A non-profit never knows where its next big check might come from. And little did Oxfam, an international charity that fights poverty, know that Roger Federer’s win at Wimbledon would bring them $157,750. But that’s exactly what happened this week.
Nine years ago when Federer won Wimbledon for the first time in 2003, Nick Newlife of Oxfordshire, England made a bet. He bet approximately $2000 that Federer would set the all-time record for the most victories at Wimbledon. His odds were 66/1 that he’s win seven titles by 2019.
Unfortunately, Newlife didn’t live to see his prediction come to fruition. Dying at the age of 59, he left his betting slip in his will to Oxfam. And they did get to reap the reward after Federer defeated Andy Murray on Sunday.
Oxfam’s Andrew Barton saw the cash windfall as a bittersweet financial gain for his charity. As he explained, “It’s just so unfortunate that he nailed it against Murray. I was just sitting there watching the tennis and I kept finding myself calling for Murray, particularly in that long game in the third set.”
Fortunately for Oxfam England’s hero didn’t win it this time.