Kalshi’s $54 Million Death Bet Leaves Bettors Waiting
Bettors wagered $54 million that Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would die by April 2026 on Kalshi’s death-market, but Kalshi froze the trade and has not paid winners; Kalshi says death-related bets aren’t allowed and argues payouts could incentivize violence, while The Washington Post reports Kalshi reimbursed bets and losses, costing roughly $2.2 million; bettors remain angry and critics point to the broader controversies of prediction markets, with Polymarket cited as a related example.