The poker circuit is well stocked with incredible talent, and the cream invariably rises to the top. But who are the richest player pokers? We have highlighted those that have transcended the game, and also left room for some notable mentions too.
1. DAN BILZERIAN ($150 MILLION)
Topping our carefully curated list of rich poker players is Dan Bilzerian. Although the Floridian has never won a world poker tour title or major championship, he is there by virtue of his other income stream, which includes his burgeoning social media career and business ventures.
Blizerian has even admitted that he has managed to build up the majority of his fortune playing high stakes poker games against some of the world’s weaker poker players.
Poker runs through the Blizerian family, as Dan’s brother, Adam, is also a professional poker player.
Oh, and it’s fair to say that Bilzerian’s net worth is also helped by the trust fund that was set up for him by his father Paul Bilzerian. However, poker fans have a soft spot for Dan Bilzerian, who is the richest poker player.
2. PHIL IVEY ($100 MILLION)
Phil Ivey’s contribution to the poker scene shouldn’t be undervalued, and he has been what Tiger Woods has been for golf. When it comes to high stakes poker games, Ivey has lorded it over his rivals for some time.
He has clinched 10 WSOP bracelets, and he has also appeared in nine World Tour Poker Finals.
Phil Ivey will go down in poker history as one of the all-time greats, as he played over 300,000 hands in live poker tournaments, and he’s won big in almost all of them.
He honed in on his poker skills at an early age, and he has amassed over $26m in live tournament winnings, so it’s no surprise to see Phil Ivey on this list, who was a Hall of Fame inductee at a young age. He will only continue to enjoy more success playing poker in the years to come.
3. SAM FARHA ($100 MILLION)
Slotting into third spot on our list of richest poker players is Sam Farha. Although most poker players remember Farha for being the guy who lost to Chris Moneymaker’s “Bluff of the Century” in a WSOP main event, Farha’s talent is undeniable.
Well, three WSOP bracelets pay testament to this, and his net worth puts him at $100m.
His largest world series of poker tournament win was $488, 2421 in 2010, and he has been away from the poker hall, making money from commercial ventures, appearances, and books he has written.
4. CHRIS FERGUSON ($80MILLION)
With six World Series of Poker wins to his name, including the WSOP main event in 2000, Chris Ferguson is one of those professional poker players who is perhaps more renowned for his rugged appearance.
Ferguson is also an academic. Before he decided to pursue poker and high stakes games, Ferguson studied computer science, and he also holds a PhD in virtual network algorithms.
But his standing in the game has been called into question after he was charged for his part in a scheme on Full Tilt poker, where poker players were defrauded out of more than $400m.
Although his name has been tarnished on the world poker tour, Ferguson has still made a fortune from poker games ($80m to be precise).
5. DOYLE BRUNSON ($75 MILLION)
Doyle Brunson is one of the richest players on our list, and he is the grandfather of the game. With more than 50 years of experience under his belt, he has won over the hearts and minds of poker enthusiasts.
His poker career is nothing short of impressive as he has picked up 10 poker bracelets as well as other various awards in the game.
At the age of 84, he is one of the oldest players in the world, and it’s unlikely we will see this Texas dolly compete for cash games in the future. Indeed, his last appearance at a live tournament came in 2018.
Now, it seems that the time is apt for Doyle Brunson to reap the rewards of his poker career and put his feet up.
6. BRYN KENNEY ($56 MILLION)
Unlike some of the other poker pros on this list, Byrn Kenney owes his entire fortune to money won playing poker.
Although he has found world series of poker bracelets hard to come by during his career, he is one of the few American professional poker players to reach the final table in the Triton Championship.
Kenney has a big game, and he’s never afraid to hold back. In total, he has clinched 28 poker titles, and his first live cash in arrived at the East Coast poker championships.
He has racked up 264 cash-ins, and when it comes to poker winnings, Kenney is one of the richest pokers as well as one of the most consistent.
7. DANIEL NEGREANU ($50 MILLION)
A Canadian, who has won two WPT titles as well as six World Series of poker bracelets, Daniel Negreanu is an undisputed heavyweight on the poker scene.
Famously known as Kid Poker, Daniel Negreanu made his debut as a professional poker player when visiting Las Vegas to explore the nooks and crannies of the poker industry.
Negreanu is highly skilled and well versed in good poker strategies which has stood him in good stead in cash games.
The 44-year-old has amassed $50m from professional games, and his other income streams involve money made from sponsorship deals.
8. JUSTIN BONOMO ($49 MILLION)
Justin Bonomo is a pretty dab hand when it comes to playing poker. He is one of the 10 richest poker players in the world with a net worth of $49m.
In 2005, he became the youngest poker player to feature at a televised final table, and he has won some of the biggest events in the game, including the Super High Roller Bowls, Triton High Roller Series, and PokerStars Caribbean Adventure.
Bonomo has stacked up an unprecedented amount of chips in a main event with multiple $4m+ cash wins, and he’s transcended the game in a way that few other poker players have managed to do so.
9. TONY G ($36 MILLION)
Arguably one of the most vocal and charismatic players in the game, Tony G is the sort of professional poker player that is never afraid to speak his mind, and he appears in the top 10 richest poker players.
Although he hasn’t picked up a WSOP bracelet in his career, he also gains some money through his work as a businessman and politician.
Multi-faceted and multi-talented, Tony G was Lithuania’s Rubik cube champion. when he was 11.
Since then, he has gained some big cash prizes, and is one of the most feared poker players in the world.
10. ANTONIO ESFANDIARI ($27 MILLION)
Also in the top 10 richest poker players is Antonio Esfandiari. A former professional magician, Esfandiari is known for his elaborate chip stunts.
And it has paid off with two WPT titles as well as three WSOP bracelets, which included his amazing performance at the Big One for One Drop.
That one drop victory was a poker classic in its own right, as Esfandiari won over $18m, and it helps explain why his net worth stands at $27m.
11. JENNIFER TILLY ($25 MILLION)
The highest-placed woman on this list, Jennifer Tilly has had a decorated career as a professional poker player.
She has clinched several awards, including the World Series of Poker Ladies Event, as well as third in the Celebrity Poker Showdown.
In 2008, Tilly took a step back from the highest stakes games, and decided to focus on her acting career. This proved to be a masterstroke as she has starred in a few sitcoms and films since.
12. PHIL HELLMUTH ($20 MILLION)
Phil Hellmuth is a colossus in the poker hall. Well, the fact he has 16 WSOP bracelets to his name tells everything you need to know.
His live tournament earnings have shot up astronomically over the years, and he has also featured in some online tournaments.
According to various sources, Hellmuth holds the record for the World Series of Poker cash games.
13. PHIL LAAK ($20 MILLION)
With his signature hooded sweatshirt and sunglasses, Phil Laak, who is known as the “Unabomber”, is one of the finest and richest poker players worldwide.
The Irish-American professional poker player has a net worth of $20m, and he holds a WSOP bracelet, as well as a World Poker tour titles, so his credentials are unquestioned.
Away from the pressure of high stakes poker games, Laak is a successful writer and consultant.
14. JENNIFER HARMAN ($15 MILLION)
To play poker well is one thing, but to master it in the fashion that Jennifer Harman has done is another thing entirely.
As a professional poker player, she has picked up two WSOP bracelets, she is the only female player in the world to have won the World Series for 10 years.
In 2004, Harman had to take a break from poker to undergo a second kidney transplant. But she made an incredible comeback, finishing fourth at the World Poker Tour Five-Diamond Classic, and second in the WSOP Circuit Championship Event. Her tournament winnings played a big part in contributing to her net worth of $15m.
15. GUS HANSEN ($11.5 MILLION)
Gus Hansen takes his place on the list of the richest poker players with a net worth of $11.5m. He made history by becoming the first poker player to win the World Poker Tour Open tournament on three occasions.
The 44-year-old has made his presence felt beyond the hustle and bustle of Las Vegas, and his fine looks also earned him a spot once on People Magazine’s list of the 50 Sexiest Men.
16. SCOTTY NGUYEN ($11 MILLION)
Known as the “Prince of Poker”, Scotty Nguyen arrived in the States when he was 14, but he got expelled from school for conducting private games. However, Nguyen remains the only player to win at the Main Event and the $50,000 Player’s Championship event.
17. DOUG POLK ($10 MILLION)
Doug Polk has accrued some significant tournament winnings, and he has made several appearances at live and online poker events. And of his live tournament winnings, his victory at the 2014 Super High Roller $100k Buy-In NL was a seminal moment in his career. Polk’s success in online poker means he has made around $10m from the game.
18. TOM DWAN ($10 MILLION)
Tom Dwan has conquered all versions of poker, appearing in the highest stakes versions of No-Limit Texas, Full Tilt Poker, and Pot-Limit Omaha games. He is a bit of a cheeky character, and he is known for his banter at the table, but he’s also had some big wins against the top poker players. Perhaps one of his most admirable traits is that he’s never too disheartened after a loss.
19. JONATHAN LITTLE ($9 MILLION)
Little by name, but not nature, Jonathan Little has made some serious money playing poker to the tune of $10m. Having started his career online, Little has enjoyed plenty of success, and he’s known as “Fiery Justice” due to his impressive winning record. He is now actively involved in coaching poker, and he has a YouTube channel dedicated to teaching poker strategies.
20. JASON MERCIER ($8 MILLION)
Completing this list is Jason Mercier. After joining the circuit in 2007, Mercier is one of 16 professional poker players, who has achieved Supernova elite status. Among his achievements, includes being ranked as the number one poker player worldwide for 80 weeks. He also has one European Poker Tour title and five WSOP bracelets.