Best Poker Players of All Time

Trying to rank the best poker players of all time sounds simple—until you actually sit down and try to do it. With decades of poker history, countless tournament wins, and iconic moments on and off the felt, there’s a lot to consider.

Should the top spot go to the player with the most money won? The most WSOP bracelets? Or the one who dominated his era with skill, swagger, and staying power? Everyone has an opinion—and that’s what makes this so fun.

So rather than just listing players by their all-time money list rankings, we looked at the whole picture: total winnings, consistency, the level of competition they faced, and their impact on the game. We even threw in a little context from each era, because let’s be real—what it took to be great in the ’70s isn’t the same as what it takes now.

Here’s our take on the greatest poker players ever—the legends who made the game what it is today.

Bryn Kenney – $65 Million (USA)

Bryn Kenney currently sits at the top of the tournament money list with over $65 million in live poker earnings. But he’s not just a stats guy—Kenney is the real deal when it comes to high-pressure, high-stakes play.

His breakout came in 2019 at the Triton Poker Super High Roller in London, where he cashed for an eye-popping $20.5 million. That score, combined with dozens of other final tables and deep runs, solidified his spot in poker’s elite.

Kenney’s game is sharp, aggressive, and fearless. Whether it’s the World Poker Tour, the World Series of Poker, or private high roller events in Las Vegas, if Bryn’s in the mix, you know something big is going down.

Justin Bonomo – $62 Million (USA)

Justin Bonomo is one of the smartest minds in poker. With $62 million in tournament winnings, he’s not far behind Kenney—and some would argue he’s even more dominant at the felt.

2018 was Bonomo’s insane run: he won the $300K Super High Roller Bowl, then followed that with a $10 million win in the $1 million Big One for One Drop at the WSOP. It was the kind of heater most players can only dream of.

What makes Bonomo scary isn’t just his skill—it’s his discipline and ability to read players in the most intense moments. He doesn’t just win. He dismantles.

Stephen Chidwick – $51 Million (UK)

If poker had a “player’s player” award, Stephen Chidwick would win it. Quiet, methodical, and deadly smart, Chidwick has quietly become one of the most respected players in the world.

With over $51 million in live earnings and dozens of deep runs in high-stakes events, Chidwick proves that hard work and constant study pay off. He’s a student of the game and always seems one step ahead.

Whether it's a €25K event in Barcelona or a bracelet run at the World Series of Poker, Chidwick is the guy no one wants on their left.

Daniel Negreanu – $50 Million (Canada)

Few names in poker are more recognizable than Daniel Negreanu, also known as “Kid Poker.” With six WSOP bracelets, two WPT titles, and over $50 million in earnings, he’s done it all.

But what really makes Negreanu special is how much he loves the game. Whether he's crushing high-stakes tournaments or livestreaming online sessions, his passion shines through. His ability to read opponents—sometimes even calling their exact hands—is legendary.

Add to that his influence as a poker ambassador, author, and educator, and it’s easy to see why so many fans consider him one of the greatest poker players to ever do it.

Phil Hellmuth – $29 Million (USA)

Phil Hellmuth, aka “The Poker Brat,” is one of the game’s biggest personalities—and biggest winners. With a record 17 WSOP bracelets, including the Main Event in 1989, his legacy is cemented.

Sure, he’s known for his outbursts and wild rants. But behind all that is a fierce competitor who’s proven time and again that he can win under pressure. Love him or hate him, Hellmuth has stood the test of time.

He's also one of the few players who’ve remained relevant across multiple generations of poker. That alone earns him a spot on this list.

Doyle Brunson – $6 Million (USA)

Doyle Brunson wasn’t just a great player—he helped build the modern game. With 10 WSOP bracelets, including back-to-back Main Event wins in the ’70s, Brunson was poker royalty long before televised poker made the game mainstream.

He played in the original Texas road games, crushed high-stakes cash games in Vegas, and wrote Super/System, the poker bible for generations of players.

Brunson passed away in 2023, but his influence is everywhere—from strategy books to player interviews to that classic cowboy hat. A true poker legend in every sense.

Phil Ivey – $38 Million (USA)

Ask any pro who they think is the greatest poker player of all time, and most will say the same name: Phil Ivey.

With 10 WSOP bracelets, over $38 million in live winnings, and a fearsome reputation in both tournaments and cash games, Ivey is the complete package. From the early 2000s through the 2010s, he was the player to beat.

Daniel Negreanu once called Ivey a “human solver,” and it’s easy to see why. He’s intuitive, fearless, and terrifyingly good across all formats. If you had to bet your life on one guy to win a heads-up match—it's Ivey.

Stu Ungar – $4 Million (USA)

Stu Ungar might just be the most naturally talented card player to ever live. He won the WSOP Main Event three times—a feat only matched by Johnny Moss—and did it with flair and brilliance.

Ungar originally dominated in gin rummy before turning to poker, where he made an immediate splash. Sadly, his personal struggles with addiction led to an early death in 1998.

Still, with five bracelets and countless stories of his genius, Ungar’s name remains synonymous with raw poker brilliance. He was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame posthumously—and deservedly so.

Johnny Chan – $9 Million (USA)

Johnny Chan is best known for his back-to-back WSOP Main Event wins in 1987 and 1988. He nearly made it a three-peat in 1989—if not for a young Phil Hellmuth.

Chan’s aggressive yet intuitive style made him a legend, and his role in Rounders only added to the mystique. With 10 WSOP bracelets and a lifetime of experience at the highest levels, Chan is a true icon of the game.

Jamie Gold – $12 Million (USA)

Jamie Gold had one of the most unforgettable runs in poker history. In 2006, he won the WSOP Main Event, besting the largest field ever and pocketing $12 million—the biggest single tournament win at the time.

Gold’s style was loud, confident, and manipulative. Some loved it. Some hated it. But no one could deny he controlled that tournament from start to finish.

He’s not as active these days, but for that epic summer alone, he earns a spot among poker’s most memorable champions.

So… Who’s the Greatest Poker Player Ever?

It’s tough to choose just one. Every player on this list brought something different to the game.

But if we had to pick? Our money’s on Phil Ivey. From the mid-2000s onward, he dominated every format—online poker, live tournaments, high-stakes cash games. He didn’t just win—he made the best players in the world nervous.

As Daniel Negreanu once said, Ivey isn’t just a great player—he’s on another level. That makes him, in our eyes, the greatest to ever play the game.

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