Necroporra 2026: Betting on who won't make it to year-end

Necroporra 2026: The names wagered each year

Every January, a group of macabre statistics enthusiasts opens the pool: the goal is to predict which public figures will die before the year ends. The Necroporra 2026 already has its first lists, with the most repeated names being the usual ones: Clint Eastwood, Jordi Pujol, Sofía Loren, and Jack Nicholson. The mechanic is simple: four fixed picks and one complement, hoping the Grim Reaper doesn't forget anyone. But reality often plays tricks. Last year, for instance, one participant correctly predicted Robert Redford, and has boasted about his sharp eye since. The candidate list has become a ritual blending dark humor, demographics, and a touch of morbid curiosity. Who dares to play?

The names that never fail (or so they think)

There is consensus on the fixed picks: Clint Eastwood, at 95, is the grandfather of the pool. He is trinc by Jordi Pujol, former president of the Generalitat, and Sofía Loren, who at 91 is still causing trouble. Jack Nicholson, retired from public life, also appears in almost all betting slips. The question is inevitable: how many years have we been saying they will fall? We have been saying for fifteen years Soros, Pujol, and Clint Eastwood, states a participant, and then Anne Heche or the guy from Friends dies. The irony is that the Grim Reaper does not understand betting.

The complement, that wildcard who must be relatively young, generates more doubt. Some bet on Bruce Willis, others on Laporta —not sure if due to the flour or the presidency—, and some risk it with Amancio Ortega. The candidate list is endless: Warren Buffett, Dick Van Dyke, Juan Carlos I, Noam Chomsky, Mirtha Legrand... The roll call of distinguished elderly people is broad, and new names are added each year.

The Grim Reaper does not understand betting slips: those who went too soon

The history of the Necroporra is full of surprises. In 2025, for example, Juan Tamariz, the magician, died at 80. We also lost Eve Marie Saint, actress in To Catch a Thief, at 102. And Kevin Keegan, the mouse, who was not exactly a person but earned a minute of silence in the Premier. The list of fallen includes Ziober, former basketball player, at 60, and José Emilio Santamaría, who at 96 was still in some betting slips. The sarracena is clear: death does not trinc a script.

Some argue that elite athletes have a lower life expectancy due to gigantism and physical wear. One participant summarizes: there are a lot of former basketball players who kick the bucket between 45 and 65. Light years away from other sports, like golf. The statement, although debatable, adds an interesting nuance to the pool: it is not just about age, but also about wear and tear.

From politics to entertainment: the most repeated candidates

The candidate list reflects current events. Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Nicolás Maduro, and Pedro Sánchez appear in several betting slips. There is also room for the classics: Felipe González, José María Aznar —although the latter is not mentioned—, and Juan Carlos I. In the world of entertainment, the names that sound most are Woody Allen, Roman Polanski, Francis Ford Coppola, and Martin Scorsese. The generation of seventies directors is in the spotlight: I have a lot of affection for them and we are getting closer to saying goodbye, confesses a participant.

The list of possibles also includes Raphael, Luis del Olmo, Miquel Roca, and Alfonso Guerra. And international names are not missing: Bernie Ecclestone, Celine Dion, Yoko Ono, and Morgan Freeman. The pool has become a thermometer of celebrity age.

The surprise factor: when death gives no warning

One participant is clear: the winner of the golden skull 2024 puts the trophy at risk after not hitting a single one this year. Self-criticism is part of the game. Others opt for the strategy of including someone young to ensure the complement. Rafa Nadal, Fernando Alonso, and even Pedro Sánchez appear in some lists. The boldest bet is that of who includes Trump, Biden, and Mojamé VIH —a name we do not know if it is a typo or a joke—.

The Necroporra 2026 is already underway. The lists are closed, the names are on the table, and all that remains is to wait. As one participant says, seriously I believe everything will come true. Hopefully, he is wrong.