Russian rapper wins millions after betting on Spain’s World Cup victory

Russian rapper GUNWEST, whose real name is Ruslan Gominov, reportedly won more than 180 million rubles (nearly $3 million) after betting heavily on Spain to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.

According to Super, GUNWEST initially wagered 100 million rubles ($1.27 million) on Spain and later added another 10 million rubles ($127,000). Spain defeated Argentina 1–0 after extra time in the final, securing the rapper a substantial payout, Caliber.Az reports per Russian media.

GUNWEST joked that his winnings could allow him to buy an apartment belonging to singer Larisa Dolina, which is reportedly being offered for 200 million rubles ($2,5 million). Dolina became embroiled in a high-profile fraud scandal in 2024.

The 2026 World Cup was the first edition of the tournament to feature 48 teams, up from the previous 32. The expanded format increased the total number of matches to 104.

By Sabina Mammadli