In spite of the fact that casinos provide a wide variety of exciting table games, poker consistently ranks as the most played card game there. Players at the highest levels of professional poker have won millions, but what about famous people?
Despite their hectic schedules, famous people always make it to play their favorite casino games like Betshah Poker. The best famous poker players have won major tournaments and made much money.
These five famous faces are no slouches regarding the dice and the poker table. Some you’ll recognize, while others could come as a shock. Let’s pay homage to the five greatest poker celebrities by listing their names in order.
Jennifer Tilly
While Jennifer Tilly has been nominated for an Academy Award for acting, she is more well-known for her Poker prowess.
As Tilly’s father had given her a World Series of Poker video game, she had a chance to study the game. Then she took off running.
She earned her first bracelet at the 2005 World Series of Poker in the women’s no-limit Texas hold ’em tournament. With her victory, she earned more than $158,000, making history as the tournament’s first celebrity champion. She earned $25,000 a little over three months later.
That fact alone should be enough to crown her the top female celebrity poker player.
Tilly’s most notable victory was the Bellagio Cup VI in 2010. This was his second major tournament victory after the World Series of Poker in 2005. She entered the $5,000 + 180 No Limit Hold ’em tournament and came away with approximately $125,000. She has not stopped playing in the World Series of Poker, where she has already won over $30,000.
Anyone would be justified in wondering whether acting or poker was her initial calling. You can’t deny Tilly’s casino success, at the very least. She’s made a fortune in the poker game.
Ben Affleck
Affleck’s acting and directing have garnered him numerous accolades. Affleck has also been a successful poker player as an actor, amassing a large fortune.
When Affleck first started winning at casinos, he focused on blackjack. In 2001, Affleck won $800,000 at the blackjack table. Both Annie Duke and Amir Vahedi were instrumental in teaching him the game of Poker.
Affleck, however, does not fit this description. See how the top players fared at the 2004 California State Poker Championship.
Affleck competed against high-stakes poker pros and came out on top, winning more than $350,000. That’s a lot of chips, even for a professional poker player like a famous person. The one downer is that he only played in two actual poker tournaments.
Affleck was a major player in Molly Bloom’s clandestine Poker games, just like Tobey Maguire was.
Even if Affleck doesn’t play in many live poker tournaments, he has easily won over $1 million.
Tobey Maguire
Because of his performance as Spider-Man, Tobey Maguire is a household name. Maybe you haven’t heard, but Tobey Maguire is a top-tier celebrity poker player.
A 2004 attempt at poker was Maguire’s first foray into the game. He fostered Maguire’s growth, and the actor eventually became a member of the A-list poker group.
In just his first two tournaments, he pocketed nearly $20,000.
Despite his disappointing showing in the first tournament, Maguire went on to win the 2004 National Championship of Poker, his lone professional tournament triumph to date. In 2005, he won over $30,000 at four live poker tournaments.
Maguire earned about $40,000 in total. The sum of his earnings was $218,000.
His participation in Molly’s Game is arguably the most noteworthy facet of his Poker resume.
Matt Damon
Because he has had such widespread success, it is difficult to single out any particular role Matt Damon played. His appearance in the 1998 film Rounders is well-known among poker players.
Damon entered the World Series of Poker for the first time that year. Damon was eliminated from the tournament by “Texas Dolly” Doyle Brunson. Even though Damon’s presence was probably staged for promotional purposes, it launched his professional poker career.
In fact, prior to his success at the 2011 World Poker Championships, he had never won any money professionally. Damon joined the $250 No Limit Hold ’em – Deepstack Bounty. He may have only placed 45th, but that was good enough to earn him $540.
Although Damon’s professional Poker career has been somewhat quiet lately, he almost certainly continues to toil away unseen. I’m sure he’s racking up more victories with other A-listers. Many actors enjoy a good poker game, and he is no exception.
Damon is not just a top actor but also a top celebrity poker player. Check out his ranking among movie poker players to see where he stands.
Jason Alexander
On Seinfeld, Alexander portrayed George Costanza. His breakout role on Seinfeld, among many others, propelled him to fame.
Around the middle of the millennium, Alexander started competing in celebrity poker events.
Alexander participated in multiple seasons and won the final table in the ninth season. Alexander was able to donate $500,000 to the organization of his choice.
In 2007 and 2009, he competed in the World Series of Poker.
While his professional resume may not be as impressive as some of his peers, Alexander does have a lengthy history of Poker success. His annual salary from his job is barely about $30,000.
After an eight-year absence from professional competition, he returned in 2018.
Alexander is arguably the best celebrity poker player because he consistently places first in tournaments. If he plays in additional tournaments, he can rise in the rankings.