Top Poker Players
Last updated: May 23, 2026
Bios of the biggest names in poker. Three WSOP Main Event champions (Stu Ungar, Doyle Brunson, Johnny Chan). The all-time bracelet leader Phil Hellmuth (17). The Moneymaker effect catalyst. Modern online cash legends (Dwan, Antonius, Blom). High-roller circuit dominators (Bonomo, Kenney, Holz). Each page includes career earnings, key tournaments won, signature playing style, and Hall of Fame status.
Featured Bios
Stu Ungar
3× WSOP Main Event Champion1980, 1981, 1997 — only player to win it three times. Greatest gin rummy player of all time.
Doyle Brunson
10× WSOP BraceletsBack-to-back 1976-77 Main Events. Wrote Super/System (1979).
Johnny Chan
10× WSOP BraceletsBack-to-back Main Events 1987-1988. Rounders movie cameo.
Phil Hellmuth
17× WSOP Bracelets (Record)1989 Main Event champion. 'The Poker Brat.' Most bracelets in history.
Daniel Negreanu
7× WSOP Bracelets$50M+ career earnings. GGPoker ambassador. Famous for hand reading.
Erik Seidel
9× WSOP Bracelets~$45M career. 1988 Main Event runner-up to Chan. Former backgammon pro.
Phil Ivey
10× WSOP BraceletsConsidered greatest all-around poker player of his generation. Edge-sorting scandal subject.
Chris Moneymaker
2003 WSOP Main Event Champion$86 satellite win → $2.5M Main Event. Triggered the Poker Boom.
Tom Dwan (durrrr)
Online Cash Game LegendNosebleed stakes star 2007-2011. Famous Durrrr Challenge vs Antonius and Cates.
Viktor Blom (Isildur1)
Swedish Cash Game LegendFamous $5M weekly swings on Full Tilt 2009. SuperStar Showdown matches.
Patrik Antonius
PLO Master, $13M LiveFinnish former tennis pro. Lost famous $1.36M pot to Dwan in 2009.
Phil Galfond
3× WSOP Bracelets, RIO FounderFounded Run It Once Training. Won 2020 Galfond Challenge series in PLO.
Fedor Holz
$36M Live, Pokercode Co-founderWon $20M+ in 2016 alone. Partially retired at 23. German MTT specialist.
Justin Bonomo
~$60M Career, 3× WSOP Bracelets2018 Big One for One Drop champion ($10M). All-time money list leader.
Bryn Kenney
~$60M Career$20.5M Triton London 2019 runner-up — largest 2nd place prize ever.
Top Women Poker Pros
Vanessa Selbst, Liv Boeree, Jennifer HarmanHighest-earning female players + WSOP bracelet holders.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has won the most WSOP bracelets?
Phil Hellmuth holds the record with 17 WSOP bracelets, ahead of Doyle Brunson (10), Phil Ivey (10), and Johnny Chan (10). Hellmuth has been adding bracelets steadily since his first 1989 Main Event win. The next active player with a realistic chance of reaching 17+ is debated — Daniel Negreanu (7) and Phil Ivey (10) are most often mentioned.
Who is the all-time tournament money leader?
As of 2026, Bryn Kenney and Justin Bonomo trade the #1 spot regularly, both with around $60M+ in live tournament earnings. The list reflects only live tournaments — online winnings and cash game profits (which are private) are not included. Daniel Negreanu sits around $50M+. The high-roller circuit (Triton, Super High Roller Bowl) has compressed the top of the list since 2017.
Who won the most WSOP Main Events?
Three players are tied with 2 WSOP Main Event wins: Doyle Brunson (1976, 1977), Johnny Chan (1987, 1988), and Stu Ungar (1980, 1981). Only Stu Ungar won a third (1997). Johnny Moss won 3 in the 1970s under different formats. No modern player (post-2003) has won the Main Event more than once due to massively expanded fields (8,000-10,000+ entries).
Which players are in the Poker Hall of Fame?
Inductees include: Doyle Brunson (1988), Johnny Chan (2002), Stu Ungar (2001), Phil Hellmuth (2007), Phil Ivey (2017), Daniel Negreanu (2014), Erik Seidel (2010), Doyle Brunson (1988), Chris Ferguson (2017), Carlos Mortensen (2016), Phil Galfond (2025), and dozens more. The Hall is voted by media + previous inductees; one or two new members are added each year.
Which poker player has the best hand reading?
Daniel Negreanu is most often cited for hand reading — he famously narrates likely hole cards during play. Phil Ivey is also widely considered a top reader. Both rely on betting patterns, timing tells, and table image. Modern GTO-trained pros (Fedor Holz, Justin Bonomo) rely less on reads and more on equilibrium strategies, but reading still differentiates the best live players.
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