Mia Khalifa Wins ₹15.92 Crore After Betting On Spain’s World Cup Triumph, Faces Hefty Tax Bill

Former adult film actor and social media personality Mia Khalifa has made headlines after winning a massive payout by betting on Spain to lift the 2026 FIFA World Cup trophy. Khalifa revealed that she pocketed nearly ₹15.92 crore after Spain edged past defending champions Argentina 1-0 in the World Cup final. However, while celebrating her successful wager, the influencer is also expected to face a substantial tax liability on her winnings.

Khalifa attended the World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where Spain clinched their second men’s World Cup title thanks to Ferran Torres’ extra-time winner. After the match, she shared a series of photographs on Instagram from the stadium, wearing a Spain jersey bearing teenage sensation Lamine Yamal’s name. She also posted a screenshot of her betting slip, revealing that she had placed a $1 million (approximately ₹9.65 crore) wager on Spain to emerge champions.

Celebrating her successful prediction, Khalifa joked about her support for the European champions despite having no Spanish heritage. “Believed and won big. So proud of my home country Spain, not a drop of Spanish blood in me,” she wrote on Instagram, drawing amused reactions from fans. Her post quickly went viral, with many users congratulating her on the lucrative win while others marvelled at the size of the original bet.

The victory earned Khalifa a total return of approximately $1.65 million, equivalent to around ₹15.92 crore. However, the figure includes the return of her original $1 million stake. Her actual profit from the wager is estimated to be around $650,000, or roughly ₹6.27 crore, before taxes. Under US tax laws, gambling winnings are taxable, meaning a significant portion of her earnings could eventually go towards federal and state taxes depending on applicable regulations.

Spain sealed the World Cup title with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Argentina after extra time. Ferran Torres, who came on as a substitute in the 62nd minute, scored the decisive goal in the 106th minute to hand Spain their first men’s World Cup title since 2010. Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, were hoping to become the first nation since Brazil in 1962 to successfully defend the World Cup, but were unable to break down Spain’s disciplined defence.

Khalifa’s support for Spain was consistent throughout the latter stages of the tournament. During the semi-finals, she had publicly stated that she intended to support whichever team faced Argentina, later backing Spain in the final. Her social media posts generated considerable discussion among football fans, particularly given her outspoken views during major sporting events.

Born in Lebanon and raised in the United States, Khalifa entered the adult entertainment industry in 2014 but exited it within a few months. Since then, she has built a large online following and reinvented herself as a social media personality, frequently posting about sports, fashion, entertainment and current affairs. With millions of followers across platforms, she remains one of the internet’s most recognisable personalities.

Her latest sporting success has sparked widespread conversation online, with many praising the boldness of her million-dollar wager while others focused on the sizeable tax bill that could reduce her net profit. The viral betting slip has also reignited discussions about celebrity sports betting and high-stakes gambling during major international tournaments. Despite the impending tax obligations, Khalifa’s prediction proved accurate, turning one of football’s biggest nights into a multimillion-dollar payday.