I think that’s pretty much undisputable 
4 Likes
I can’t find a good summary of it anywhere online, but Coin Poker ran a competition between the world’s best cash players recently. Here’s a breakdown of some of the hands between the two who are widely regarded to be the best cash players in the world right now: (51) Prodigy Takes on Linus in EPIC Battle for #1! - YouTube
Stu Unger the best Player Ever.
1 Like
Records say Phil Hellmuth. He has way the most bracelets. He has Phil Ivey and 50% more. He has 3 times more than Negreanu and 5 times Polk.
Stu Ungar, one of the greatest poker players of all time, had total live earnings of $3,677,961. His best live cash was $1,000,000, which he won at the 1997 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event. Ungar is the only player to have won the WSOP Main Event three times (1980, 1981, and 1997).
Phil Hellmuth, known as “The Poker Brat,” has amassed over $30 million in total live tournament earnings. His best live cash was $2,645,333, and he currently ranks 29th on the all-time money list. Hellmuth is famous for his record 17 World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelets, the most of any player in history.
Phil Ivey’s live tournament earnings exceed $48 million, making him one of the top 15 players in this field. His achievements include 11 World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelets, with his most recent victory in 2024 in the $10,000 Limit 2-7 Lowball Triple Draw Championship, earning $347,440
Daniel Negreanu had a tough year in 2023, losing over $2.2 million in poker tournaments. He played 145 events, the most in over a decade, but struggled to secure a major win. His biggest cash of the year was $200,000, far below the massive scores he’s had in previous years.
Negreanu attributed his losses to playing too many tournaments, bad luck in key moments, and smaller edges in high-stakes events. He has since announced plans to adjust his strategy in 2024, focusing on quality over quantity and reducing his tournament volume.
Some of the biggest poker losses in history have come from high-stakes players who took massive risks. Here are a few notable ones:
- Phil Galfond – Lost nearly $2.5 million after trying a new poker variant.
- Di Dang – Despite being a highly rated player, he lost $2.6 million in a single year.
- Ben Sulsky – After earning nearly $4 million in 2012, he lost $3 million in early 2013.
- Patrik Antonius – Lost $4 million in a single game, blaming back issues for his poor performance.
- Brian Townsend – Lost $2.5 million, then chased his losses and lost another $2 million.
- Phil Ivey – One of poker’s biggest winners, but he lost over $5 million in 8-Game tables.
- Ilari Sahamies – Lost $6 million of his $7 million lifetime earnings.
- Victor Blom – After winning nearly $7 million, he lost $4.2 million in a single session.
Viktor Blom, also known as “Isildur1,” lost $4.2 million in a single session to Brian Hastings. Hastings reportedly studied Blom’s playing style extensively before their match, which helped him gain an edge. This loss was one of the biggest in online poker history
These losses show how volatile high-stakes poker can be—even the best players experience huge swings.
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS----Stu Unger was the BEST ever-even when high and drunk he was a genius and GREAT at many kinds of games—he was the GOAT…
OMG, PLEASE, Jamie Gold in that class:) is a joke ( i honestly still think he sold his soul for a week of great cards lol )…I remember actually watching the chubby guy (me tired now, forget his name ) and i think it was around 2006? or 2008? ( i am very tired lol ) and he was a little lucky n NOT in the same class of poker pros etc. ( he still plays and gets in the money sometimes )…Stu is the GOAT–your right though, they all won the BIG one and can NEVER take that away—Jamie did have his money taken away lol ( guy he had 2 split with n lost the rest in cash games lol )…P.S. I think Chubby guy was " Moneymaker" n did lose a lot of weight since then:)
1 Like
Johnny Moss was a legendary poker player, often called “The Grand Old Man of Poker.” Born on May 14, 1907, in Marshall, Texas, he grew up in Dallas, where he learned the ins and outs of gambling at a young age. Interestingly, he was hired as a teenager to oversee poker games and ensure fair play, which helped him develop his deep understanding of the game.
Moss became a traveling gambler, seeking high-stakes poker games across the country. One of his most famous poker encounters was a five-month-long heads-up marathon against Nick “The Greek” Dandalos in 1949, reportedly set up by mob boss Benny Binion. Moss won between $2 million and $4 million, and at the end of the game, Nick the Greek famously said, “Mr. Moss, I have to let you go.” This legendary match is often cited as the inspiration behind the World Series of Poker (WSOP).
Moss was the first-ever winner of the WSOP Main Event in 1970, when the winner was decided by a vote among players. He went on to win the tournament again in 1971 and 1974, making him a three-time WSOP champion. Over his career, he won nine WSOP bracelets and was one of the first inductees into the Poker Hall of Fame in 1979.
Beyond poker, Moss was known for his gambling prowess in other games, including golf and bowling, where he reportedly won and lost fortunes. He passed away on December 16, 1995, in Odessa, Texas, but his legacy as a poker pioneer remains strong2.
1 Like
49:00 Mark - Interesting comment about Johnny Moss
54:30 Mark - Interesting comment about Stu Unger
Passed away at 89 but 102 seems more appropriate…
My choice would be Daniel Negreanu, but Daniel himself said it was Phil Ivey who would also make my list of all-time greatest as would Stu Ungar (My pick for GOAT), Eric Seidel, Johnny Chan, Scotty Nguyen, and Doyle Brunson.
The top-ranked German poker player based on lifetime live tournament earnings is Fedor Holz, with total winnings of $32,515,406. Holz is widely regarded as one of the best poker players in the world, known for his strategic brilliance and impressive tournament performances.
Urban legend says that when asked to vote on this each player voted for themselves. WSOP then asked them to elect the second best player which Moss won
1 Like
To put everything in perspective regarding career earnings…
An amateur can win 5 million in a single tournament and not even win it!
For example, Darvin Moon back in 2009…
Darvin Moon was an amateur poker player and self-employed logger from Maryland who became famous for his runner-up finish in the 2009 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event. He won his seat in the tournament through a $130 satellite event and went on to dominate much of the Main Event, entering the final table as the chip leader. Despite his lack of professional poker experience, he eliminated several top players, including Phil Ivey, before ultimately losing heads-up to Joe Cada, earning $5.18 million for second place.
1963 - 2020
I like Ivey, but that other Phil is a crybaby when stuff doesn’t go his way. I dnt really know a lot of the newer players either. I think my favorite would have to be Daniel NeGranue( sorry I know I butchered his name.) I liked how he could figure out exactly what the other person he was going heads up with , had in his hand and call it out.
1 Like
As of now, the top-ranked poker player in the world according to the Global Poker Index (GPI) is:
Jesse Lonis
Jesse Lonis is a rising star in the world of professional poker, with nearly $20 million in live tournament earnings. Known for his aggressive and strategic playing style, Lonis has secured two World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelets, including a standout victory in the 2023 $50,000 Pot-Limit Omaha High Roller, where he took home $2.3 million. He also captured his first Triton Poker Series title in 2024, earning $1.5 million, and added another prestigious win to his resume by claiming a PokerGO Tour title at the 2024 U.S. Poker Open. Recognized for his consistent success, Lonis achieved the #1 spot in the Global Poker Index rankings in 2024. With his skill, determination, and growing presence in high-stakes tournaments, Jesse Lonis continues to solidify his place among poker’s elite.
If you’re curious about who dominates in terms of career earnings, that title currently belongs to:
Bryn Kenney
- Lifetime Winnings: Over $75 million
