
A few weeks ago 2008 WSOP winner Peter Eastgate auctioned his main event winner's bracelet online for a children's charity. Although Eastgate himself didn't expect to get more than $10,000 in bids he actually sold the bracelet for over $147,000. Poker players and fans have speculated from the first day of the auction who would bid and how much money would be raised. There was even a debate about Eastgate's audacity in giving away the bracelet in the first place. This week the winner of the auction was finally revealed.
A European media outlet revealed that Scot and poker fan William Haughey was the high bidder in the Eastgate Ebay auction. Haughey is well known for his philanthropic pursuits. His love of poker and charity may be the main reason Haughey bid on the bracelet. Haughey made his millions in the refrigerator business and distributed $50 million to charity in the last five years.
Friends with famous Scottish owner of Manchester United (the world's best soccer team of all time) Haughey donated 100,000 pounds to UNICEF (the recipient of the bracelet money) late last year. His picture with Alex Ferguson and Joanne Andrews and a UNICEF check appeared in European papers. The bracelet sold for the equivalent of 94,000 pounds so it seems a few extra coins were added to the pot before the charity received the donation.