Big One for One Drop
Last updated: May 26, 2026
The Big One for One Drop is a $1,000,000 buy-in WSOP super high roller event — $111,111 from each entry goes directly to the One Drop Foundation, Guy Laliberté's clean-water charity. Four editions have been held: 2012 (Antonio Esfandiari, $18,346,673 — the largest single tournament prize at the time), 2014 (Daniel Colman, $15,306,668), 2018 (Justin Bonomo, $10,000,000), and 2024 (Joao Vieira).
Fields have ranged 15–56 players — constrained by the million-dollar entry. Across all editions, approximately $25M+ has been raised for One Drop's global water and sanitation projects. The event is broadcast on PokerGO and consistently produces the largest single tournament prizes in poker history.
Event History: All Four Editions
| Year | Buy-in | Prize Pool | Players | Winner | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | $1,000,000 | $18,346,673 | 48 | Antonio Esfandiari | All-time largest prize at time; defeated Sam Trickett HU |
| 2014 | $1,000,000 | $15,306,668 | 42 | Daniel Colman | Colman refused interviews; controversial post-win statement |
| 2018 | $1,000,000 | $10,000,000 | 28 | Justin Bonomo | Propelled Bonomo to all-time money lead; beat Fedor Holz HU |
| 2024 | $1,000,000 | ~$5,000,000+ | ~15-20 | Joao Vieira | Smaller field; WSOP continuing event series post-Paris move |
One Drop Foundation — Charity Mission
The One Drop Foundation was founded in 2007 by Guy Laliberté, the co-founder of Cirque du Soleil, as a personal charitable initiative focused on clean-water access. Laliberté famously paid $35M to visit the International Space Station in 2009 as a space tourist — the trip doubled as a fundraising and awareness campaign for One Drop, with Laliberté conducting video calls from orbit about global water poverty.
The $111,111 structure of each Big One buy-in was deliberately designed — the 1s and 1s representing unity, a visual symbol of the interconnected global community the charity serves. One Drop operates programs in Central America (Nicaragua, Honduras), West Africa (Mali, Burkina Faso), India, and Morocco, partnering with local governments and NGOs to build sustainable water infrastructure rather than one-time aid packages.
By partnering with WSOP for the Big One series, Laliberté accomplished multiple goals simultaneously: raising funds, increasing global awareness of water access issues among the affluent poker community, and creating a prestigious event that gave wealthy amateurs a legitimate reason to put up $1M for a poker entry. The structure elegantly aligned incentives — pros wanted the prize pool, amateurs wanted the experience and status, and the charity received a guaranteed, predictable income stream from each edition.
Players Who Have Competed Multiple Times
The Big One's exclusive field naturally creates a recurring cast of players — those with both the bankroll and competitive standing to justify a $1M investment. Several faces have appeared across multiple editions.
| Player | Editions | Notable Result |
|---|---|---|
| Antonio Esfandiari | 2012, 2014 | Won 2012 for $18.3M; ITM again 2014 |
| Phil Ivey | 2012, 2014, 2018 | Multiple appearances; deep runs but no win |
| Daniel Negreanu | 2012, 2014, 2018 | Multiple entries; 2012 partially backed by Phil Ruffin (7%) |
| Phil Ruffin | 2012, 2014 | Las Vegas casino billionaire; bought action in other players |
| Justin Bonomo | 2018 | Won 2018 for $10M; temporarily propelled to all-time money lead |
| Tom Dwan | 2012, 2014 | Appeared in both early editions; well-known for deep pockets and action |
| Sam Trickett | 2012 | Runner-up to Esfandiari for $10,112,001 — the second-largest tournament prize at the time |
Definitions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Big One for One Drop?
A $1,000,000 buy-in WSOP super high roller tournament benefiting the One Drop Foundation, a clean-water charity founded by Cirque du Soleil's Guy Laliberté. From each $1M entry, $111,111 is donated directly to One Drop. First held in 2012, the event has produced the three largest first-place prizes in poker history. Across its editions it has raised approximately $25M+ for global water access projects.
Who has won the Big One for One Drop?
Four editions to date: 2012 — Antonio Esfandiari defeated Sam Trickett heads-up for $18,346,673 (still one of the largest single tournament prizes ever). 2014 — Daniel Colman won $15,306,668; the win became controversial because Colman refused post-game interviews to protest poker's promotion. 2018 — Justin Bonomo defeated Fedor Holz for $10,000,000, propelling Bonomo to the all-time money lead. 2024 — the event returned at WSOP with a smaller field; Joao Vieira captured the title.
How much does the One Drop Foundation actually receive?
$111,111 from each $1M buy-in is donated directly to One Drop — roughly 11.1% of every entry. With historical fields of 42-56 players, each edition has generated $4M–$6M+ in charitable donations. Across the 2012, 2014, 2018, and 2024 editions, total contributions to One Drop are estimated above $25M. Funds support clean-water and sanitation projects across Latin America, Africa, and India.
Who plays in a $1 million buy-in event?
A mix of elite tournament pros and wealthy amateurs (businessmen who can absorb the entry). Pros: Phil Hellmuth, Phil Ivey, Daniel Negreanu, Tom Dwan, Justin Bonomo, Fedor Holz, Antonio Esfandiari. Amateurs: Guy Laliberté himself, real-estate billionaire Phil Ruffin (who bought 7% of Daniel Negreanu's 2012 action), various hedge-fund and casino executives. Fields stay small (42-56 players) because of the buy-in scale.
Where can I watch the Big One for One Drop?
PokerGO streams the event. The 2012 edition aired on ESPN as part of WSOP coverage. Final tables are typically broadcast with hole-card cameras and full commentary. Notable moments include Esfandiari's heads-up victory over Sam Trickett (2012) and Bonomo's win over Fedor Holz (2018). Archived episodes remain available on PokerGO's subscription platform.
What was controversial about the 2014 Big One?
Daniel Colman's 2014 win generated controversy when he refused to do post-game media interviews, give a winner's quote, or appear cheerful about his $15.3M victory. He later posted on Facebook that he did not want to promote the poker lifestyle, citing concerns about gambling addiction and the industry's ethics. His refusal drew strong reactions from the poker community — some praised his principle, others criticized him for disrespecting WSOP/sponsor media obligations that the event relies on for viability. It remains one of the most-discussed post-win moments in modern poker history.
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