You’d be forgiven for scoffing at a poker player’s lifestyle: the traveling, scenery, grandeur casinos, and the lavish prizes on offer to the elite performers. Many have documented the outlandish financial gains that have been won at some of the world’s most recognized and revered tournaments. But these are only won by a small proportion of people that venture into poker as an actual viable career path.
However, there are the rags-to-riches stories that enthrall even the fleeting poker fan such as Chris Moneymaker’s monumental effort, when he won the World Series of Poker in 2003 after gaining qualification via an online tournament. Moneymaker is now said to be worth a staggering $16 million – not bad for a guy who turned his $40 into a whopping $2.5 million haul with his WSOP win.
Stories such as Moneymaker’s rise to prominence wouldn’t have been possible if it wasn’t for online poker, which reputedly contributes heavily to the $40 billion that is generated in revenues annually. The history of online poker began with the first legal online wagering website InterCasino and then a raft of portals followed suit. These poker rooms are now the platforms that many aspiring poker players use to help them qualify for the more prestigious tournaments.
Although, Moneymaker doesn’t actually feature in the top earners of all-time, his haul as a professional poker player is an impressive one to say the least. The actual list, which was featured on Poker Update, looks like this:
1. Antonio Esfandiari (USA) – $25,115,021
2. Sam Trickett (GBR) – $19,601,960
3. Erik Seidel (USA) – $18,522,942
4. Daniel Negreanu (CAN) – $18,335,975
5. Phil Hellmuth (USA) – $17,426,845
6. Phil Ivey (USA) – $17,286,409
7. John Juanda (USA) – $14,881,796
8. Michael Mizrachi (USA) – $14,328,185
9. Jamie Gold (USA) – $12,231,699
10. Jonathan Duhamel (CAN) – $11,858,220
However, don’t be fooled by such figures, as these don’t actually represent realistic career earnings, as they don’t include cash games. Hall of Famer, Phil Ivey’s actual career earnings are said to be upwards of $200 million with the money he has won at casinos.
If anything, each year when the highest earnings list is published, it represent once more than poker is one of the most lucrative sports in the world.

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