Looking for the most famous poker players in the US and globally? You have come to the right site. We've provided a list of the best players who have won the biggest cash in poker history.
Poker is, without a doubt, one of the most popular card games in the casino world. The first mention of poker was in 1829 by the French settlers. Since then, the game has evolved and spread across the world.
Many people love playing poker because it involves luck, and you play against other players on the table. Additionally, there are numerous variations of poker you can play at online or land-based casinos. Modern poker games attract many players because they have live tournaments with massive prizes.
In this guide, you will learn about the most famous poker players, their favorite variations, top winnings, hands, and reliable strategies they use to hit big wins.
Top Poker Players
As one of the most played indoor games in the world, poker attracts new and professional gamers. Also, this game is widely played by high stake gamblers who are after winning big prizes. Over the years, many people have shown their exceptional card skills and have even featured in the world series of poker. Let us present to you a list of the most popular players in poker history. They include:
Daniel Negreanu
Daniel Negreanu, nicknamed "Kid Poker," has been playing poker since the early 2000s. Encouraged by his parents to always follow his dream, he left school to focus on poker when he was only 21 years old. He began playing at the poker tables in Canada, Toronto before moving to Las Vegas. However, Negreanu was forced to return to Canada due to a lack of money.
He made his first appearance at the World Series of Poker in 1998, where he became the youngest WSOP champion after winning $2000 Pot-Limit Hold'em.
Moreover, he retained the title of the youngest poker player until 2004, when he garnered another bracelet and cash prizes.
Negreanu added a fourth WSOP bracelet in 2008 and two more in 2013. The first bracelet was the 2013 WSOP APAC Main Event worth A$1 million, and the second one was WSOP Europe worth €25,600 High Roller.
Nevertheless, his biggest tournament cash at the World Poker Tour (WPT) was in 2004. The first win was at the Borgata Poker Open and the Five-Diamond World Poker Classic. Besides, he has been very successful on the European Poker Tour (EPT).
Negreanu has recorded other outstanding performances and won big prizes in his career. Also, he has appeared in various TV Poker Shows, like Late Night Poker, High Stakes Poker, and Poker After Dark. Today, he is the official GGPoker Ambassador, having joined in 2019.
Doyle Brunson
Famously known as 'Texas Dolly,' Doyle Brunson is a poker player who has withstood the test of time. He played poker for more than 50 years before retiring. Brunson twice won the World Series of Poker (WSP) in 1996 and 1997, making him one of the four players to have won the Main Event in consecutive years.
Besides, he is remembered for having won 10 WSOP bracelets and one WTP title. Throughout his career, Brunson has had a significant influence on the world of poker. He was one of the first pro poker players to introduce the game in Las Vegas casinos. Later, he became one of the founding fathers of the World Series of Poker. Also, he is the author of some of the most helpful books on poker called Super or System.
More interesting is that his own son and daughter, Todd and Pamela, are successful poker players. Todd won a bracelet while Pamela participated in the 2007 and 2009 Main Events. According to Brunson, his success is derived from instincts and experience of playing thousands of poker hands.
Phil Ivey
Considered one of the best poker players ever, Phil Ivey was born on 1st February 1977 in Riverside, California. He hit the headlines in 2000 after winning his first World Series of Poker bracelet on Pot Limit Omaha. Later, he won other 9 bracelets and one World Poker Tour title at WPT L.A Poker Classic of 2008.
Surprisingly enough, Ivey started playing poker when he was 21 years old. Only that the casinos didn't know he was going by the fake name Jerome Graham because he was underage.
He stepped into the WSOP Main Events in 2000 for the first time and won a bracelet and cash prize of up to $200,000 cash prize. He took a break and returned to the event two years later and won three more bracelets.
Nonetheless, his most significant win was at the 2009 WSOP Main Event, where he won more than $1.4 in cash prizes. Ivey's last WSOP win was in 2014 after garnering a $1500 8-Game Event. The fact that he won two-thirds of these events makes Ivey one of the greatest poker players. Additionally, he has made a name in other events like the World Poker Tour (WPT), European Poker Tour (EPT), Aussie Millions Poker Championship, and many other achievements.
Phil Hellmuth
Phil Hellmuth is another poker genius, and he is called 'Poker Brat' by his friends. He has made a record for winning 15 WSOP bracelets and more than $23 million in cash prizes. Besides, Hellmuth is the only player in the poker world to have won a WSOP event in Las Vegas and Europe Main Events in 1989 and 2012 significantly. His popularity increased in 1993 after winning three bracelets.
Though Hellmuth hasn't added his name to the Championship Cup, he came close in 2017 after finishing as the runners up at the Legend of Poker hosted at Bicycle Casino. Besides, he is the author of several bestselling poker books and TV cash games that have been on the Ultimatebet and ARIA. Although Phil has plenty of detractors, he has still managed to win at several live tournaments.
Justin Bonomo
Justin Bonomo is a new name in the world of poker, but he has so far banked $49.1 million in cash winning. The exciting thing about this player is that his winnings are not only from high stakes but also from some of the best competitions. Bonomo hit the headlines in 2018 after winning the $10,000 Heads-Up No-Limit Hold'em Championship at the World Series of Poker for a whopping $185,965. This win gave him his second bracelet, and it came a few days after winning the Super Highroller Bowl for $5 million.
Furthermore, he hit the $1 million Big One for One Drop at the WSOP for $10 million. By 2019, Bonomo's winnings had exceeded $1.1 million. His major winnings are a result of his keen knowledge of the game, which gives him an advantage over other players. Moreover, he has managed to win 18 tournaments since 2016.
Vanessa Selbst
Vanessa Selbst is among the few female names that have made an impact in the world of poker. She is the highest-earning player in poker and one of the most successful. Though poker is a male-dominated game, she has risen to the top and earned about $12,000,000 from live tournaments. Additionally, Selbst is the only woman to rank number one on the Global Poker Index. Also, she has won three WSOP bracelets and reached two final tables at WPT tournaments.
Her biggest cash win was $1,823,430 after finishing the Main Event of the 2010 PPT Cannes Event. Selbst has taken a break from professional poker and works for Bridgewater Associates as a hedge funds manager.
Erik Seidel
The last but not least popular poker player is none other than Erik Seidel. This player is based in New York and is respected for playing at the biggest stakes in the history of poker. Seidel has a solid gaming background as he grew up playing Backgammon. Also, he worked as a stock trader before venturing into playing poker at the Mayfair Club in New York. Besides, he is featured in several films, including the Rounders, which was the major tournament in his career.
However, it was not until 1992 that he won his first bracelet in an NLHE Event. Later, he added a WTP title when he won the Foxwoods Poker Classic for $992,890. Additionally, he gained media attention in 2020 after featuring as the best author in Maria Konnikova's book The Biggest Bluff. He is among the few poker players to have a membership in the Brooklyn Academy of Music.
Final Word
Our list of the most famous poker players should inspire new and expert players to enhance their gaming skills and chances of winning big. We have provided all the relevant information you need to know about the best poker players and the advice to help you to maximize your chances of winning. To be a successful poker player, you must know all the rules of playing and the ultimate strategy. Also, you must know about the ins and outs of the game before playing for real money.
