Man Show. For this feat, the hosts paid Brian $100. On that show, he also recounted his experience living in a bathroom for a month in exchange for $15,000.[6][7]
Zembic appeared on the popular Ripley's TV show in 2001.
Zembic appeared on Season 3, Episode 2, "Man Boobs," aired 2016-05-17, describing his personal history involving his breast implants and consulting with Drs. Dubrow and Nassif on the health concerns involving retaining or removing them.
In popular media
editBook
edit- Konik, Michael (28 December 1999). The man with the $100,000 breasts and other gambling stories (1999 ed.). Broadway Books. ISBN 978-0-7679-0445-2.- Total pages: 234
Untitled movie
editIn a 2005 interview, Zembic stated that starting in 1999, there was a movie in the works about his story. Fox Searchlight Pictures bought the rights to his story.[8] The script has been completed and various stars have been attached like Drew Carey and David Duchovny.[9] Zembic says part of the reason he hasn't had the implants removed is that "... every year when they renewed the rights, they kept saying, 'Keep the tits so you can appear at the end of the movie. It'll be really cool.'"[9] But David Higgins the producer attached to the film says, "I'm not insisting that he keep his implants in; it's completely up to him," he says. "It would be great for marketing, of course, but we can always find another way."[9]
Family
editIn 2000, Zembic fathered a daughter, Mika with his then-wife.[2][9] When asked about her father's mammaries Mika said, "I know why you have boobs: Uncle Mike paid you money to put them in."[4] In a 2006 interview, he said that Mika was one of the few reasons he would have the implants taken out: if they caused her to be bullied in school, he would have them removed.[4]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Konik, Michael (2010). "The Man with the $100,000 Breasts". New York: Maxim (U.S.). Archived from the original on February 4, 2006. Retrieved June 1, 2010.
- ^ a b Mciver, Brian (January 19, 2007). "Exclusive: In the hardeep end". Daily Record. Retrieved June 3, 2010.
- ^ Konik, Michael (28 December 1999). The man with the $100,000 breasts and other gambling stories (1999 ed.). Broadway Books. ISBN 978-0-7679-0445-2.- Total pages: 234
- ^ a b c Weiner, Matthew (June 20, 2011). "Brian Zembic: Thanks For The Mammaries". sabotagetimes.com. Archived from the original on December 23, 2013. Retrieved August 15, 2012.
- ^ "World Series of Blackjack - Season Two". blackjackhero.com. 2010. Retrieved June 1, 2010.
- ^ Shaw, Jessica (December 24, 1999). "Breast of show". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on October 12, 2008. Retrieved June 2, 2010.
- ^ "Brian Zembic - Blackjack Player". blackjackhero.com. 2008. Retrieved June 1, 2010.
- ^ Rush, George; Joanna Molloy with Marcus Baram and K. C. Baker (August 13, 1998). "Pitt & Aniston's Kissy coverup". Daily News (New York). Retrieved June 2, 2010.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)[permanent dead link] - ^ a b c d "Breast Years of His Life". way back machine. Maxim (U.S.). September 2005. Archived from the original on March 11, 2007. Retrieved June 1, 2010.
External links
edit- Brian Zembic at IMDb