{{Short description|American actor, entrepreneur and sports card collector}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2026}} {{Infobox person | name = Rob Gough | image = | caption = | birth_date = | birth_place = Indiana, U.S. | occupation = Entrepreneur, actor, sports memorabilia collector | years_active = 2000s–present | known_for = Bidaroo; Eckim; DOPE | spouse = Cassie Gough<ref>{{cite news |last=Diaz |first=Carlos |title=Millionaire 'wish kid' reflects on his journey that started on Indy's south side |url=https://www.wthr.com/article/life/heartwarming/millionaire-wish-kid-rob-gough-fought-back-from-bone-cancer/531-9af2b691-014c-46a6-a046-a9b478f59f08 |date=October 28, 2021 |publisher=WTHR |access-date=January 16, 2026}}</ref> }}
'''Rob Gough''' is an American actor, entrepreneur and sports memorabilia collector.<ref name="nyt2021">{{cite news |last=Shea |first=Bill |date=February 22, 2021 |title=He just spent a record $5.2 million on a Mickey Mantle card — here's why |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2403923/2021/02/22/mickey-mantle-card-rob-gough-5-2-million/ |access-date=January 16, 2026 |work=The Athletic / New York Times}}</ref><ref name="wealth2022">{{cite web |date=March 2022 |title='A bad guy' in a Bruce Willis movie is the latest to launch an ESG ETF |url=https://www.wealthmanagement.com/etfs/a-bad-guy-in-a-bruce-willis-movie-is-the-latest-to-launch-an-esg-etf |access-date= |website=Wealth Management}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Seaberg |first=Abigail |title=Indiana Native Beats Ewing Sarcoma As a Kid, Becomes Millionaire Businessman and Actor: 'Chemo Teaches You that You're Going to Be Thrown Curveballs' |url=https://www.survivornet.com/articles/ewing-sarcoma-indianapolis-rob-gough/ |access-date=January 10, 2026 |website=SurvivorNet |language=en-US}}</ref> He was a lead in the film ''American Siege (2021)'' along with Bruce Willis. In 2021, Gough purchased a 1952 ''Topps'' Mickey Mantle baseball card for $5.2 million.<ref name="nyt2021" /><ref name="cbs2021">{{cite web |date=January 14, 2021 |title=Mickey Mantle baseball card sells for $5.2 million |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mickey-mantle-baseball-card-5-2-million/ |access-date= |website=CBS News}}</ref><ref name="indystar">{{cite web |date=January 14, 2021 |title=Indy's Rob Gough buys Mickey Mantle baseball card for $5.2 million |url=https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/2021/01/14/indys-rob-gough-buys-mickey-mantle-baseball-card-5-2-million/4152454001/ |access-date= |website=Indianapolis Star}}</ref>
== Early life and health == Gough was raised in Indiana. When he was a teenager and a college student at Ball State University, he was diagnosed with bone cancer and underwent chemotherapy.<ref name=":0">{{cite news |title=For Entrepreneur and Cancer Survivor Rob Gough, Anything Is Possible |url=https://tech.co/news/rob-gough-2-2013-05 |access-date= |publisher=Tech.co|last=Newman|first=Kira M.}}</ref> He earned a degree in Business with a focus on Marketing from the Kelley School of Business.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rob Gough - Investor at Fountain Life |url=https://theorg.com/org/fountain-life/org-chart/rob-gough |access-date=2026-02-17 |website=THE ORG |language=en}}</ref>
== Career == In 2002, Gough launched his first business, Bidaroo, a penny auction website that later sponsored an entry in the Indianapolis 500.<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 15, 2014 |title=Impossible? Only Until You Prove Otherwise (Published 2014) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/16/business/rob-gough-of-eckim-on-achieving-the-unachievable.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220616224507/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/16/business/rob-gough-of-eckim-on-achieving-the-unachievable.html |archive-date=June 16, 2022 |access-date=January 10, 2026 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="wealth2022" />
In 2012, he co‑founded Eckim, a company that operated coupon and deal websites.<ref name=":0" /> He served as president of the company until its sale to Quotient Technology in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Quotient Technology Acquires Eckim {{!}} Mergr |url=https://mergr.com/transaction/quotient-technology-acquires-eckim |access-date=2026-02-05 |website=mergr.com}}</ref> In 2015, Gough engaged in private investing activities.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kim |first=Eugene |title=How beating cancer helped this entrepreneur start several businesses |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/rob-gough-lesson-from-beating-cancer-2015-7 |access-date=2026-02-05 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}</ref> In May 2014, he was profiled by ''The New York Times''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bryant |first=Adam |title=Rob Gough of Eckim, on Achieving the Unachievable |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/16/business/rob-gough-of-eckim-on-achieving-the-unachievable.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140516134914/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/16/business/rob-gough-of-eckim-on-achieving-the-unachievable.html |archive-date=May 16, 2014 |access-date=January 10, 2026 |language=en}}</ref> In 2017, Gough acquired the Los Angeles–based streetwear brand Dope Couture.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 15, 2021 |title=Rob Gough completes most expensive sports card transaction in history purchasing 1952 Mickey Mantle card for $5.2 Million |url=https://www.si.com/mlb/video/2021/01/15/rob-gough-purchases-1952-mickey-mantle |access-date=January 14, 2026 |website=SI |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hughes |first=Aria |date=May 17, 2017 |title=Rob Gough Acquires Dope |url=https://wwd.com/menswear-news/mens-retail-business/rob-gough-acquires-dope-10888678/ |access-date=January 14, 2026 |website=WWD |language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2026, Gough acquired the professional Jai-alai team Miami Fireballs from the World Jai-Alai League, converting it to a perpetual, owner-held franchise intended to attract long-term investment and support the league's commercial development.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2026-02-13 |title=Rob Gough Acquires Fireballs Jai-Alai Team in Landmark Perpetual Jai-Alai Franchise Deal |url=https://www.sportbusiness.com/2026/02/press-release-rob-gough-acquires-fireballs-jai-alai-team-in-landmark-perpetual-jai-alai-franchise-deal/ |access-date=2026-02-19 |website=Sport Business |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Rob Gough Acquires Fireballs Jai-Alai Team in Landmark Perpetual Jai-Alai Franchise Deal |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rob-gough-acquires-fireballs-jai-alai-team-in-landmark-perpetual-jai-alai-franchise-deal-302671266.html |access-date=2026-02-19 |website=www.prnewswire.com |language=en}}</ref>
== Sports memorabilia == In January 2021, Gough acquired a 1952 ''Topps'' Mickey Mantle baseball card for US$5.2 million.<ref name="nyt2021" /><ref name="cbs2021" /> The purchase was reported as setting a record price for a sports card.<ref>{{cite web |date=February 2021 |title=Mickey Mantle baseball card sells for record US$5.2 million |url=https://www.wbsc.org/en/news/mickey-mantle-baseball-card-sells-for-record-us-52-million |access-date= |website=World Baseball Softball Confederation}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Mickey Mantle Card Record Sale |url=https://brobible.com/sports/article/mickey-mantle-card-record-sale-rob-gough/ |access-date= |website=BroBible}}</ref> In 2023, Gough purchased the jersey worn by Wayne Gretzky during the game at Madison Square Garden on April 18, 1999, in which he recorded the 2,857th and final point of his National Hockey League (NHL) career.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stern |first=Will |title=Wayne Gretzky's jersey from final NHL point back on market {{!}} cllct |url=https://www.cllct.com/sports-collectibles/game-worn-jersey/wayne-gretzky-s-jersey-from-final-nhl-point-back-on-market |access-date=2026-02-16 |website=www.cllct.com |language=en}}</ref> The jersey sold at auction for $715,120.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mueller |first=Rich |date=June 14, 2023 |title=Rob Gough Bought Gretzky Jersey to Add to Growing Collection of Icons |url=https://www.sportscollectorsdaily.com/rob-gough-wayne-gretzky-jersey/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240526063406/https://www.sportscollectorsdaily.com/rob-gough-wayne-gretzky-jersey/ |archive-date=May 26, 2024 |access-date=January 14, 2026 |work=Sports Collectors Daily |language=en-US |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Personal life == Gough has spoken publicly about surviving cancer and has described the experience as formative to his professional and personal ambitions.<ref name="bi2015">{{cite news |last=Kim |first=Eugene |date=August 2, 2015 |title=How beating cancer helped this entrepreneur start several businesses |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/rob-gough-lesson-from-beating-cancer-2015-7 |access-date=January 16, 2026 |work=Business Insider}}</ref> He lived in Los Angeles with his fiancée, Cassie, and participated in charitable activities, including fundraisers for local wish‑granting organizations in Indiana.<ref name="bi2015" /><ref name="wthr">{{cite web |title=Millionaire wish kid Rob Gough fought back from bone cancer |url=https://www.wthr.com/article/life/heartwarming/millionaire-wish-kid-rob-gough-fought-back-from-bone-cancer/531-9af2b691-014c-46a6-a046-a9b478f59f08 |access-date= |website=WTHR}}</ref><ref name="people2021">{{cite web |date=January 2021 |title=Rob Gough on surviving cancer, buying $5.2M baseball card, becoming Hollywood actor |url=https://people.com/movies/rob-gough-on-surviving-cancer-buying-5-2m-baseball-card-becoming-hollywood-actor/ |access-date= |website=People.com}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|8332635}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Gough, Rob}} Category:Living people Category:Male actors from Indiana Category:American businesspeople Category:American male film actors Category:American male television actors Category:21st-century American businesspeople Category:21st-century American male actors Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Kelley School of Business alumni