Before Richard Nixon became a household name in politics, he was known for his skills at the poker table during World War II. The stakes were high (in more ways than one), and Nixon’s strategic mind helped him walk away from the table with thousands of dollars in winnings—reportedly around $6,000, which is worth much more today.

But instead of spending his poker fortune on luxury or indulgence, Nixon decided to gamble in a different way—on his political career. Fresh out of the Navy and with ambitions of public office, Nixon used his poker earnings to fund his first congressional campaign in 1946. That money helped pay for radio ads, mailers, and other campaign materials, giving him the boost he needed to win his seat in Congress.