When it comes to the list of the most popular card games, poker stands above all others. Poker also stands unrivaled in the number of players the game has. According to Real Poker, the card game has over a hundred million players globally. The primary reason poker has such a massive base of players, apart from being an exciting game, is that it offers numerous benefits. It allows players to enhance their concentration levels and teaches discipline. Furthermore, it also facilitates players to improve their social skills. The game’s popularity is not restricted to the orthodox offline mode, i.e., online poker is also thoroughly enjoyed by fans on the Internet.
The poker game online features tons of exciting features such as classic 1v1 mode, different tournament modes, etc. The best part about online poker is that players can access the game conveniently from anywhere as long as they have a smartphone and a stable internet connection. The excitement of playing and competing against different players from around the globe makes online poker very interesting and fun.
Poker is considered to be one of the most profitable sports. However, players need to be exceptional at the game to gain profits by winning games and tournaments. Over the years, many players have become wealthy by playing poker professionally. Here is a list of the richest poker players around the globe:
Antonio Esfandiari
With a net worth of approximately $27 million, Antonio Esfandiari stands as one of the highest-earning poker players. Also known as “The Magician,” the professional player from the U.S. has won 3 World Series of Poker (WSOP) titles and 3 World Poker Tour trophies. In 2018, Esfandiari created history by winning $18 million at the WSOP tournament’s “Big One for One Drop” segment.
Jason Koon
Hailing from the US, Jason Koon had the most fantastic year in 2019 when he added approximately $6 million to his tournament winnings portfolio. The ambassador of the Triton Poker won considerable amounts in multiple short deck games held at the Triton Circuit. He again added to his net worth by clinching third place at the 2021 U.S. Poker Open. For this win, he received approximately $340,000. The net worth of the professional player is around $31.5 million.
Tony G
Antanas Guoga, more commonly known in professional poker as Tony G., is one of the most successful professional players of all time. He has a net worth of approximately $36 million. Besides playing poker, he is famous for establishing successful businesses and indulging in political activities. Even though the player does not have any World Series of Poker titles under his belt, he has won numerous high-paying tournaments, which account for a considerable portion of his net worth.
Dan Smith
Dan Smith managed to rise to the higher ranks in the world of professional poker by winning numerous major tournaments and, as a result, established a whopping net worth of $37 million. In 2012, Smith won the Aussie Millions Poker Championship, followed by a great run at the 2012 EPT-8 in Monte Carlo. Another big win came for Smith in 2016 when he finished second at the WSOP and won a whopping amount of approximately $3 million. In 2018’s WSOP Big One for One Drop segment, Smith acquired the third position and earned around $4 million for this win. Furthermore, he secured third place again at the Triton Million and won around $8.8 million.
Justin Bonomo
Justin Bonomo, a professional player from the U.S., won a massive amount of $10 million at 2018’s World Series of Poker Big One for One Drop segment, which put him on the map as one of the most successful poker players of all time. Bonomo has three WSOP titles and numerous other tournament trophies under his belt. He won the Aria Super High Roller Bowl NLHE event and went home with a $5 million cash prize. Moreover, he also won the Macau Super High Roller Bowl NLHE event and pocketed $4.8 million. Currently, he is one of the richest poker players globally, with a net worth of approximately $53 million.
Bryn Kenney
Bryn Kenney amassed a massive wealth for himself by winning numerous tournaments. The US-based professional player won the maiden World Series of Poker bracelet. Moreover, he won a staggering $20.5 million at the Triton Milton in 2019, the most expensive and extravagant event in the game’s history. Brynn has a whopping net worth of $56 million and is considered one of the world’s richest poker players.
Sam Farha
Sam Farha is one of the few professional players who has a net worth of $100 million and above. He created a gigantic net worth by winning numerous high-paying tournaments. Farha has 3 World Series of Poker titles under his belt, which amounts to a massive amount of his net worth. Besides that, he has also won many other tournaments. In 2003, the Lebanese registered his first major accolade by becoming the runner-up in WSOP’s main event. Besides poker, Farha has also made appearances on the big screen, written books, and invested in businesses.
The professional poker players mentioned above managed to establish massive wealth by competing against other top-tier poker players and winning against them. Besides winnings, other factors such as brand deals, endorsements, and sponsorships also contribute to their net worth.
