Want to know who are the richest poker players in the world are? The saying says that the house always wins… but not in every single gambling game, and the millionaires in our list stand as living proof of it. In fact, poker has changed substantially from a recreational activity to an outstandingly popular card game with professional players and million dollar tournament prizes. Poker has benefited tremendously from the internet era in various ways, with more players, more fans, more sites, and more money flooding the industry, along with a multitude of shows on TV.
Nowadays, children no longer dream only of becoming NBA, NFL or MLB players; they also fantasize about growing up to be the best and richest poker players in the world. Of course, all of these career choices are very profitable for a lucky and talented few. Golf for example is a very profitable sport, just check out our list of the 15 Highest-Earning Golf Players in the World and find out for yourself, and perhaps compare it to our current list to see which career choice may be the most lucrative to set your child on a path towards.
Now then, let’s take a look at our current countdown and find out who those lucky winners are that are taking the casinos for all they’re worth.
7. Annie Duke
Net Worth: $8 million
Nowadays, the Duchess of Poker is much more than a professional poker player; she has come a long way since her early steps into fame when she tutored Ben Affleck. Duke’s popularity rocketed after she won the World Series of Poker golden bracelet in 2004, and since then she’s been unstoppable. ‘Annie Legend’ is a published author, a philanthropist and has even released an instructional DVD series and various poker related products. On top of all that she has also appeared and participated in many TV shows, including Celebrity Apprentice, where she finished second.
Poker players are off to a great start, with fortunes in the millions, and they only go higher from here. See just how high on the following pages, as we continue our countdown of the richest poker players in the world.
6. Andrew Feldman
Net Worth: $10 million
This English poker millionaire who started playing online at the age of 18 is still only 27-years-old. Some say that after he started earning the big bucks his game turned into addiction. In fact, rumor has it that he ended up losing all he had after a gambling spree. After that episode he was encouraged to attend Gamblers Anonymous, which he eventually gave up. Once he returned to poker, he was able to get back his money and make even more; a whole lot more, as you can see by his net worth.
5. Daniel Negreanu
Net Worth: $15 million
Widely considered to be one of the best poker players in the world, the 40-year-old Canadian started his poker career after dropping out of high school. Thus far he has won six World Series of Poker bracelets and two World Poker Tour championship titles. Negreanu is also a philanthropist, a published author and has appeared several times on different TV shows, both reality and fiction.
4. Chris Ferguson
Net Worth: $25 million
This California poker pro is best known for his mathematical style of play, his long hair, and his cowboy hats. You might know him from the Full Tilt Poker scandal, a legal controversy regarding an alleged Ponzi scheme being run at that online poker site, which he directed. What you probably don’t know about Ferguson is that he has a Ph.D. in computer science.
T1. Dan Bilzerian
Net Worth: $100 million
Right now, Bilzerian is better known as the ‘Instagram King’ or ‘Instagram’s Playboy King’, for he became a social media sensation last year with the lavish photos he posted. Blitz, who was once enlisted in the United States Navy, majored in Business and Criminology. Besides playing professional poker, he is the co-founder of an online poker room, and a somewhat well-known actor. As you can see, he shares our top spot with two other players…
T1. Sam Farha
Net Worth: $100 million
This Lebanese-born American professional poker player has been dedicated full-time to the game he loves since 1990, when he quit his ordinary day job. Farha is best known as the runner-up in the World Series of Poker in 2003, when he was defeated by Chris Moneymaker. He has co-authored a book on Omaha poker strategy and is currently working on another book, a reality TV series and a video game.
T1. Phil Ivey
Net Worth: $100 million
Widely considered by experts and colleagues to be the best all-round player in the world, Ivey has won ten World Series of Poker bracelets. The 38-year-old American, also known as the ‘Tiger Woods of Poker’, started his poker training by playing with his co-workers at a telemarketing company in the 1990’s. Also known as ‘The Phenomenon’, Ivey has founded two profitable firms, but has never forgotten to give back to the community through various charitable causes and foundations.
