The most enduring vision that comes to mind about Leonardo DiCaprio is him, standing at the prow of the Titanic, proclaiming himself to be "King of the World". Outside of Hollywood it would probably be tough to find three people who would agree with his declaration of sovereignty. Most folks would say that a world run by Leonardo Dicaprio is a world they would prefer not to live in. In reality, Leonardo probably has very little designs on running the planet, though it would seem he has some interest in being crowned king of the poker world.
The side of Leonardo that appreciates gambling also seems to drive his choice of movie roles. He became an international superstar when he portrayed the freewheeling Jack Dawson in the 1997 film "Titanic". Dawson takes the odds by taking a risk and stowing away on the famous ship. He manages to find love, but as we all know, the story ends badly as Dawson's gamble results in his death in the film's climactic scene. DiCaprio went on to a number of lesser, but very safe roles. Leonardo only returned to prominence when he took on the role of a character who was larger than life, Howard Hughes. Not only was he playing one of the world's biggest risk takers and gamblers, but to even attempt to portray such a personality was a gamble in itself. It paid off, and skyrocketed the 31-year-old actor back to superstardom. Leonardo's daring doesn't end at his professional life. He is a regular at the high stakes tables in Las Vegas. His ability with cards as well as his intrepid play has gained him the friendship and respect of poker's most elite players. Doyle Brunson himself is a major investor in an upcoming documentary produced by DiCaprio that examines the unverified but intriguing theory of global warming and its impact on the environment. Perhaps it will not be long before we see the young actor squaring off at the final table of the World Series of Poker Main Event.
