Remember the early 2000s, when poker was on every channel and seemed to take over our living rooms? If you were anything like me, you couldn’t help but watch Phil Ivey poker on loop—his calm stare, that effortless Phil Ivey poker strategy, and the way he made big bluffs look like child’s play.
They called him the “Tiger Woods of Poker,” and for good reason.
Early Years & “No Home Jerome”
Phillip Dennis Ivey Jr. was born on February 1, 1977, in Riverside, California, and moved with his family to Roselle, New Jersey, when he was just three months old. As a child, he was introduced to the game by playing five-card stud with his grandfather.
In the late ’90s, he sharpened his skills playing five-card stud with co-workers at a New Brunswick telemarketing firm by day and hosting home games by night, fine-tuning every move in his budding playbook.
At eighteen, eager for the real action, he secured a fake ID under the name Jerome Graham and—playing so frequently at the Tropicana Atlantic City—earned the nickname “No Home Jerome”. He was on the felt almost 24/7, grinding every cash game and testing his poker strategy against seasoned veterans.
Rise to Stardom & Phil Ivey's WSOP Debut
When Ivey turned 21 in February 1998, the casinos welcomed him with open arms. One of his earliest big scores was a $1,000 Seven-Card Stud invitational win at Tropicana.
By 2000, a $53,000 score in Tunica, Mississippi, bankrolled his inaugural WSOP appearance—and what a debut it was. He cashed in a Seven-Card Stud event, made his first final table days later, then snagged his first WSOP bracelet in a $2,500 Pot-Limit Omaha tournament, outmaneuvering Amarillo Slim for $195,000.
Three Bracelets in One Series
Before 2002, only Walter “Puggy” Pearson (1973), Phil Hellmuth (1993), and Ted Forrest (1993) had ever won three bracelets in a single World Series of Poker series.
Then, at the 2002 WSOP, Ivey cashed in seven events (including 23rd in the Main Event) and walked away with three series of poker bracelets—a feat matched only by the legends before him. He came agonizingly close to repeating that in 2009, winning two more bracelets and finishing 7th in the Main Event for roughly $1.4 million.
Nosebleed Cash Games & High Roller Events
Tournament glory was just half the story. On TV’s High Stakes Poker and Full Tilt Poker’s Million Dollar Cash Game, Ivey faced off with icons like Doyle Brunson and up-and-comers such as Tom Dwan.
In the first-ever televised pot over $1 million, he held a five-high straight only to see Dwan river 76 and scoop $1.1 million. Even in defeat, Ivey’s fearless cash game exploits added to his mystique in the poker community.
Poker GOAT?
Phil Ivey's net worth, including the $50+ millions in live tournament earnings, as well as his eleven WSOP bracelets to date (2025)—second only to Phil Hellmuth’s seventeen —is proof of his strength.
Regular at the Aussie Millions and home games alike, legends from Doyle Brunson to today’s stars praise his adaptability. Inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2017, Ivey’s career earnings and business ventures make a compelling case for the ultimate all-round poker player.A Glittering Résumé
A Glittering Résumé
Phil Ivey’s tournament record is second to none. Here are just some of the highlights from his outstanding career.
| Year | Series | Tournament | Result | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | WSOP | $2,500 Pot Limit Omaha | 1st | $195,000 |
| 2002 | WSOP | $1,500 7 Card Stud | 1st | $132,000 |
| 2002 | WSOP | $2,500 7 Card Stud Hi-Lo | 1st | $118,440 |
| 2002 | WSOP | $2,000 Limit S.H.O.E. | 1st | $107,540 |
| 2005 | WSOP | $5,000 Pot Limit Omaha | 1st | $635,603 |
| 2008 | WPT | L.A. Poker Classic | 1st | $1,596,100 |
| 2009 | WSOP | $2,500 Omaha/Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo | 1st | $220,538 |
| 2009 | WSOP | $2,500 No Limit Deuce to Seven Draw | 1st | $96,367 |
| 2009 | WSOP | $10,000 No Limit Hold'em Main Event | 7th | $1,404,014 |
| 2010 | WSOP | $3,000 H.O.R.S.E. | 1st | $329,840 |
| 2012 | Aussie Millions | $250,000 Challenge | 1st | $2,058,948 |
| 2013 | WSOP APAC | A$2,200 Mixed Event | 1st | $54,252 |
| 2014 | WSOP | $1,500 8-Game Mix | 1st | $166,986 |
| 2014 | Aussie Millions | $250,000 Challenge | 1st | $3,582,753 |
| 2015 | Aussie Millions | LK Boutique Challenge | 1st | $1,710,854 |
| 2022 | Triton Poker | $75,000 No Limit Short Deck Hold'em | 1st | $1,170,000 |
| 2022 | WSOP | $100,000 No Limit Hold'em High Roller | 2nd | $1,172,659 |
| 2023 | Triton Poker | No Limit Hold'em Turbo | 1st | $1,007,000 |
| 2024 | WSOP | $ 10,000 Limit 2-7 Triple Draw Lowball Championship- 6-Handed | 1st | $347,440 |
Image Source: Pokernews.com
Whether you’re a rookie or a veteran, Phil Ivey’s journey—from fake IDs and home-game grinders to high-roller fame—reminds us why we fell in love with poker in the first place.
