Top 7 Richest Poker Players In The World

When individuals envision poker, they often picture substantial winnings, intense excitement, WSOP rings, and scores that can alter lives. With tournament entry fees reaching or surpassing $1,000,000, the individuals categorized as super-high rollers are unmistakably more distinct. 

Many of these players’ wealth is not just from winning tournaments. Sponsorship deals, endorsements, and various business experiences contribute to their financial success, showcasing their diverse sources of income.

Many of these athletes witness their wealth increase due to sponsorship agreements, brand sponsorships, and additional business projects, assisting them in achieving wealth beyond average levels.

Here is a list of the top 7 richest poker players in the world

1. Andy Beal – Net Worth $14.6 Billion

Daniel Andy Beal, popularly known as Andy Beal, is one of the richest poker players in the world. He started building his net worth in real estate. Beal is a mathematician and amateur poker player. At the age of 19, he made his real estate portfolio. By 1988, he had his bank, Beal Bank. In the early 2000, Beal challenged a team of top poker players in the most lucrative poker match recorded in Michael Craig’s book, The Professor, The Banker, and the Suicide King.

The match was a high-stakes Texas hold ’em tournament with a $5,000 to $10,000 betting limit against skilled players like Phil Ivey, Todd Brunson, and Jennifer Harman. As the game progressed, the betting amounts increased from $50,000 to $100,000, and the players experienced significant gains and losses, with some speculating that his total losses could have reached $6 million.

2. Dan Bilzerian – Net Worth $200 Million

The value of Dan Bilzerian’s assets is believed to be in the billions, yet his eligibility as a poker player is highly contested. It’s even more unbelievable that he boasts about earning more than $50 million in just one year and an additional $10.8 million during a poker event 2013. It appears he only frequented the top-tier casinos or participated in select high-stakes poker tournaments. Surprisingly, upon examining his Hendon Mob, it becomes apparent that Bilzerian’s only significant poker tournament winnings come from a cash prize of $1,000, which he secured by placing 180th out of 6,494 participants in the 2009 World Series of Poker Main Event.

3. Phil Ivey – Net Worth $125 Million

With $125 million, Phil Ivey is one of the richest poker players. He has dominated the poker field for several decades and is known explicitly for his ice-cold stare. Many view Ivey as the supreme poker player in history, consistently dominating his rivals across various cash and tournament settings. It’s believed that Ivey’s wealth hovers around $125 million, though it might be significantly higher due to his habit of competing in the largest prize money poker events globally, particularly in Macau, and his status as a professional player with sponsors. Ivey boasts a collection of 10 WSOP bracelets, placing him in a tie for second place (with Doyle Brunson and Johnny Chan) in the all-time rankings, just behind Phil Hellmuth, who is worth $20 million.

4. Sam Farha – Net Worth $100 Million

Often spotted on Poker After Dark, Farha, originally from Lebanon, relocated to the United States in the 1970s to start his life as a hustler. He earned a degree in business administration from the University of Kansas. Yet, the thrill of making a fortune through pool games, ping-pong, and Pac-Man games led him to abandon his studies and pursue a full-time hustler career. Upon settling in Texas, Farha stumbled upon poker, marking the beginning of his successful journey. 

Farha’s investments paid off, enabling him to secure spots in highly exclusive cash games. He became a regular in these high-stakes games, outperforming the world’s top players. He was on the verge of winning the 2003 WSOP Main Event but ultimately lost to online qualifier Chris Moneymaker, who is widely credited with kick-starting the poker boom. This victory challenged the belief that only seasoned professionals could excel in the game. After Moneymaker’s win over Farha and 837 others, live and online poker saw a massive surge, with the $10,000 WSOP Main Event reaching a record number of entries in 2023.

5. Chris Fergusson – Net Worth $80 Million

Chris “Jesus” Ferguson stood out as a prominent name in the poker scene during the early to mid-2000s. His co-founding of Full Tilt Poker kicked off the first wave of online poker. Despite earning numerous awards and being among the wealthiest poker players in history, Ferguson’s reputation was forever marred by the Full Tilt scandal. 

After securing the 2000 WSOP Main Event title, Ferguson disappeared for roughly five years before making a remarkable comeback at the 2016 World Series of Poker. He continued his winning streak, securing his sixth bracelet the year after and winning the 2017 WSOP Player of the Year award, which caused a stir in the poker community and among his peers.

6. Doyle Brunson – Net Worth $75 Million

Brunson built his wealth over more than 50 years as a professional poker player and is notably known for his victory in the WSOP Main Event twice, both times securing a full house with a ten-deuce hand, a feat that earned him the nickname “The Doyle.” Beyond his WSOP victories, Doyle also clinched 10 WSOP bracelets. He was a prominent figure in high-stakes cash games, skillfully managing his own against top international players well into his later years. 

Doyle was deeply engaged in the early years of Las Vegas, often interacting with dubious individuals and experiencing the violence associated with the gambling scene. However, he survived these challenges and is forever remembered as a true icon in the poker world. Doyle also wrote several books and maintained his poker website, Doyle’s Room, which was later acquired by America’s Cardroom in 2011. Despite his net worth being $75 million, Doyle Brunson’s tales are invaluable, ranging from his brief stint as a professional basketball player to a series of unsuccessful investments in high-stakes golf tournaments to his miraculous recovery from cancer, attributed to a faith healer.

7. Daniel Negreanu – Net Worth $70 Million

Daniel Negreanu, also known as Kid Poker, is among the most famous poker players in history and currently serves as an ambassador for GGPoker. While numerous players experience a decline in performance over time, Negreanu has consistently performed at the top level, earning him a reputation as one of the world’s best for several decades.

 As a six-time winner of a WSOP bracelet, Negreanu boasts $52 million in earnings from poker tournaments, placing him sixth on the all-time earnings list for poker. Although reports suggest Negreanu’s net worth is $70 million, it could be significantly higher due to his success in high-stakes no-limit games, his long-standing partnerships with poker companies, and his well-known figure in the poker community. It’s truly remarkable, considering he began his poker career with only a few hundred dollars.