12. Nixon Was Extremely Good At Poker... And Won To The Equivalent Of £70,000 ($100,000) Playing Cards While In The Navy
During his years serving in the US Navy in World War II, Nixon took up poker for the first time due to the fact his Quaker upbringing had forbade gambling previously. Yet Nixon quickly developed a fondness for the game - as well as an ability, and he rapidly built up the funds he needed to launch his first major political campaign in California once he left active duty in 1946. In fact, Navy Officer James Stewart estimates Nixon won close to £4,700 ($7,000) - which in today's terms would be roughly £70,000 ($100,000). Not a bad sum is it...