Professional poker players at the top of their game can win huge amounts of money. Perhaps with the exception of tennis, poker is the single sport with the greatest earning potential, and the only one whose earnings are accessible even to non-professionals. Whether it’s winning a poker tournament like the World Series of Poker or gambling on poker online, there are many ways to win big in poker.
In this article, we will list Top-5 successful poker players who earned a lot of cash thanks to their skills, endurance and experience.
Sam Farha
Most players will recognize Sam Farha as the man who lost to Chris Moneymaker in the 2003 World Series of Poker. He has won over $2.5 million in poker tournaments, but he has made more poker money with his personality and demeanor at the tables.
This propelled him to the position of spokesman for Harrah’s Las Vegas, and he has appeared in four seasons of High Stakes Poker on the Game Show Network and in the movie Lucky You as himself.
He has written a strategy guide for playing Omaha poker. Sometimes called Mister Cool, he is proof that poker can make you a millionaire, even if you lose to an online poker phenomenon. His $100 million poker winnings rank him first among the best poker players in the world.
Jennifer Harman
The only woman on this list of the world’s best poker players, Jen Harman is a fixture in Las Vegas. Mother of twins, she has won more than $2 million in poker tournaments, but explains that she prefers private games, where she can win more money in a single session without getting tired. Harman starred in the reality show Sin City Rules on TLC and appeared in the movie Lucky You.
She calls poker a hard way to make an easy living and hopes that more women will get in on the action in the future. In 2015, she was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame.
Antonio Esfandiari
With over $22 million in poker tournament earnings, Esfandiari is a powerhouse on the professional poker circuit. A former professional magician, he is known for his elaborate chip tricks, and this is not just to make them multiply at the poker table.
He authored the book The Magician’s Secrets for Winning Tournaments in Insta Poker, a poker strategy game on iOS. Another book he authored is WPT: In The Money. He has also appeared on several poker TV shows, won two World Poker Tour championships, and three World Series of Poker bracelets.
Erik Seidel
This former Wall Street trader turned card pro has won over $5.5 million in poker tournaments, but this is not the beginning of his fame.
In his first major tournament, Erik Seidel ended up playing Johnny Chan in the World Series of Poker Main Event Championship. The hand that Seidel lost is featured in the poker movie Rounders.
Daniel Negreanu
Thanks to his impressive poker skills from an early age, he has the nickname Kid Poker. But Negreanu has won many awards as an adult, with more than $17 million in poker tournament earnings. For his charisma and the invention of the Small Ball, Daniel is considered one of the best poker players of all time.
Not only has he won several World Series of Poker events, but he has also been named player of the year by various organizations and publications. He has appeared in poker TV shows and even blockbusters such as X-Men Origins: Wolverine.