📰 Top 10 Richest Poker Players in the World (2024)

The world of poker is home to some of the most fascinating, brilliantly focused and expertly calculated individuals in the public eye. The very nature of the game attracts those who have a taste for thrills and a strong mind in the terrifying face of the unknown.

In a game of such great highs and lows, predicated on competing for multiple millions of dollars- those who sit on top of the heap undoubtedly have mind-boggling stacks of cash sat beneath them.

Let's take a look at some of the world's most prestigious poker players and the fantastic fortunes they have amassed over their careers.

#10: Patrik Antonious

A prodigy of poker expert Marcel Lüske, this Finnish player has had some impressive accomplishments in his poker career. Antonious has captured a European Poker Tour title, and whilst he has not quite managed to snap up a world title, he has found a great deal of success playing online poker. Generally considered to be one of the most successful online players ever- the Big Game and Bellagio regular won the biggest online poker prize of all time back in 2009. He beat out Viktor Blom to take home a whopping $1,356,946. His total career earnings sit at around $11 million.

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#9: Antonio Esfandiari

At number 9 on our list we have a former professional magician, who went on to win 2 World Poker Tour championships and 3 World Series of Poker bracelets. The Persian born player had his first big cash win in 2004 to the tune of around 1.4 million USD- a prize he earned for snagging his first WPT championship at the L.A Poker Classic. With total career earnings of roughly $27 million and a highest cash prize upwards of $18 million- it is fair to say this once magician has a few tricks up his sleeve.

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#8: Tony G

Born Antanas Guoga, this Lithuanian politician, philanthropist and entrepreneur has a staggering net worth of around 36 million USD. Granted, not all of his earnings can be attributed directly to poker winnings. However, with such accolades as a fifth place finish at WPT Grand Prix de Paris 2003, second place at the Intercontinental Poker Championship in 2006 and a first place win in the Asian Poker Tour later that year- it’s fair to say he has won some seriously sizabe cash prizes. His largest came in at around $400,000 playing €100,000 No Limit Hold'em at the WSOP Europe in 2018.

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#7: Justin Bonomo

This American born high roller was once a keen player of fantasy card game Magic the Gathering. Once he turned his attention to the cards more commonly found in a casino; Bonomo stacked up an unprecedented amount of chips at a vast array of competitions. The 3 time Super High Roller Bowl title winner has multiple $4 million (+) cash wins and a staggering career high win of $10 million- making him the second-highest-earning live poker player of all time (second only to No.5 on this list). His total career earnings are believed to be over $55 million.

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#6: Daniel Negreanu

Number 6 on our list is one of the most decorated and recognisable poker players on the planet. The Canadian born Negreanu is the third-highest-earning live poker player ever and has to his name 6 WSOP bracelets and 2 WPT titles. Negreanu has a good argument for being one of the GOATs of poker, and his earnings certainly reflect this. His highest cash of $8.2 million was earned at 2014 WSOP where he placed 2nd. His WSOP earnings alone top $18 million and his total career earnings an unbelievable $42 million.

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#5: Bryn Kenney

Another competitive Magic the Gathering player turned poker extraordinaire, this Long Beach native burst onto the poker scene with his first live cash at the East Coast Poker ChampionShips in 2007. Kenney boasts a WSOP bracelet which he won back in 2014, earning him around $150k. Arguably, his most impressive achievement is the fact he is the highest-earning live poker player of all time. He earned this stunning accolade in the £1,050,000 No-Limit Hold'em - Triton Million for Charity Event. Kenney placed 2nd in the event, however, due to a deal made with winner Aaron Zang, Kenney went home with the top prize of just over $20 million. His total live earnings sit north of $55 million.

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#4: Doyle Brunson

Rarely will you find a poker player so iconic, so widely recognized and adored that they have a hand named specifically after them. Enter Doyle Brunson aka “Texas Dolly”, the 87 year old Texas born player who had a fruitful 50 year long career that culminated in a fortune estimated at around $75 million. Brunson was the first player ever to win a million dollars in poker tournaments. The two time WSOP champ and Poker Hall of Fame inductee famously won both of his main events holding a typically weak 10 and 2- hence the hand being named after him by card players.

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#3: Chris Ferguson

Born Christopher Philip Ferguson also known as “Jesus” (see his long, messiah style hairdo), this high-stakes poker pro started young- first playing poker at the age of just 10. The L.A native improved his skills in his college years playing online IRC poker on chatrooms. He eventually graduated to the big leagues, bagging himself 6 WSOP titles. His first bracelet win earned him $150k, his second: $1.5 million. His total live winnings total an impressive $8.9 million and his net worth soars at an eye watering $80 million.📰 Top 10 Richest Poker Players in the World (8)

#2: Phil Ivey

Phil Ivey, considered by many to be the best poker player of all time, has racked up an unthinkable 10 WSOP titles in his career, and has appeared at 31 final tables. Born in 1977, Ivey has been called the “tiger woods of poker”- and for good reason. His total live tournament winnings sit at $26,250,000 and his net worth is estimated to be over $125 million. Ivey has caught heat from casino owners in the past, who claimed he won money illegitimately in their establishments and filed a $15 million dollar lawsuit against the WPT title holder.

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#1: Dan Bilzerian

Without a doubt the most well known and controversial figure on the list, Dan Bilzerian has frequently been in the public eye for flaunting his lavish lifestyle on various social media platforms, predominantly Instagram. Bilzerian has pulled many shocking stunts such as: kicking a model in the face in a nightclub in Miami and attempting to “heroically” enter the scene of the tragic 2017 Las Vegas casino shooting armed. Despite his net worth totalling an impressive $200 million, his total official poker earnings sit at just $36,000. The jet-ski riding playboy would probably have you believe he earned the bulk of his fortune through poker. Whilst it is true he has likely made a fair amount playing private games- his true ticket to the good life came in the form of a multi million dollar inheritance left to him by his father, Paul Bilzerian. Still his enormous fortune technically makes him the world's richest player, and grants him the number 1 spot on our list.

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📰 Top 10 Richest Poker Players in the World (2024)

FAQs

Who is the wealthiest poker player in the world? ›

Andy Beal

Who is the most profitable poker player ever? ›

Bryn Kenney sits atop the all-time money list with over $65 million in live earnings.

Who is statistically the best poker player? ›

Justin Bonomo is the biggest winner in poker based on tournament results. His record includes a bevy of WSOP bracelets, Triton titles and EPT honours. Put simply, if there's a poker tournament title up for grabs, Bonomo has probably won it.

How much money has Phil Ivey won in poker? ›

As of 2023, Ivey's total live tournament winnings exceed $38.3 million. He has 11 cashes in his live poker career worth at least $1 million. Over $9.2 million of his total winnings have come from cashes at the WSOP. He is currently ranked 11th on the all-time money list.

Who is the best poker player to ever live? ›

Best Poker Players of All Time
  • Phil Ivey – The Tiger Woods of Poker. ...
  • Stu Ungar – The Comeback Kid. ...
  • Daniel Negreanu – Kid Poker. ...
  • Erik Seidel – Sly. ...
  • Bryn Kenney – Mega Crusher. ...
  • Stephen Chidwick – stevie444. ...
  • Dan Smith – Cowboy Dan. ...
  • Fedor Holz – CrownUpGuy.
Jun 26, 2023

Who is the real poker king? ›

Daniel Brandon Bilzerian (born December 7, 1980) is an American poker player, businessman, and social media influencer.

Who does Daniel Negreanu think is the best poker player? ›

Daniel Negreanu says Phil Ivey is the best poker player of all time. D... TikTok.

Who is the biggest cheat in poker? ›

The “superuser” account was eventually discovered and attributed to 1994 World Series of Poker Main Event champion Russ Hamilton, who served as a site consultant. Secret recordings revealed Hamilton admitting to the scheme and it's estimated he bilked players of more than $20 million.

What is the average salary for a poker player? ›

As of May 29, 2024, the average hourly pay for a Professional Poker Player in the United States is $13.44 an hour.

How much did Phil Ivey lose in court? ›

Britain's High Court ruled Wednesday that Genting Casinos UK does not have to pay him the 7.7 million pounds ($12.4 million) he was seeking. The casino's lawyers convinced the court that Ivey's use of "edge sorting'' tactics was not legitimate and that the casino did not have to pay.

Who is the famous black poker player? ›

Phil Ivey is arguably the most famous black poker player of all time. With 10 WSOP bracelets under his belt and a World Poker Tour title, Phil Ivey has rightfully earned the moniker 'the Tiger Woods of Poker'.

What was Doyle Brunson's net worth? ›

As of 2023, his total live tournament winnings exceed $6,100,000. He totaled over $3,000,000 in earnings from his 37 cashes at the WSOP. Brunson had two Texas hold'em hands named after him.

How did Eric Persson get his money? ›

Having learned poker when he was just 18 years old, Persson has been a cash game player for more than 30 years; in fact, it's rumored he helped put himself through school with poker winnings. While he doesn't play tournaments, he has won and lost millions playing live-streamed and televised cash game poker.

Who is the richest female poker player? ›

Women's All Time Money List - Top 16,789
1stUnited StatesVanessa Selbst
2ndCanadaKristen Foxen
3rdUnited StatesKathy Liebert
4thUnited StatesMaria Ho
5thUnited StatesAnnie Duke
108 more rows

Who is the number one poker player in the world right now? ›

Leaderboard
PlayerRankWPT Final
Mikita Badziakouski10
Carlos Mortensen26
Daniel Negreanu39
Andrew Lichtenberger45
72 more rows

Where does Tony G get his money? ›

How Did Tony G Make His Money? Tony G's considerable net worth comes in part from poker, in part from his businesses, and part from his work as a politician in Lithuania. Tony G has over $11 million in live tournament winnings and no doubt more from cash games.

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