What Do Poker Champions Spend Their Prize Money On?
Becoming a professional poker player has many risks, but when you play your cards right, it can be an incredibly lucrative career. Some of the biggest poker tournaments have impressive prize pools, and the winners take home millions of dollars.
In 2023, the World Series of Poker (WSOP) prize pool stood at around $93 million, and the champion, Daniel Weinman, won a record-breaking $12.1 million. So it goes without saying a lot of money is up for grabs in poker, and winnings can be life-changing for the victors. However, with great earnings comes many ways to splurge, and different poker pros have a variety of expensive interests they invest in with the wealth they’ve grown over the years. So, without further ado, here’s what some poker champions spend their prize money on:
Chris Moneymaker
Credit: @cmoneym21 on Instagram
Chris Moneymaker’s WSOP Main Event victory in 2003 marked a revolution in poker, becoming the first person to win a world championship after qualifying through an online poker tournament. His win helped usher in a poker boom, thanks to his unique backstory and the widespread coverage. While he never replicated that massive success, it gave him a stable career, and he has amassed $4 million in career live tournament earnings since then. He’s still passionate about promoting poker and stays true to his online poker roots.
In 2021, he became an ambassador for Americas Cardroom, drawing more eyes to the ever-evolving online scene. Moneymaker often spends his winnings on traveling the world and has played live tournaments in every continent, earning some of his biggest wins in places like England, Montenegro, and the Bahamas, but he also enjoys vacationing for leisure. He likes going on cruises in Alaska, which he cites as the best vacation he’s been on.
Aside from traveling, he also invests in other poker ventures. In 2023, he launched the MoneyMaker Tour, a poker tournament series with low- to mid-stakes buy-ins, and he also works to support female participation in poker.
Jonathan Tamayo
Credit: @louisgrassephotos on Instagram
Jonathan Tamayo surprised even himself after winning the WSOP Main Event in 2024, rallying from seventh place in the final table and smashing his previous best tournament placement at 21st. The victory earned him $10 million, but he wasn’t quick to splurge on high-end luxury items like others probably would.
The first purchase he made after his win was quite an unconventional one: a 10lb box of lemon Jelly Belly jellybeans. Though it’s not a luxury purchase, it’s not unlike the other indulgent investments other players may make. He also decided to upgrade his golf kit with a new set of clubs. Our “How Do You Choose the Perfect Putter?” post highlights how choosing the right clubs, like a putter, can make a difference in a golfer’s game, so his upgrade will be a great addition. He mentioned that he was due to replace some of his clubs but decided to go all out and switch the ones he hadn’t replaced in some time.
Despite the big winnings, Tamayo stays grounded and doesn’t try to lead a life of opulence. He doesn’t feel the need to splurge on life’s vices and sticks to spending on items and treats he knows he’ll enjoy.
Daniel Negreanu
Credit: @dnegspoker on Instagram
Daniel Negreanu is regarded as one of the best poker players in the world by many, and his seven WSOP bracelets and two World Poker Tour Championship titles prove that. As a legend in the poker world with massive earnings, it’s no surprise he spends his prize money on luxurious things. High-end cars are often a go-to purchase for many pokers pros, and Negreanu is no exception.
A few years ago, he purchased a red Tesla Model S, which fellow poker player Landon Tice now owns. He now owns a Tesla Model X in midnight silver metallic, and it even has a customized ‘DNEGS’ license plate. Tesla is one of the most notable names today in the world of luxury cars. Teslas aren’t cheap, but Daniel Negreanu’s impressive winnings allow him to enjoy and maintain this expensive hobby.
Phil Hellmuth
Credit: @philhellmuthpositivity on Instagram
While many poker players spend their winnings on personal investments and ventures, Phil Hellmuth often gives back to communities through philanthropic efforts. He’s raised around $54 million for various charities, halfway to his lifetime goal of $100 million. He often participates, emcees, or arranges poker tournaments for various causes and charities, including One Drop Charity, which aims to help solve the water and climate crises, and the non-profit research and treatment center for cancer City of Hope. He also contributes some of his own earnings to foundations and charities he’s passionate about. Alongside other philanthropists and poker stars, Hellmuth is a board member of the Charity Series of Poker, which is a non-profit company that organizes and promotes charity poker tournaments and other events that raise money and awareness for charities and causes.
While the wealth that can be earned from poker allows many to live in luxury, Hellmuth recognizes how impactful the funds can be for uplifting communities.
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