The wealthiest gamblers in the world
If you’ve read any of our previous articles, there’s a good chance that you’re familiar with some of the most successful blackjack players in the world. These have been professional players who have mastered the game and turned this into significant sums of money. What about other gamblers though and those who play games beyond blackjack? What about those with huge bankrolls but who don’t necessarily win? Let´s take a look at the the wealthiest gamblers. Read on.
We’re going to take a look at the 10 richest gamblers ever. Yes, these players have enjoyed blackjack but along with this, they have also enjoyed the likes of poker, craps, baccarat and horse racing. Some have frittered away more than they’ve won but they’re so wealthy this has caused them little concern. Keen to learn more? Read on.
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1) Bill Benter – The wealthiest gamblers
Born in Pennsylvania, Bill Benter has a net worth of $1 billion. His journey into professional gambling began, like many others, in Vegas. Before this, he had a great education and graduated with a degree in physics. Indeed, it was his knowledge of maths that gave him a boost in his early playing days, especially when it came to calculating the probability involved with games of blackjack. Benter was actually so good at blackjack that many casinos went on to ban him.
With a focus now on horse racing, it’s believed that Benter is making around $100 million a year with his gambling exploits. At single-day races, he reportedly wins around $10 million a time and that’s why he’s the wealthiest gambler on the planet.
2) Edward Thorp
With his focus being on the games of baccarat and blackjack, Thorp has an estimated net worth of $800 million. As an author and a professor in mathematics, he seems to have had the perfect background for success in blackjack.
After making a fortune at casinos, and becoming one of the richest gamblers of all time, Thorp then switched his attention. He used his mathematical skills on Wall Street by predicting market anomalies. Thorp is renowned as a gambling genius and that’s why he took a place in the Blackjack Hall of Fame.
3) Billy Walters
Walters, with a net worth of $250 million, places his focus on the sports betting market rather than on casino games. While people had long known that sports betting, when done correctly, could be extremely profitable, Walters is seen as being living proof of this.
It hasn’t all been plain sailing for Walters though. Having made millions from his own sports betting company, he was later jailed for 5 years after being found guilty of insider trading. With his release from prison coming back in 2020, he was pardoned by the then President, Donald Trump.
4) Phil Ivey
If you’re looking for an example of how wealth can be created by playing poker then Ivey is the man to place your attention on. With a net worth of $100 million, the California-born player is one of the wealthiest casino professionals around.
When it comes to his winnings, he has amassed over $26 million by playing in live tournaments. However, it’s also interesting to note that he has also won several million dollars by playing online. His skills at the table have seen him being the World Series of Poker champion no less than 10 times.
5) Chris Ferguson
Another inspirational poker player, Ferguson is worth an impressive $80 million. His poker-playing journey began in his childhood and it was during the mid-90s that his name began to be recognised in numerous poker tournaments. It was 1995 when Ferguson first competed in the World Series.
As well as being a top poker player, Ferguson has a whole host of other skills and means of entertaining. It’s not unknown for him to throw cards so fast that they will slice through fruit and vegetables!
6) Doyle Brunson
It appears that poker may well be the game of choice for the wealthiest gamblers in the world as here we have another player, this time with a net worth of $75 million. With over 50 years of playing experience, this Texan-born pro has played in almost every single WSOP since it was created.
Keen to share the skills that led to his winning ways, Brunson is also an author. With his guide to poker first released back in 1979, it was brought up to date during the mid-2000s. This book, Super/System 2, is well worth a read if you enjoy a hand of poker yourself.
7) Howard Lederer
Worth around the $60 million mark, Lederer is another professional poker player who has experienced great success. As well as being a great player himself, Lederer is also known as the co-founder of Tiltware, the company behind the online casino Full Tilt Poker.
Having won numerous times himself, Lederer can now be found providing commentary for an array of poker tournaments.
8) Daniel Negreanu – The wealthiest gamblers
Negreanu has a net worth of $60 million and is one of the most recognisable names in today’s poker scene. As well as being a pretty amazing player, he is also known as being a great guy and that’s what makes him so popular.
With 148 money finishes in the World Series of Poker, it’s hardly surprising that he makes it onto the list of wealthiest gamblers. As a player long before the chance existed to master the game online, Negreanu simply played at every opportunity that he could while growing up in Toronto.
9) Jonathan Duhamel – The wealthiest gamblers
Worth $32 million, Duhamel is a poker player from Canada. His main claim to fame is his win at the Main Event back during the 2010 World Series of Poker. This saw him banking over $8 million and becoming the first Canadian to win the bracelet.
10) Patrik Antonius – The wealthiest gamblers
It’s the game of poker again that has led to a fortune here. With a net worth of $25 million, Antonius is referred to as the “cold-blooded killer” With wins in 2022, he has already netted around $700,000 with 2 months before the year ends.
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