The 10 Richest Poker Players in the World

Poker is one of the most popular card games in the world, with millions of people playing it on a regular basis, both for fun and profit. While many play poker simply for entertainment, there is a small group of elite players who have managed to make a lucrative career out of the game. These professional poker players regularly compete in high-stakes tournaments and cash games, where millions of dollars are up for grabs.

Their consistency, skill and nerve at the poker table have allowed them to accumulate enormous winnings over the years. In the high-risk, high-reward world of professional poker, the top players stand in a league of their own in terms of wealth and earnings. These poker superstars have built up massive personal fortunes from their poker winnings alone, usually amounting to tens or hundreds of millions of dollars.

They live glamorous lifestyles filled with luxury homes, cars, and vacations thanks to their poker exploits. While luck always plays a role, their strategic mastery of the game and ability to outplay opponents have enabled them to profit tremendously from poker over lengthy careers.This article will highlight 10 of the richest poker players in the world today.

Based on available data regarding their lifetime poker tournament winnings and cash game earnings, we have compiled a ranking of the wealthiest poker pros from the past and present. Get ready to find out who the poker kings and queens are when it comes to cold, hard cash.

The 10 Richest Poker Players in the World

Poker can be an extremely lucrative game for those who master it. Some of the top poker players have turned their card game skills into massive personal fortunes. Here we take a look at the 10 richest poker players on the planet based on their reported net worths.

1. Andy Beal – $10 billion

Topping the list of the richest poker players is Andy Beal, an American banker and businessman, worth a staggering $10 billion. He accumulated his vast fortune in the banking and real estate industries.

Andy is an avid poker enthusiast and is known for taking on the world’s best professionals in ultra-high-stakes games. He has won and lost millions of dollars playing marathon poker sessions against top pros like Doyle Brunson, Chip Reese, Todd Brunson and Phil Ivey during the 2000s.

While already incredibly rich from his business ventures, these exclusive cash games made Andy infamous in poker lore. With practially unlimited funds, he could afford to lose millions playing cards as a hobby.

2. Dan Bilzerian – $200 million

Dan Bilzerian is one of the most recognizable names in high stakes poker thanks to his extravagant lifestyle and popular Instagram account showing off his extreme wealth and parties.

Known as “Blitz” in some circles and the “King of Instagram”, he has over 32 million followers. His personal net worth is estimated between $100 million to $200 million.

Bilzerian played poker professionally for a decade, winning over $50 million in tournaments according to interviews. More wealth came from business ventures, endorsements, and his lucrative arrangement with Ignite International Brands.

While Blitz is no longer a top tournament contender today, his poker skills, unforgettable antics and huge bankroll cemented his place in the upper ranks of all-time richest poker players.

3. Phil Ivey – $100 million

Phil Ivey has become incredibly wealthy from the game of poker. He has been hailed by many as the best all-around poker player in recent times.

The American pro has accumulated tournament winnings of over $30 million, placing him at the top of historical poker tournament money lists. Combined with income from investments, high stakes cash games, endorsements and gambling, his personal fortune grew rapidly over the 2000s.

Today his net worth sits between $100 million and $125 million according to wealth estimates. Now in his mid 40s, he continues to play poker at high stakes while passing on his immense knowledge through training sites and masterclasses. 

4. Sam Farha – $100 million

Sam Farha has earned his place as a poker icon.  He is most famous for his heads-up clash with Chris Moneymaker at the 2003 WSOP Main Event final table. His stylish dress, signature cigar and incredible wealth paint the picture of a highly successful pro gambler.

Farha has played many variants of poker and dice games, and he quickly made connections with casino owners and rich competitors. Over the years he accumulated vast winnings through poker, gin rummy, craps and sports betting. His net worth peaked at an estimated $100 million.

While appearing in TV poker shows and playing occasional tournaments, he spends more time managing his casino co-ownership stakes today.

5. Dan Cates – $80 million 

Fifth on our list is Dan Cates popularly known as “Jungleman” within poker circles.

Cates has earned a reputation as one of the sharpest minds in high stakes games during the 2010’s poker boom. His hyper aggressive style allows him to outwit opponents in creative ways again and again over years grinding online cash games.

Hailing from the U.S. state of Maryland, Cates first made waves in the poker world by winning the 2008 World Poker Tour London main event for over $1 million. His poker skills and wins helped him amass a personal fortune approaching $100 million at one point.

Although some losses and investments reduced it recently, his estimated net worth still sits between $60 to $80 million.

6. Chris Ferguson – $80 million

Chris “Jesus” Ferguson is a legend of the game who won the 2000 WSOP Main Event for $1.5 million and appeared on various televised final tables. He is known for his distinctive long hair, trench coat attire and excellent poker skills.

The American star has amassed impressive career tournament winnings of $9 million from 63 recorded cashes. His total net worth grew considerably over the years through investments, publishing poker books, video instructionals and business partnerships outside poker. At his peak, Chris Ferguson’s net worth was estimated at around $80 million.

However, his association with the Full Tilt poker scandal led to certain wealth losses more recently. Though now not at the heights of last decade, he continues to play poker at high stakes and has the skills to rank among the top richest players.

7. Bryn Kenney – $57 million 

Bryn Kenney is a young American poker prodigy who has rapidly risen to the upper ranks of career earners in the game. Widely touted as one of the sharpest minds playing mid to high stakes tournaments and cash games today, his poker journey began by entering local underground games in Long Beach as a college economics student.

Kenney’s net worth grew past $50 million by age 35 combined with his income from high stakes cash games and sponsorships. His tournament results include over $40 million in recorded cashes.

8. Justin Bonomo – $52 million

Justin Bonomo took the poker world by storm in 2018, winning three elite High Roller events in five days enroute to taking top rank in career poker earnings. Still in his early 30s, Bonomo has already cemented his legacy in the game with over $45 million in tournament cashes.

The U.S. phenom perfected the latest theoretic approaches, poker software and his personal skills during years spent dominating top online cash games anonymously. His incredibly deep understanding of game theory principles gives him an edge over talented professionals worldwide.

Bonomo’s net worth now exceeds $50 million, combined with income from investments and business partnerships.

9. Daniel Negreanu – $50 million 

Daniel Negreanu is the highest earning live poker tournament player ever. He has a $42 million in recorded tournament cash. And that’s before counting income from cash games, gambling, authoring books or his poker training site. His charismatic personality and reading abilities help him thrive at poker tables for over 25 years now since learning as a local pool hustler in Toronto.

In addition to tournament earnings, “Kid Poker” invests widely including poker site shares, real estate and businesses. With a self-made personal fortune approaching $50 million, Negreanu has transitioned to ambassador and consultant roles in recent years. But his legacy as one of history’s truly great poker professionals is forever set in stone thanks to decades dedicated to mastering the game.

10. Doyle Brunson – $75 million.  

Doyle Brunson remains an active legend and fan favorite at 88 years of age despite health setbacks limiting mobility recently. The patriarch of poker acquired his wealth largely through cash games against oil barons and millionaire businessmen during the later 20^th century. Brunson’s cashes from relatively few tournaments entered exceeds $6.1 million.

His fantastic reads and no limit texas hold’em skills provided steady income through both good times and bad times over 60+ years playing professionally.  His net worth grew substantially past $75 million, combined with investments and co-founding online card room Doyles Room.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions about the richest poker players in the world:

Who is the highest paid poker player?

The player who has won the most money from live tournament poker is Justin Bonomo from the USA. His total live earnings exceed $45 million. He won the 2018 WSOP Big One for One Drop event for $10 million which helped cement his place as the highest paid tournament player.

Who is the number one poker player in the world?

Based on live poker tournament earnings, Justin Bonomo is currently the #1 ranked poker player. Daniel Negreanu has also held the top rank before based on his consistent success. Other contenders for best in the world include Fedor Holz, Erik Seidel, Phil Ivey, and Stephen Chidwick.

Who has the highest net worth in poker?

The poker player with the highest reported personal net worth is Andy Beal with estimates ranging from $50 million to over $10 billion. His career poker tournament earnings exceed $42 million and he’s also a successful banker, coach and businessman.

Who are the best poker players of all time?

When considering the best ever based on skill, success, wins, and impact on the game – names that often appear are Phil Ivey, Chip Reese, Stu Ungar, Doyle Brunson, Johnny Moss, Daniel Negreanu and Erik Seidel.

Conclusion

So there you have it – the 10 richest poker players in the world at this time. From Phil Ivey to Daniel Negreanu, these players have managed to amass huge personal fortunes thanks to their exceptional poker skills and ability to consistently win big money prizes.

While luck plays a role, their strategic mastery of the game and talent for reading opponents gives them an edge over the competition. Aspiring poker pros look to players like these 10 as models to emulate.

And for good reason – learning how the top earners play and understanding what has brought them great success can help others looking to make poker a lucrative career. Who knows, maybe the next top earning poker billionaire is just getting started on their journey right now!

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