21 Nov
Poker-loving billionaire Guy Laliberte, one of the co-founders of the hugely successful Cirque du Soleil, has been arrested for growing cannabis plants on his South Pacific island
The Canadian entrepreneur was once a famous name in the poker world, developing the One Drop charity foundation that still runs annual events at the WSOP.
He also has a place in poker infamy as perhaps, or almost certainly, the biggest loser in online poker history, with losses of over $30million across several accounts.
Last week he handed himself into authorities in French Polynesia after images of marijuana plantations were discovered on an associate’s phone during police questioning on suspicion of drug possession.
Laliberté’s company, Lune Rouge, released a statement explaining:
“Guy Laliberté completely dissociates himself from any rumour implicating him… in the sale or traffic of drugs.”
It also stated that the billionaire impresario used cannabis for “medical” and “strictly personal” purposes and was not growing the drug for commercial gain on his private island of Nukutepipi.
Laliberte gave up poker after revelations that he was behind a number of massively-losing online accounts became public knowledge.
