Depending on whether you play poker or take a passing interest, a mystique underwrites it that few other games can match. While some might argue that casino gaming, be it roulette, blackjack, or other table games, collectively has an aura that helps sell it as a truly global form of entertainment, it’s hard to disagree with the opinion that poker has a rock and roll element.
One component that genuinely drives home this outlook is the enormous sums of money the world’s most prominent poker players take home and how they live their lives. The card game has been a huge hit for over 100 years, immortalized in countless films by world-renowned film and TV characters like James Bond. However, what does the lifestyle of the world’s most prominent poker players look like?
The World Series of Poker
As the most viewed and recognizable televised poker event, the World Series Of Poker features the world’s best players, all vying for the lion’s share of the colossal prize money on display. In this year’s tournament, the top 8 players earned over $1 million in prize money. 2023 WSOP facts are fun and interesting to explore, and they give a genuine insight into how much money is on display at the tournament.
Over the years, some of the largest prize pools have emerged from the WSOP, which has been helped immensely by the fact it is the premier televised poker tournament, signing huge money deals with ESPN.
On the table, some of the biggest nailbiters have had poker fans worldwide on the edge of their seats. Phil Hellmuth, Phil Ivey, and Johnny Chan are some of the greatest poker players of all time, with dozens of WSOP bracelets in their trophy cabinets at home, and they all have lifestyles that match their seven-figure career earnings.
Phil Hellmuth
Nobody has won more WSOP’s than Hellmuth, and his lavish lifestyle matches his ability on the table off it. Although he doesn’t flaunt his extensive wealth, his Instagram gives a brief glimpse into how he likes to spend his money, and a trip to Europe a few years ago, which left no expense spared, showed just how much he revels in the cash he has made from his outrageously successful career.
Phil Ivey
When a player carries the moniker “The Tiger Woods of Poker,” you know that they’re probably not too bad at the card-based casino game. Ivey has nearly a dozen bracelets at the WSOP and career earnings north of $20 million. Ivey gives a lot of money and time to charitable causes and spends time jetting between courtside seats of his two favorite NBA teams, the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers.
Known for his conviction on and off the table, he has taken casinos to court for not paying up their winnings and is one of the few top players who doesn’t shy away from the media.
Justin Bonomo
In terms of dollars won in professional poker, Justin is the most successful professional player ever. His earnings of around $50 million dwarves many other top players, and his lifestyle exemplifies his high-risk, high-payoff playing style.
Justin lives in a luxury Vegas penthouse with several girlfriends, and his penthouse is known for parties. When he fancies changing it up, he will jump on a private jet and take himself around the US or further afield; not a bad lifestyle.
Celebrity Poker Lifestyle
There are dozens of examples of poker players who use their gains to live life to the fullest. Some celebrities who aren’t as adept at poker have used their wealth to take to the high-roller tables, trying their luck against some of the world’s best talent. Legendary comedian Norm McDonald was one such celebrity who enjoyed gracing high-roller tables with his presence.
Still, over the years, other considerable stars in the US, such as Michael Jordan, Matt Damon, Kevin Hart, and Ben Affleck, have all been seen playing poker at some of the world’s top casinos.
Instagram influencer Dan Bilzerian is an example of one poker player who attempts to mask personal wealth through the prism of poker. Although he has played at some of the world’s biggest tournaments, multiple news outlets and professional poker players have disputed the source of his wealth, given that his father once had a net worth exceeding $500 million.
However, you can’t deny that poker is a big part of his lavish lifestyle, and you only need to take a quick look at his Instagram to see how much he enjoys the finer things in life.
Final Thoughts
It appears that high-rollers take their activities off the table, too, and with some of them having colossal sums of money at their disposal and playing with extreme risk and stress, it’d be challenging to argue that these individuals shouldn’t enjoy the fruit of their labor.
So, while it might not be as intense, high-stakes, or fast-living as James Bond, plenty of real-life examples of poker lifestyles are making the most of their lives and winnings.
