The Richest Poker Players in the World

World of Poker

At its core, poker is a contest of incomplete information. Players are armed with only a handful of cards, but must navigate layers of deception, pressure, and probability to outwit their opponents. It’s a game where a glance can reveal more than a hand, and silence can shout louder than a raise. Whether you’re bluffing with nothing or betting with the nuts, every decision shapes a narrative – and potentially a fortune.

Poker demands patience, discipline, adaptability, and an uncanny ability to read both the cards and the room. It rewards not just the strongest hand, but the sharpest mind. And in the high-stakes world where millions ride on a single river card, poker becomes something greater: a test of nerve, a symbol of mastery, and for the best – an enduring legacy written in chips and glory.

Top 10 Richest Poker Players in the World

Poker’s biggest stars have earned their fortunes by consistently performing on the game’s most prestigious stages. From the World Series of Poker (WSOP) in Las Vegas to high-stakes events like the Super High Roller Bowl and the Triton Poker Series, these tournaments offer the highest buy-ins and the largest prize pools in the world.

This list presents the top 10 richest poker players based on total live tournament earnings as of early 2025, offering a snapshot of those who have turned cards into careers and tournaments into empires.

1. Bryn Kenney

Bryn Kenney tops the ranking as the highest-earning live tournament poker player in history, with career winnings exceeding $75 million as of early 2025. Known for his fearless style and elite performance in high-stakes events, Kenney has carved out a dominant presence in both tournaments and cash games.

His most notable payday came at the 2019 Triton Million for Charity in London. He came second, but a deal with the eventual winner Aaron Zhang secured him a staggering $20.5 million – currently the largest single payout in poker history. Other major victories include a $4.41 million win at the 2024 Triton Poker Super High Roller Series in Monte Carlo and $1.8 million at the 2014 PCA High Roller. Kenney has also won two WSOP bracelets, in 2014 and 2024, and has claimed multiple Triton Poker titles that together account for more than $43 million of his total earnings.

Starting his poker journey in 2007 after competing in Magic: The Gathering, Kenney has become one of the most successful and business-savvy figures in modern poker. He was a GGPoker ambassador and now runs 4Poker – player management and staking group, leveraging Kenney’s expertise and capital to back promising poker talent. Kenney also generates income through sponsorships, media appearances, and coaching programs, using his status as a top-tier pro to influence the industry both at and away from the tables.

2. Justin Bonomo

Justin Bonomo ranks among the most dominant and consistent performers in modern poker history. With over $65 million in live tournament earnings as of early 2025. Bonomo’s blend of technical skill, mental discipline, and business awareness cements his place as one of the most well-rounded and successful figures in the game.

Bonomo is best known for his incredible run in 2018, where he won the $1,000,000 Big One for One Drop at the WSOP for $10 million – one of the richest payouts the game has ever seen. That year also included victories at the Super High Roller Bowl IV ($5 million) and Super High Roller Bowl China ($4.8 million), making 2018 one of the most profitable single years ever for a poker player. At the WSOP, Bonomo’s track record is equally impressive: 55 cashes, 19 final tables, and 3 bracelets, with more than $14 million in World Series earnings.

Bonomo has built additional revenue streams through sponsorships with platforms like PokerStars and partypoker, as well as brand partnerships. He’s active in staking, backing fellow pros in major events, and shares in their winnings. He also contributes to the poker community through coaching, strategy content, and media appearances, while staying engaged in charity work and public advocacy.

3. Stephen Chidwick

Stephen Chidwick stands as the most successful tournament poker player in UK history, with over $64 million in live earnings as of early 2025. Known for his calm demeanor, analytical approach, and consistent results across global high roller circuits, Chidwick has become a fixture at elite-level events.

His biggest single payday came in the 2019 Triton Million for Charity in London, where he earned £4,410,000 (~$5.37 million) for a 4th place finish – his highest career score to date. Chidwick secured his first WSOP bracelet in 2019 by winning the $25,000 Pot-Limit Omaha High Roller for $1.6 million. He added a second bracelet in 2024, winning the $50,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Championship, solidifying his reputation as one of the game’s most versatile players. Impressively, he has posted annual earnings exceeding $1 million every year since 2013, including during the pandemic-disrupted 2020 season.

Chidwick boosts his income through sponsorships and coaching, having worked with leading poker platforms and contributed strategic content. Chidwick has amassed over $5.35 million in tracked online tournament cashes, playing under the nickname “stevie444” on PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker. His online success predates his live tournament career.

4. Mikita Badziakouski

Mikita Badziakouski has firmly established himself as one of the most successful and consistent high-stakes poker players in the world. With approximately $61 million in live tournament earnings as of March 2025, his quiet demeanor and elite technical skill have made him a regular at the final tables of the biggest events globally.

His largest career score came in 2019, when he won the Triton Poker Super High Roller Series Main Event in Jeju for $7,114,500, one of the most prestigious victories in modern poker. Since then, Badziakouski has maintained a strong presence on the high roller circuit, consistently adding seven-figure scores to his résumé. At the World Series of Poker, Bodyakovsky has logged 32 cashes, one bracelet, and over $7.6 million in WSOP earnings – a testament to his all-around game and adaptability on poker’s biggest stage.

Off the tables, Bodyakovsky has benefited from sponsorships, including his role as a featured pro with GGPoker, one of the industry’s platforms. From 2019 to 2022, Mikita was a partypoker Team Pro and remains listed on their Player Panel, earning income through brand ambassador roles and promotional activities. Occasionally, he contributes to coaching and poker content, further enhancing his professional profile. Bodyakovsky’s balanced mix of results, business acumen, and quiet consistency makes him a standout in the global poker elite.

5. Dan Smith

Dan Smith has built a reputation as one of poker’s most accomplished and respected figures, combining elite tournament results with a deep commitment to charitable giving. As of early 2025, Smith has accumulated over $58 million in live tournament earnings, placing him firmly among the top five all-time money leaders. Known for his analytical mindset and consistent high-level performance, Smith has earned big results across the WSOP, WPT, EPT, and Triton circuits.

His largest career cash came in 2018, when he finished 3rd in the $1 million buy-in WSOP Big One for One Drop, collecting $4 million. Other major paydays include $3.87 million for winning the 2023 Triton $210,000 Invitational in Monte Carlo, and $3.07 million as runner-up in the 2016 One Drop High Roller. Smith captured his first WSOP bracelet in 2022, winning the $25,000 Heads-Up No-Limit Hold’em Championship for over $500,000.

Smith is perhaps best known for his leadership in philanthropy. As the founder of Double Up Drive, he has helped raise over $24.7 million for high-impact charities, making him one of the most charitable figures in the poker community. In addition, Smith has secured sponsorship deals with platforms like PokerStars and GGPoker, and he remains active in coaching, staking, and poker media. With a rare blend of competitive excellence and altruistic purpose, Dan Smith has become a role model in the modern poker world.

6. Jason Koon

Jason Koon has become one of the most respected and consistent performers in modern poker, excelling in both tournaments and high-stakes cash games. With nearly $60 million in live tournament earnings as of March 2025, Koon ranks among the world’s top earners and has built a reputation as one of the most technically sound players in the game.

His biggest single payday came in 2018, when he won the HK$1,000,000 Short Deck Ante Only event at the Triton Super High Roller Series Montenegro, taking home $3,653,260. Since then, Koon has consistently cashed in seven figures at major stops worldwide. Notable finishes include $1.81 million for a runner-up spot in the $100,000 WSOP Paradise High Roller (2023) and $669,300 for second place in the $50,000 WPT Alpha 8 at the 2023 WPT World Championship. Koon has been a dominant force at Triton Poker events, regularly appearing on final tables across formats including No-Limit Hold’em, Short Deck, and Pot-Limit Omaha. Over the years, he has stacked up 65 WSOP cashes, 16 final tables, and earned his first bracelet in a $25K Heads-Up event, bringing his WSOP earnings to over $6.6 million.

Koon was a former ambassador for GGPoker, one of the largest online poker platforms, which provided him with endorsement income and promotional opportunities. After parting ways with GGPoker in early 2024, he signed a representation agreement with Poker Royalty, continuing his involvement in sponsorship and brand partnerships. His frequent appearances in poker media, livestreams, and global events further enhance his influence and brand in the poker world.

7. Daniel Negreanu

Daniel Negreanu remains one of the most iconic and influential figures in poker, with a career that spans over two decades at the highest levels of the game. As of early 2025, he has amassed over $55.5 million in live tournament earnings, ranking him among the all-time greats. Known for his deep reads, engaging personality, and openness with fans, Negreanu continues to perform at an elite level both on and off the felt.

At the World Series of Poker, Negreanu has logged 276 cashes, 7 bracelets, and over $22.8 million in earnings. Daniel Negreanu’s biggest live tournament cash came in 2014 when he finished runner-up in The Big One for One Drop, earning $8,288,001. Beyond tournaments, he is widely respected in high-stakes cash games, having competed in some of the most publicized matches in recent years. These include high-profile heads-up battles against Doug Polk and Phil Hellmuth, which drew intense media attention and large financial swings.

Negreanu’s impact on the game extends far beyond the tables. As a longtime brand ambassador – first for PokerStars and now for GGPoker – he has helped promote poker to a global audience. His website, Full Contact Poker, acts as a community hub and a platform for poker strategy, which also contributes to his business portfolio. Negreanu is actively involved in charitable efforts, organizing and supporting events such as the Big Swing charitable golf tournament and Ante Up for Africa, which raise funds for impoverished communities and children with special needs.

Uniquely, Negreanu is also known for his transparency, regularly publishing detailed annual profit and loss statements for his tournament play. In addition to his poker career, Negreanu remains active in charity initiatives, public speaking, and responsible gaming advocacy, further reinforcing his legacy as not only one of the game’s best, but also one of its most respected voices.

8. Adrián Mateos

Adrián Mateos has cemented his status as one of the world’s premier tournament poker players – and the most successful in Spanish history. As of early 2025, he has accumulated over $52 million in live tournament earnings, driven by consistent deep runs in high-stakes events across the globe. Known for his fearless yet calculated style, Mateos has become a fixture on the elite poker circuit, particularly in the Triton and WSOP series. Originally a student of economics, Mateos left university to pursue poker full-time – a decision that has clearly paid off.

His largest career payday came in 2024, when he finished runner-up in the $200,000 No-Limit Hold’em Eight Max event at the Triton Poker Super High Roller Series in Montenegro, taking home $3.29 million. That same series saw him win the $50,000 8-Handed event for $1.76 million, and he later added a $1.17 million victory at the 2024 Triton Jeju stop. In total, his 2024 results alone included multiple six- and seven-figure scores, such as $985,000 for 11th place in the Triton Million Bracelet Event #2 and $681,554 for 4th place in a $50K High Roller at the 2024 WSOP. At the WSOP, Mateos boasts four bracelets, 69 cashes, 16 final tables, and over $14 million in earnings, showcasing his ability to thrive in both traditional and high roller fields.

Off the tables, Mateos has held sponsorships and ambassador roles with major poker brands and platforms. Mateos is a Winamax ambassador, representing the French online poker platform, which provides him with endorsement income and promotional opportunities.

9. Isaac Haxton

Isaac Haxton has long been regarded as one of the most formidable minds in poker, combining deep theoretical knowledge with elite performance across both tournaments and high-stakes cash games. As of March 2025, he has earned over $51 million in live tournaments, placing him among the top 10 on the all-time money list and solidifying his legacy as one of poker’s most consistent and feared competitors.

Haxton’s biggest tournament win came in 2018, when he captured the $300,000 Super High Roller Bowl title for $3,672,000. He repeated that feat in September 2023, winning another edition of the $300K SHRB for $2.76 million. Other standout results include a $2.52 million runner-up finish in the Aussie Millions A$250K Challenge (2014), and a $1.7 million win in the $25,000 WSOP High Roller (June 2023). At the World Series of Poker, Haxton has amassed 49 cashes, 12 final tables, and secured his first bracelet in 2023. His WSOP earnings total approximately $6 million.

Haxton has been a member of elite poker teams, including Team Full Tilt and has had sponsorship associations with major poker platforms such as GGPoker and PokerStars in the past. These sponsorships provide him with endorsement income and promotional opportunities beyond his winnings.

10. Fedor Holz

Fedor Holz rounds out the top 10 of the world’s richest and most successful poker players, with over $49 million in live tournament earnings, depending on source data. Known for his explosive rise in the mid-2010s, Holz combined elite tournament play with a sharp mind for business, making him one of the most well-rounded figures in professional poker.

His biggest single score came at the 2018 WSOP $1,000,000 Big One for One Drop, where he finished 2nd for $6 million, one of the largest payouts in poker history. He previously won the 2016 $111,111 WSOP High Roller for One Drop for $4.98 million, and that same year took 2nd in the Super High Roller Bowl for $3.5 million, followed by a $3 million victory at the Triton Philippines $200K Super High Roller. His total WSOP haul includes two bracelets – from 2016 and 2020 – and multiple seven-figure finishes across high roller fields. His incredible run in 2016, when he earned over $16 million in a single year, remains one of the most legendary stretches in poker history.

Outside of playing, Holz has shifted significant focus to entrepreneurship and mental performance. He is the founder of Primed Mind, a mental coaching app aimed at helping players, athletes, and professionals optimize focus and decision-making. Holz is also an active philanthropist, donating portions of his winnings to effective altruism causes and other charitable initiatives. He also launched The Pokercode, a poker training platform aimed at building a community and providing high-quality coaching resources, further diversifying his income.

Holz is a GGPoker Ambassador, he has appeared on GGPoker’s content such as the reality competition Game of Gold, enhancing his media presence and sponsorship value. Holz invested in Envy Gaming, the parent company of esports teams Team Envy and Dallas Fuel, becoming a minority owner.

High-stakes Cash Games

High stakes poker cash games represent one of the most intense and exclusive formats in the gambling world. Unlike tournaments, where players pay a fixed buy-in and compete for a share of a prize pool, cash games involve real money on the table at all times, with blinds and stakes that can reach dizzying levels. In this arena, one hand can be worth hundreds of thousands – or even millions – of dollars.

The highest-stakes games are typically private, invite-only affairs held in places like Las Vegas, Macau, or Monte Carlo. Rooms like Bobby’s Room at the Bellagio (now renamed the Legends Room) have hosted legendary sessions featuring blinds as high as $2,000/$4,000. In Asia, nosebleed games in Macau are known for attracting billionaires and top professionals alike, with stakes that often far exceed even those in Las Vegas.

Cash Games in Poker

While official figures from high-stakes cash games are rarely disclosed – especially in private or underground settings – several elite players are widely believed to have earned astronomical sums from them, even if precise numbers remain unverified.

• Tom Dwan, also known as “durrrr,” is arguably the most iconic figure in the world of high-stakes cash games. Dwan’s prowess was on full display in May 2023 when he won a $3.1 million pot on Hustler Casino Live, marking the largest televised poker hand to date. Though exact earnings are unknown, it’s widely believed that Dwan has earned tens of millions of dollars from private games in Macau and Manila, where he regularly played against billionaires and businessmen.
• Dan Bilzerian is often mentioned in discussions about high-stakes cash games, but his case is both controversial and ambiguous. Bilzerian claims to have won over $50 million playing high-stakes private cash games, particularly against wealthy amateurs in the Los Angeles and Hollywood high roller scene.

• Andy Beal, a billionaire banker and amateur mathematician, is renowned for his high-stakes heads-up battles against a group of professional players known as “The Corporation.” These games, held in the early 2000s, featured astronomical stakes, with blinds reaching $100,000/$200,000. Beal’s most notable victory came in 2004 when he won $11.7 million in a single session.
• Paul Phua, a Malaysian businessman and high-stakes poker player, has made a significant impact in the world of high-stakes cash games. Notably, he won a $2.35 million pot against Tom Dwan in 2018, one of the biggest televised cash game pots at the time.​ Beyond his playing career, Phua co-founded the Triton Poker Series, hosting some of the most prestigious high-stakes tournaments globally.
• Patrik Antonius has also built a reputation as a cash game specialist. He played in many of the highest-stakes televised games and was a major force on Full Tilt Poker in its prime. Estimates place his total high-stakes cash game winnings well into the tens of millions, especially from private sessions across Europe and Asia.

Beyond the Poker

The richest poker players in the world have not only mastered the cards – they’ve shaped the game’s highest levels through performance, professionalism, and persistence. Their careers illustrate the vast earning potential that comes with success on the live tournament circuit, where buy-ins stretch into six and seven figures, and payouts can redefine personal and professional fortunes in a single hand.

But the story of poker’s elite doesn’t end with bracelets and televised final tables. Many of these players also compete and profit at the highest echelons of cash games, where the action is often private and the stakes immeasurable. From private rooms in Macau to online high-stakes battles, these formats add another layer of complexity to poker’s global economy.

As the landscape continues to evolve – with digital platforms, training tools, and a new generation of pros on the rise – the wealthiest players in the game remain more than just tournament leaders. They’re business operators, educators, ambassadors, and innovators. Whether through consistent finishes or record-breaking pots, they’ve turned poker into a career – and in many cases, an empire.