It’s impossible to tally up who the highest earners or top performers are in the poker world. Sure, we have sites that cover live tournament winnings, but there’s a lot of data we miss. The private cash games in Vegas, high-roller tables in Asia, and the countless online games running every minute of the day.

We’ve collected some of the greatest poker minds, based on their reputation and notoriety, not necessarily their earnings. There’s no hierarchy to this list, just five legends of the game.

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Justin Bonomo is known for poker prowess, over $63 million in live earnings, but also distinctive hair colors and an unflinching poker face. Bonomo's success at the tables is undeniable, with a long record of major wins (including a $10 million prize at The Big One for One Drop at the WSOP).

The top spot on the All Time Money List was Bonomo’s for a long time, but recently, he gave 1st place to Bry Kenney.

His poker journey truly began when he was featured at a televised final table in 2005, at the age of 19. He’s been a polarizing figure ever since.

Around 2006, Bonomo, under the screen name "ZeeJustin," was banned from PokerStars for engaging in this prohibited activity. Despite being banned, Bonomo later confessed to his actions, apologized, and was eventually reinstated.

5 Largest Tournament Payouts:

  • $10,000,000 – 1st place in The Big One for One Drop in 2018.
  • $5,000,000 – 1st place at the Vegas Super High Roller Bowl in 2018.
  • $4,823,077 – 1st place at the Super High Roller Bowl China, in Macau in 2018.
  • $4,135,129 – 1st place at the Triton Poker Super High Roller Series in 2019.
  • $3,248,728 – 1st place in the Triton Short Deck Main Event in 2019.
Everything you need to know about Justin Bonomo
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Phillip Jerome Hellmuth Jr., also known as the "Poker Brat," is famous not only for his record 16 World Series of Poker gold bracelets but also for his volatile personality and frequent outbursts at the poker table.

The Poker Brat won the WSOP Main Event in 1989 at the age of 24 and has been around the game for over 35 years.

Hellmuth's controversies extend beyond the felt, including giving one of his WSOP bracelets to Greg Pierson, an executive involved in the Ultimate Bet cheating scandal. Despite these controversies, Hellmuth's skill and longevity in the game are respected.

His most impressive victories include his first WSOP Main Event title in 1989, which catapulted him into the spotlight. Another standout win was his 2012 WSOP Europe Main Event victory, which made him the only player to win both the WSOP and WSOP Europe Main Events.

5 Largest Tournament Payouts:

  • $2,645,333 – 4th place in The Big One for One Drop in 2012.
  • $1,600,000 – 4th place in the High Roller Super Bowl in 2016.
  • $1,333,841 – 1st place in the World Series Of Poker Europe in 2012.
  • $1,063,034 – 2nd place in the 42nd World Series Of Poker in 2011.
  • $803,818 – 1st place in the 54th World Series of Poker in 2023.

Timofey Kuznetsov, better known by his online alias "TrueTeller," is a Russian poker prodigy who has made a name for himself both in high-stakes online cash games and live tournaments. He’s even been called “The Messi of Poker” and began playing around 2001, making his career far shorter than others on this list.

We’ve written about TrueTeller’s work ethic in the past, which must be a big contributor to his success.

Kuznetsov's secretive early career and sudden rise to the top of professional poker have made him a fascinating figure. His strategic mind and fearless play have earned him respect among the high-stakes community, and he's considered one of the toughest opponents to face off against.

Kuznetsov's transition from online anonymity to live tournament success has been seamless. One of his most notable scores was at the 2019 Triton Poker Super High Roller Series, where he took down the Short Deck Main Event for a cool $1.8 million. He's also made waves in the Super High Roller Bowl, proving he can hang with the best in both cash games and tournaments. For a while, he was partypoker’s ambassador.

5 Largest Tournament Payouts:

  • $2,150,000 – 4th place in the Super High Roller Bowl in 2015.
  • $1,724,185 – 1st place in the Triton Poker Super High Roller Series in 2019.
  • $1,200,000 – 1st place in the partypoker MILLIONS Super High Roller Series in 2020.
  • $1,015,645 – 7th place in the Les Ambassadeurs Short Deck event in 2019.
  • $804,335 – 4th place in the Triton Poker Super High Roller Series in 2019.
4.9
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Overview of Partypoker Registration

Daniel Negreanu, one of professional poker's most recognizable faces, has had his share of controversies alongside his numerous achievements.

His success, including multiple WSOP bracelets and a victory in the 45th World Series of Poker for his biggest career win of over $8.2 million, cements his status as one of the best of all time. To pair with that, Daniel is always close to the top of the All Time Money List.

After around 30 years in the poker world, he’s become an ambassador for GGPoker, but primarily for the sport of poker.

Negreanu is no stranger to controversy, often finding himself in high-profile beef with fellow players. His public disputes with Doug Polk and Matt Berkey, among others, have been well-documented, ranging from disagreements over poker ethics to personal jabs on social media.

Despite these conflicts, Negreanu's passion for the game and advocacy for player rights have made him a beloved figure in the poker community. His contributions to poker strategy and his willingness to engage with fans have made him an ambassador for the game, and he maintains a very active YouTube channel.

5 Largest Tournament Payouts:

  • $8,288,001 – 2nd place in The Big One for One Drop in 2014.
  • $3,312,000 – 1st in the PokerGO Tour – PGT Super High Roller Bowl VII in 2022.
  • $3,000,000 – 2nd place in the Super High Roller Bowl in 2018.
  • $1,770,218 – 1st place in the Five-Diamond World Poker Classic in 2004.
  • $1,725,838 – 2nd place in the 50th World Series of Poker in 2019.
4.9
GGPoker is a Hold’em and Omaha focused site on the Good Game Network. Offering a broad range of playing formats such as Randomised Sit & Gos, All-in or Fold, and 6+ Short Deck as well as fast cash games, and a plethora of tournament series including: GGMasters, Multi Millions and Bounty Hunters.
Overview of GGPoker Registration

Phil Ivey's poker achievements, including multiple WSOP bracelets and high-stakes cash game victories, remain unparalleled. Some players, like Phil, become the first names that we think of when asked about poker.

He’s always been one of the most exciting to watch and seems to be a well-studied professional, even after about 30 years of playing. By now, he’s amassed over $41 million in live tournament earnings.

 

Even though Phillip Dennis Ivey Jr. is often regarded as one of the greatest all-around players in the history of poker, he’s not been immune to controversy. Most notably, he was involved in high-profile legal battles over "edge sorting" in baccarat at casinos in London and Atlantic City. Ivey won millions using this technique, which involves identifying minor imperfections on the backs of playing cards to gain an advantage. The casinos accused him of cheating, leading to lawsuits and a debate over the nature of advantage play versus cheating.

These incidents have added a layer of intrigue, making Ivey even more polarizing to the poker community.

5 Largest Tournament Payouts:

  • $3,582,753 – 1st place in the Aussie Millions Poker Championship in 2014.
  • $2,058,948 – 1st place in the Aussie Millions Poker Championship in 2012.
  • $1,710,854 – 1st place in the Aussie Millions Poker Championship in 2015.
  • $1,666,480 – 3rd place in the Triton Poker Super High Roller Series in 2018.
  • $1,596,100 – 1st place in the LA Poker Classic in 2008.