MBS stunned guests at the White House after mentioning Polymarket bets about his appearance, igniting huge interest in the viral wagers surrounding his visit. | Credit: Getty Images.
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Key Takeaways
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s White House visit drew viral attention after he referenced prediction-market bets on his attire.
Polymarket users wagered on everything from the prince’s outfit to whether he and Trump would hug.
The crypto-powered betting platform has seen explosive growth since Trump took office, after years of legal battles.
When Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman walked into the White House on Monday, geopolitical watchers expected headlines about defense agreements, oil policy, or AI cooperation.
Instead, it was a throwaway joke about crypto prediction markets that set the internet on fire, particularly Polymarket.
The brief moment instantly turned Polymarket’s ongoing “MBS markets” into the talk of social media.
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Polymarket Users Bet on… the Crown Prince’s Outfit
MBS’s visit on Nov. 18 was his first White House appearance since 2018, with official discussions covering defense cooperation, trade, AI, nuclear technology, and Middle East security.
Yet what captured the public’s attention wasn’t the agenda, but the crown prince’s acknowledgment of the wagers being placed on him.
In a lighthearted remark, MBS noted he was aware of the bets — particularly one speculating on whether he would wear a black suit, which carried high payoff odds — an unmistakable nod to Polymarket, the crypto-native prediction platform that has surged in popularity over the past year.
“Before I come here, someone told me there are bidding sites that they are bidding on me wearing a black suit and if I wear a black suit they will get 17x. Maybe next time,” MBS quipped.
The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia just referenced the polymarket about him wearing a suit & tie.
His comment instantly validated one of Polymarket’s stranger corners, where users had been betting on:
Whether Trump and MBS would hug
How long their handshake would last
What phrases Trump would use during the event
Whether a U.S.–Saudi security agreement would be announced by Nov. 30
What Trump would say during the Saudi Investment Forum
By the time the dinner wrapped, Polymarket volumes had surged as users rushed to settle bets—or open new ones—on the back of the prince’s remarks.
Attendees at the event included tech figures such as Elon Musk, further fueling online chatter about how deeply prediction markets have seeped into mainstream political culture.
Saudi crown prince mentions Polymarket bets. Source: Polymarket
Attendees at the event included tech figures such as Elon Musk, further fueling online chatter about how deeply prediction markets have seeped into mainstream political culture.
From FBI Raids to White House Name-Drop
Polymarket’s journey to becoming a household name in political betting has been unlikely.
Its growth then accelerated during the 2024 U.S. presidential election, when its markets consistently outperformed traditional pollsters in forecasting outcomes.
The platform famously predicted Trump’s election victory hours before major media outlets called the race.
That visibility came with legal headaches during the final months of the Biden administration—but the incoming Trump administration swiftly reversed course, halting the investigation and granting Polymarket a pathway to operate in the United States again.
Since then, the platform has exploded in usage, with millions wagered on politics, macro events, geopolitical developments, and a growing universe of pop-culture markets.
Monday’s moment at the White House, with MBS referencing a Polymarket market in front of Trump, marks perhaps its most surreal milestone yet.
Prashant Jha is a seasoned crypto journalist based in Delhi, India, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science Engineering. Passionate about the evolving world of blockchain and cryptocurrencies, he has been a dedicated voice in the industry since 2018. Prashant’s expertise lies in regulatory reporting, where he unravels complex legal and financial developments with clarity and precision. Before joining CCN in 2024, he honed his craft at Cointelegraph, establishing himself as a trusted name in crypto journalism.
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