The Rules O' The Pool

The winner of the 2026 Pool will receive $250 via PayPal or CashApp!

Official Pool Rules

ENTRY FEE $25 Payable via PayPal (F&F) or CashApp to $CelebrityPool
*Returning players pay $20 if entered by Dec. 15
GRAND PRIZE $250 Runner Up: $100
Paid via PayPal or CashApp

01. The Roster Requirements

Choose 15 total celebrities. Every pick must have a valid Wikipedia page. No "famous for being ill" picks—they must be legitimate public figures.

  • The 11 Normals: Your core lineup.
  • (A) The Youth (18-28): Must be within this age range. No minors.
  • (B) The Nonagenarian (90-99): Your heavy-hitter elders.
  • (C) The Octogenarian (80-89): The 80-somethings.
  • (D) The Spite Pick: Must be a true spite pick. +5 POINT BONUS if they go.

02. Scoring & Bonuses

We use a Deficit Scoring System: 100 minus the age of death. The younger they are, the more you score.

Solo Bonus: If you are the only player to pick a celebrity and they pass, you earn a +5 SOLO BONUS.

03. Critical Restrictions

  • The Julian Sands Rule: No missing persons.
  • The Terri Schiavo Rule: No one in a coma.
  • The Timothy McVeigh Rule: No Death Row inmates (Life sentences are okay).
  • The Heavyweight Rule: Any celebrity over 500 lbs counts as 2 picks.

04. The Trading Floor

We host three trade rounds per year to keep your roster fresh:

  • APRIL: Trade one of your core 11.
  • JULY: Open Season. Trade as many as you want.
  • OCTOBER: One final trade allowed.

05. How to Submit

Send your list via X DM or email to [email protected].

Important: Give your entry a name! This is how you'll track your standing on the master spreadsheet at thecelebritypool.com.

Entries are due by Dec. 31. Early death? If your pick dies before Jan 1, you get a free swap.
  1. $25 entry fee payable via PayPal friends and family or CashApp to
    $CelebrityPool. Returning players pay $20 if they enter by Dec. 15.
  2. Winner receives $250 cash via PayPal or CashApp. Second place
    receives $100.
  3. Choose 15 celebrities. Each pick must be a human being with a Wikipedia
    page or it will be rejected. The person must be an actual celeb and not
    only famous for being ill. 11 regular choices, and the final 4 must meet
    these criteria:  (a) 1 must be 18-28 years old. No minors!!! (b) 1 must be
    90-99 years old, (c) 1 must be 80-89, and (d) 1 choice must be labeled a
    Spite Pick . It must be a true spite pick to count, not someone terminally ill.
    You get +5 points if your Spite Pick dies.
  4. Submit your picks either through an X DM or email
    [email protected]. Make sure to name your entry, as
    that’s how you’ll find your list in the master spreadsheet which is always
    available on www.thecelebritypool.com
  5. Any celebrity weighing over 500 lbs. counts as 2 picks. 
  6. The Julian Sands Rule: no missing persons. The Terri Schiavo Rule: you
    can’t pick anyone in a coma. The Timothy McVeigh Rule: no one on Death
    Row but inmates serving life sentences are fair game.
  7. We score age of death subtracted from 100 so younger picks pay off
    better.
  8. If you happen to be the only player to pick a celeb and they die, you earn a
    +5 solo bonus. Solos for the year are locked in after the first trade round.
    Creativity and research are rewarded.
  9. Entries are now open and are due by Dec. 31 *If you pick someone now
    and they die before the end of the year, you’ll be able to swap them out for
    a new name.
  10. We will do 3 trade out rounds at the beginning of April, July and
    October. In April, you can trade out one of your 11 not in a special
    category. In July, you can trade as many as you want of your list. In
    October, you can trade only one name from your list.

2025 Trade Round Rules

Please read the rules before submitting!

Trade Round #1

Trades open at the strike of midnight on 3/1 and close Sunday 3/3 at 11:59pm ET.

  • You can trade only ONE of the names on your list (except for spite or under 30) for a new celeb. Once you have submitted, you can’t change your mind, and you cannot get that celeb back later in the year.
  • Celebs can’t be famous only for an imminent death, be missing, in a coma, or on Death Row. 
  • The standard for celebrity for the trade round is a Wikipedia page so please send me their Wiki link if they’re lesser known.
  • You can either reply to this tweet with your trade, or DM me.
  • Your trade will not go into effect until midnight 3/1 or whenever you send in your trade after that during the weekend. If by some miracle your trade pick dies before then, you don’t get the points.
  • After this trade round, the full list will be revealed and solos will be locked in for the rest of the year.
  • The next trade round is not until July

Trade Round #2

Trades open midnight on 7/4 and close Sunday 7/7 at 11:59pm ET.

  • You can trade any of the names on your list – except for spite or under 30. Once you have submitted, you can’t change your mind. Trades go into effect as soon as I confirm them.
  • Once a celeb turns 100, the name is Xed off your list and you can’t trade him/her.
  • Celebs can’t be famous only for an imminent death, be missing, in a coma, or on Death Row. 
  • The standard for celebrity for the trade round is a Wikipedia page so please send me their Wiki link if they’re lesser known.
  • Once you’ve traded out a celeb, you can’t get them back. 
  • Solo picks are now locked in. If you choose a name another player has a solo on, you’ll have the chance to pick someone else. 
  • And, finally, a friendly reminder what we score age of death subtracted by 100, and the goal of the game is to accumulate as many points as possible. Everyone in the current Top 10 has at least 50 points, so choose accordingly. 
  • The next trade round is in October.

Trade Round #3 – LAST TRADE OF 2025

Trades open 10/4 midnight and close Sunday 10/6 at 11:59 ET.

  • You can trade ONE name on your list. Once you have submitted, you can’t change your mind. Trades go into effect as soon as I confirm them.
  • This is the only round where you can switch out your spite or under 30, but your new pick must abide by the same rules (18-29 y.o. or a true spite, not terminally ill) or else it will be rejected and you will have forfeited your trade.
  • Celebs can’t be famous only for an imminent death, be missing, in a coma, or on Death Row.
  • The standard for “celebrity” is they must have a Wikipedia page so please send me their Wiki link if they are lesser known.
  • Solo picks have been locked in since March. If you accidentally choose a name another player has a solo on, you’ll have the chance to pick someone else. 
  • Please just send me who you want to trade out and the new name you want to swap in. Do not send me a whole list.
  • And, finally, a reminder what we score age of death subtracted by 100, and the goal of the game is to accumulate as many points as possible, so trade accordingly. 
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