Is Mattress Mack our community’s best salesman or boldest humanitarian? The answer is likely both.

For nearly five decades, Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale has delivered on his promise: “Gallery Furniture really will save you money.” His ads dominate Houston’s airwaves, and his team backs up the pledge with same-day delivery As Mack has often promised, “No back, back, back order slips.

Born in Mississippi and raised in Dallas, Mack came to Houston with wife Linda and opened a modest store. “We slept in the store,” he recalls. “We couldn’t afford to have any furniture stolen.”

Since then, Mack has opened his doors to thousands during hurricanes, floods, and freezes. Those humanitarian instincts came from his parents: “They were church people who believed the essence of life is giving,” he explained. “They were right.”

He’s also famous for bold sports promotions. Customers spending a set amount, such as $3,000, would get refunds if the Astros, Texans, or another Texas team wins. To hedge his risk, Mack places multimillion-dollar bets on those teams. When the Astros won the 2022 World Series, he reportedly collected $75 million, offsetting refunds. Win or lose, Mack’s formula blends generosity with business savvy.

His mantra? “Get up. Go to work. Make something of your life.” It’s worked for him. After undergoing open-heart surgery in 2024, Mack turned recovery into a marketing moment by having a MacZcliner delivered to his hospital room for a commercial shoot.