Poker is one of the most popular gambling games in the world, allowing players to compete for huge sums of money in high-pressure situations. While luck plays a big part in the game, skill easily trumps it in the long run, allowing truly great players to repeatedly appear on the final tables of huge tournaments.
In this article, we will examine the richest poker players as of 2024 by their tournament winnings.
List of the richest poker players in 2024:
Bryn Kenney: $66.5 million
Justin Bonomo: $64.1 million
Stephen Chidwick: $59.2 million
Jason Koon: $58.0 million
Mikita Bodyakovsky: $55.6 million
Dan Smith: $55.1 million
Daniel Negreanu: $53.9 million
Isaac Haxton: $49.1 million
Adrian Mateos: $48.7 million
Erik Seidel: $46.7 million
Related: Best Bitcoin & Crypto Poker Sites
The richest poker players in 2024
In the following sections, we will list the most successful poker players of all time and look into their notable achievements.
1. Bryn Kenney
Bryn Kenney has built a remarkable career in both live and online poker tournaments, accumulating millions in winnings over the years. Kenney's rise to fame began in the early 2010s, with several significant cashes in major tournaments. His breakthrough came in 2017 when he won the PokerStars Championship Super High Roller in Monte Carlo, earning over $1.9 million.
One of Kenney's most notable achievements is his performance in the Triton Million for Charity event held in London in 2019. This high-stakes tournament featured a 7-figure buy-in of £1,050,000 ($1,273,200), making it one of the most expensive poker tournaments ever. Kenney finished in second place but took home a staggering $20.6 million, thanks to a deal made during heads-up play.
Total Tournament Winnigs $66,527,930 Largest Tournament Win $20,563,324 (2nd in Triton Million for Charity) Winnings in the Past 6 Months - Nationality United States
2. Justin Bonomo
Justin Bonomo's journey in poker began at a young age, and he quickly established himself as a formidable player in both online and live tournaments. His early success came in 2005 when, at just 19 years old, he became the youngest player to make a televised final table at the European Poker Tour (EPT) event in Deauville, France.
One of his most notable successes occurred in 2018, a year often referred to as his "super year." During this period, he won multiple high-stakes tournaments, including the Super High Roller Bowl China for $4.8 million, the Super High Roller Bowl in Las Vegas for $5 million, and the Big One for One Drop at the World Series of Poker (WSOP), where he secured a staggering 8-figure victory good for $10 million first-place prize.
Total Tournament Winnigs $64,114,594 Largest Tournament Win $10,000,000 (1st in WSOP Big One for One Drop) Winnings in the Past 6 Months - Nationality United States
3. Stephen Chidwick
Stephen Chidwick's playing style is characterized by his analytical approach and exceptional reading of the game. He is known for his ability to adapt to different formats and opponents, making him a versatile and highly strategic player. He is regarded by many as one of the best tournament players of all time.
One of Chidwick's most notable achievements is his performance at the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) 2019, where he appeared on final tables in three high-roller events in a row. That same year, he won the overall U.S. Poker Open 2019 championship by securing multiple event titles and cashes.
Total Tournament Winnigs $59,186,554 Largest Tournament Win $5,368,947 (4th in Triton Million for Charity) Winnings in the Past 6 Months $4,188,232 Nationality United Kingdom
4. Jason Koon
Jason Koon's journey into poker began during his college years, where he initially played online poker while studying at West Virginia Wesleyan College. His early successes online provided the foundation for a transition to live tournaments, where he quickly made a name for himself with several notable cashes and deep runs.
In addition to being a very strong tournament player, Koon is also a formidable force in the cash game streets, regularly battling some of the best cash players in the world at the highest stakes.
Total Tournament Winnigs $58,018,908 Largest Tournament Win $3,579,836 (1st in Triton Short Deck Ante Only) Winnings in the Past 6 Months $2,256,800 Nationality United States
5. Mikita Bodyakovsky
Mikita Bodyakovsky is known for his ability to remain calm under pressure and make precise, calculated decisions. His adaptability and strategic mindset have made him a formidable opponent in various poker formats, including No-Limit Hold'em and Pot-Limit Omaha. Despite regularly playing for millions of dollars, he often has an easy-going demeanor, joking with other players and generally being quite friendly.
He started playing online poker when he was just a teenager under the nickname “fish2013”. While his cash game winnings from online poker aren’t public, his appearances in TV cash games are. Bodyakovsky won $1.7 million playing on live streams in just 47 hours, which puts his hourly at a whopping $36,000.
Total Tournament Winnigs $55,619,583 Largest Tournament Win $7,114,500 (1st in Big One for One Drop) Winnings in the Past 6 Months $4,761,967 Nationality Belarus
6. Dan Smith
Dan Smith's poker journey began in his teenage years when he discovered his passion for the game. He quickly transitioned from online poker to live tournaments, where his skill and strategic acumen led to early successes. One of his breakthrough moments came in 2012 when he won the EPT Barcelona Super High Roller for €962,925 (approximately $1.17 million). This victory established him as a formidable player in the international poker circuit.
Throughout his career, Smith has amassed an array of notable achievements. He has won multiple titles across various poker tours, including the World Series of Poker, where he has secured several high-stakes cashes and final table appearances. His success is not limited to live tournaments; he has also excelled in online poker, demonstrating his versatility and deep understanding of different poker formats.
Total Tournament Winnigs $55,080,565 Largest Tournament Win $8,765,628 (3rd in Triton Million for Charity) Winnings in the Past 6 Months $2,641,999 Nationality United States
7. Daniel Negreanu
Daniel Negreanu is a legendary figure in the world of poker, known for his remarkable achievements and substantial earnings, making him one of the richest poker players as of 2024. Negreanu has enjoyed a storied career that spans over two decades, during which he has become one of the most recognizable and influential personalities in the poker community.
Negreanu's rise to prominence began in the late 1990s. After moving to Las Vegas to pursue a professional poker career, he quickly made his mark by winning his first World Series of Poker bracelet in 1998 at the age of 23, becoming the youngest bracelet winner at that time. Throughout his career, Negreanu has won six WSOP bracelets and two World Poker Tour titles.
Total Tournament Winnigs $53,898,812 Largest Tournament Win $8,288,001 (2nd in the WSOP Big One for One Drop) Winnings in the Past 6 Months $1,883,511 Nationality Canada
8. Isaac Haxton
Isaac Haxton's journey into the world of poker began during his college years at Brown University, where he initially studied computer science. He discovered online poker and quickly demonstrated a natural talent for the game. His first major success came in 2007 when he finished second in the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) Main Event, earning $861,789.
Haxton's playing style is characterized by his analytical approach and deep understanding of game theory. He is known for his ability to make precise, calculated decisions, often outmaneuvering his opponents with his strategic insights. His expertise extends across various poker formats, including No-Limit Hold'em, Pot-Limit Omaha, and mixed games, showcasing his versatility and adaptability.
Total Tournament Winnigs $49,139,984 Largest Tournament Win $3,672,000 (1st in Super High Roller Bowl V) Winnings in the Past 6 Months - Nationality United States
9. Adrian Mateos
Throughout his career, Mateos has accumulated numerous prestigious titles and significant cashes. He has won four World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelets, showcasing his versatility and skill across various poker formats.
Mateos' playing style is characterized by his aggressive approach and keen ability to read opponents. He is known for his fearlessness at the table, often making bold moves that put pressure on his competitors. As of 2024, Adrian Mateos' career earnings have surpassed $48 million, making him one of the winningest poker players in history. He is currently in incredible form, holding a significant lead over other players in terms of winnings in the last 6 months.
Total Tournament Winnigs $48,736,108 Largest Tournament Win $3,292,000 (2nd in Triton Poker Super High Roller) Winnings in the Past 6 Months $9,410,275 Nationality Spain
10. Erik Seidel
Erik Seidel is a legendary figure in the world of poker, known for his remarkable achievements and long-standing success. Seidel's journey into poker began in the 1980s after a successful stint as a stock market trader. His transition to poker was seamless, and he quickly made a name for himself in the poker community.
Throughout his career, Seidel has accumulated numerous prestigious titles and accolades. He has won nine WSOP bracelets, demonstrating his versatility and skill across a wide range of poker variants. His WSOP victories span from his first bracelet in 1992 to his latest in 2021, showcasing his enduring presence and competitiveness in the game.
Total Tournament Winnigs $46,728,922 Largest Tournament Win $2,472,555 (1st Aussie Millions Super High Roller) Winnings in the Past 6 Months $1,005,353 Nationality United States
The bottom line
The winningest poker players have accumulated massive amounts of winnings over the past couple of decades. However, it must be noted that the winnings don’t include tournament buy-ins, which makes it borderline impossible to know how much money poker players actually made at the tables and even more impossible to know about investments outside of poker.
If you are interested in poker but don’t know how to get started, consider checking out our poker cheat sheet, which covers all the basics, from hands and ranges to odds and strategies.
