Phil Hellmuth - Poker Player

Biography

Phillip Jerome Hellmuth Jr. is a professional poker player who has created history by becoming the youngest poker player (at 24) to win the World Series of Poker (WSOP). He was born on July 16, 1964, in Wisconsin, United States. His wins and phenomenal approaches brought him respect as a pro poker player in the poker community. He won 11 bracelets in the Main Event of the WSOP. Phil Hellmuth held the record for being the youngest winner in 19 years. He also has other impressive records to his credit, including 68 cashes in various World Series and the maximum final tables at 41.

Background

Phil Hellmuth's father was the dean at the University of Wisconsin, from which he dropped out after some years. He started playing poker at home with his family and at university. He would travel to Las Vegas, play, and return to build his bankroll by working at the farms. He resides in the fascinating city of Palo Alto, CA, with his wife and two sons.

Poker Career

Phil Hellmuth has set several records in various tournaments. He ranks twenty-seventh on the Hendon Mob All-Time Money List. Phil Hellmuth’s World Series of Poker (WSOP) victory includes 17 Main Event cashes (1989, 1992, 1993, 1997, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2012, 2015, 2018, 2021, 2023), and most of his WSOP bracelets are in Texas Hold'em.

In the 2011 World Series of Poker, he participated in 45 tables, including Omaha Hold ’em, Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo, and 2-7 Lowball, apart from other mixed games such as H.O.R.S.E.

Phil Hellmuth appeared on Poker After Dark a few times as a player and commentator.  He won his first tournament on the show during the first episode of its third season, earning $120,000. Two weeks later, Phil returned to the show and won again, adding another $120,000 to his winnings. He was also the champion of Season 3 of Late Night Poker.

In 2000, Hellmuth claimed the first prize at the EM 7-Card Stud main event in Austria, winning $106,250, beating 437 participants. He won his first NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship in 2005.

Hellmuth placed second in the 2013 National Heads-Up Poker Championship, winning $300,000.

PokerGO introduced a new series called High Stakes Duel in July 2020. In this series, players face off in heads-up matches with double stakes after every round, and the player who loses can choose to challenge his opponent for a rematch. 

Hellmuth competed against Antonio Esfandiari in the first round with a buy-in of $50,000 on July 31, 2020. Hellmuth won, and Esfandiari instantly announced a rematch.

They played the second round on September 24, 2020, with a buy-in of $100,000, and Hellmuth won again. The third round occurred on October 21, 2020, and the buy-in increased to $200,000. Hellmuth won for the third time, making Esfandiari out of the challenge and winning $400,000. 

Phill Hellmuth challenged Daniel Negreanu for the second season of High Stakes Duel in 2021. He won all three rounds against Negreanu, winning $400,000 for the second time. He then participated in the third season of High Stakes Duel against Nick Wright and won $100,000 in the first round. However, Hellmuth competed against Tom Dwan in the second round, and his winning streak ended when Dwan beat him, winning $200,000. Hellmuth bounced back in the third round, defeating Dwan and winning $400,000.

Winnings in World Poker Tour

Winnings in WSOP Events

Personality and controversy

Phil Hellmuth, nicknamed the "Poker Brat," is famous for his dramatic reactions after bad beats. On the NBC show, "Poker After Dark", he asked his fellow players, including Gus Hansen, Huck Seed, Shawn Sheikhan, and Steve Zolotow, not to talk on his turn when Annie Duke raised him. They agreed, but Huck Seed joked at him when Phil Helmuth started talking after his turn, making everyone laugh. It upset Hellmuth so much that he threatened to never play on the show and walked out of the set. After the show’s producers communicated with him, he returned to the show but lost to Shawn Sheikhan a few hands later. Annie Duke stayed silent throughout the situation but later described Hellmuth's behaviour as an extreme overreaction.

On the fifth day of the World Series of Poker Main Event in 2008, Hellmuth folded his strong hand (A♠ K♥) to a bet by Cristian Dragomir (10♦ 4♦), a much weaker hand on a flop of 9♣ 10♣ 7♠. During the showdown, Hellmuth insulted him and called him an idiot. His behaviour led to a warning by a tournament official. Even his friend Mike Matusow told him to stop, but Hellmuth kept insulting Dragomir until he was given a one-round penalty, which was supposed to be executed the next day. However, Hellmuth's penalty was overturned after a private discussion with Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack at the WSOP. 

Phil Hellmuth’s Net Worth

Phil Hellmuth's net worth is approximately $20 million. His earnings come from poker tournaments (WSOP, WPT, National Heads-Up Poker Championship, etc.), sponsorship deals, and some of his business projects. His total live poker earnings are $30,483,746, and his best live cash winnings amount to $2,645,333. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Phil Hellmuth's Nickname?

Phil Hellmuth is popularly called the "Poker Brat" because of his behaviour at the poker table.

What is Phil Hellmuth’s total live earnings in his poker career?

Phil Hellmuth’s total live earnings in his poker career are $30,483,746.

How many WSOP Bracelets has Phil Hellmuth won in his poker career?

Phil Hellmuth has won seventeen World Series of Poker Bracelets in his career.

How did Phil Hellmuth become famous in poker?

Phil Hellmuth gained recognition in the poker community after claiming the WSOP Main Event in 1989 when he was just 24, becoming the youngest player to win the title. 

Has Phil Hellmuth written any poker books?

Yes, Phil Hellmuth has written various poker books, such as, “Play Poker Like the Pros”, “Phil Hellmuth's Texas Hold'em”, “Bad Beats and Lucky Draws”, and “Poker Brat: Phil Hellmuth's Autobiography.”

What is Phil Hellmuth’s Net Worth?

Phil Hellmuth’s Net Worth is $20 million.