10 Most Famous Poker Players
Poker players had not gotten too much attention until 2000s, when the global interest in this game dramatically increased. At that time, prominent players became true celebrities who took over casinos all around the world and were loved by many amateur and professional gamblers. The names of such people shall not be forgotten, as they had a great impact on poker becoming a famous and reputable game that it is today.
Doyle Brunson
Doyle Brunson might be the most popular poker player of all time, having become a living legend back in 2003 thanks to his unmatched skill and competitiveness. The so-called Texas Dolly has won World Series of Poker 10 times, and his two books on the games are a must-read for anyone who wants to take their playing skills onto a new level. Brunson retired from poker in the year 2018, deciding to quit what he had been successfully doing for decades. However, his achievements still inspire worldwide players and have not been matched by any other person yet.
Maria Ho
Maria Ho is one of the most successful and well-known female poker players worldwide. Being a host of some of the biggest tournaments such as Super High Roller Bowl and PokerMasters, she gets plenty of exposure and fame, and her playing skills have given Ho a lot of great wins. At her biggest poker event in 2011, Maria Ho won more than $500,000.
Dan Bilzerian
Dan Bilzerian might not be a living legend in the world of poker, but he is extremely popular on the Internet and represents the new age of gambling. Going viral on social media by showing off his lifestyle and achievements, Bilzerian claims to have earned $50 million on tournaments in just one year, 2014. However, there are no records to prove that, as the blogger mostly participates in private games and has not played in any of the big poker tournaments.
Vanessa Selbst
Vanessa Selbst is the most successful female poker player in the world, and her winnings include $12 million. Selbst started her career in the year 2006 and retired from playing in 2018, although she still occasionally participates in tournaments and events. Her earnings and achievements make Vanessa one of the most popular poker players of the 21st century.
Phil Ivey
Phil Ivey began his poker career as the game’s popularity started to rise in 2006, but Ivey’s media image is still filled with mysteries and allegations. Ivey has appeared at numerous poker tournaments and events, and still, the community does not know much about what he is all about. Some of the rumors surrounding Phil Ivey include illegally playing at casinos being under 21 and multi-million dollar cheating in table games. Whatever the truth is, Phil is one of the most popular and successful poker players all around the world.
Vanessa Rousso
Having stepped into the world of gambling at the peak of the poker boom, Vanessa Rousso is claimed to be one of the symbols of professional poker. Rousso’s career includes plenty of big wins and sponsorships. In total, Vanessa has won more than $3.5 million by participating in poker tournaments, which is a record that has not yet been beaten by many female players in the industry.
Daniel Negreanu
The Canadian poker player has been one of the most well-known players to public for quite a long time, and if there was an award for being the most influential poker player, it would definitely go to Daniel Negreanu. Having started his career in late 1990s, the player has appeared on numerous TV shows and been a prominent partner of the world’s most successful online poker platform, PokerStars. In total, the tournament winnings of Negreanu reach $42 million.
Victoria Coren-Mitchell
This name might not be known to many people in America, but Victoria Coren-Mitchell is one of the most successful players in Europe. She is the first woman to ever win an EPT event, and her earnings reach $2,5 million. Victoria also used to be an affiliate of PokerStars, but she stopped working with them in 2014, when the company decided to enter the market of online entertainment.
Johnny Moss
Johnny Moss was a player who helped make poker what it is today, and he was one of the first people to enter the Poker Hall of Fame. Having won nine bracelets, Moss participated in some of the most important tournaments in the history of the game. Many claim that Johnny was one of the four best poker players of all time.
Annette Obrestad
Annette Obrestad is a Norwegian player whose story is truly fascinating. She claims that she entered the world of gambling with no initial capital, but instead, she saved up by participating in free tournaments. Obrestad is the youngest person to ever win a WSOP bracelet – she did that when she was just 18 years old. After having won millions of euros, Annette decided to leave the world of poker and become a Youtube blogger instead – something she proved to be quite successful at as well.