With fearless wagers, cunning strategies for success, and a fair amount of luck on their side, the world’s wealthiest gamblers have amassed tremendous fortunes by playing the odds. Willing to risk it all for big wins, these high rollers win and lose spectacular amounts of money and chalk it up to just another Monday.
Who are these adventurous betting enthusiasts? How did they achieve such immense success and what was the impact on the gambling industry? Whether you play casino games online, or prefer to take a seat at a real casino table, the stories behind 10 of the richest and biggest gamblers in the world are sure to inspire.
Phil Ivey: $100 Million
A list of the richest professional gamblers would not be complete without mentioning the illustrious Phil Ivey. Regarded as one of the most skilled professional poker players in the world, Ivey has left an indelible mark on the gambling scene and is now affectionately known as the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) of poker.
With a renowned career spanning decades, Ivey boasts an impressive record in both live and online poker tournaments, amassing over $42.5 million in live tournament earnings alone. Notorious for his strategic prowess and composed demeanor at the poker table, Ivey has clinched 10 World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelets, one World Poker Tour Title, and has played at the final table of the World Poker Tour nine times to date, solidifying his status as a legend in the game.
Beyond his poker exploits, Ivey has also demonstrated remarkable proficiency in other forms of gambling, notably high-stakes baccarat. His utilization of edge-sorting techniques garnered international attention, leading to significant wins at casinos worldwide. Despite legal controversies surrounding his edge-sorting tactics, Ivey’s unparalleled skill and strategic acumen continue to captivate enthusiasts and professionals alike, earning him a place among the most formidable gamblers in history.
David Walsh: $200 Million
Next on this list of the richest gamblers in the world is David Walsh, whose journey into the world of high-stakes gambling began during his college years, when his fascination with blackjack and card counting ignited a passion for understanding the intricacies of probability and chance. His affinity for complex mathematics not only brought him much success in popular card games, but it also empowered him to develop sophisticated software for predicting outcomes in horse racing.
In a bold move that underscored his confidence in his analytical skills, Walsh once spent $11 million on lottery tickets, landing the $60 million jackpot for a tidy profit. His intelligence has clearly served him well; he’s proven that he’s not afraid to stake vast sums of money, using his natural talent for numbers to see odds and probabilities that go unnoticed by most.
Dan Bilzerian: $200 Million
Among the elite echelon of high-stakes gamblers, Dan Bilzerian remains a figure shrouded in intrigue. Some of the biggest gamblers in the world have lost more than they’ve won. Bilzerian could certainly fit the bill if some rumors are to be believed, but the truth is that so little is known about his poker career that it’s impossible to pinpoint how successful he’s been.
Estimated to have amassed a fortune of $200 million, Bilzerian’s opulent lifestyle, as depicted in his prolific social media presence, paints a picture of extravagance replete with exotic locales, wildlife encounters, and extravagant parties. It’s widely believed that he frequents private poker tournaments, where purportedly astronomical winnings of up to $50 million per night are not uncommon. Yet, the exact extent of his triumphs and losses in the realm of high-stakes gambling remains veiled in mystery.
Billy Walters: $250 Million
Renowned as one of the foremost sports gamblers of his time, Billy Walters boasts a storied career spanning over three decades, characterized by a remarkable win rate ranging between 50 and 60%. Like many of the world’s best gamblers, he used a keen eye for analysis and probability to accumulate a growing net worth.
Harnessing the power of cutting-edge computer software, Walters gained a competitive edge by leveraging data-driven insights to refine his wagering strategies and gain more accurate odds than those provided by sportsbooks. Basketball, NFL, and college football were his go-to betting options. Sadly, he was found guilty of insider trading in 2017 and has stayed under the radar since his early release.
Zeljko Ranogajec: $435 Million
Nicknamed ‘The Joker,’ Zeljko Ranogajec made his millions playing casino blackjack. In fact, he was so adept at counting cards and making money against the house that major casinos in Las Vegas and Australia had no choice but to ban him from playing.
Ranogajec runs his own betting syndicate nowadays, mainly focused on horse racing. The syndicate places bets worth over $3 billion annually, essentially operating one of Australia’s biggest sports-betting networks.
Alan Woods: $500 million
Card counting is a running theme that’s beginning to develop, and the pattern continues with Alan Woods. Initially recognized for his prowess in blackjack, Woods later diversified his interests, venturing into the realm of horse racing to broaden his gambling portfolio.
Shortly after setting up a betting syndicate in the Philippines, Woods was forced to flee the country when the legitimacy of his operation came into question. He now places bets and wins wagers from the comfort of home, playing at online casinos for real money with his substantial fortune.
Andrew Black: $670 million
Born in Belfast, North Ireland, Andrew Black is a professional poker player who has left an indelible mark on both the world of professional poker and the gambling industry at large. With a career spanning decades, Black’s journey is defined by remarkable achievements and entrepreneurial acumen.
As a seasoned professional poker player, he has competed in several major tournaments, including the main event of the 2005 World Series of Poker, where his fifth-place finish earned him prize money of $1.75 million. His total career earnings stand at an impressive $5,139,690, a testament to his mastery of the game and strategic prowess at the poker table.
Black is not just one of the richest poker players in the world, he is also a successful entrepreneur. Now a London-based business mogul and successful casino owner, Black co-founded the largest bet exchange in the world, which was listed on the London Stock Exchange with an estimated value of £1.4 billion ($1.8 billion) back in 2010.
Edward Thorp: $800 million
Edward Thorp is a renowned author, mathematics professor, and professional blackjack player. Credited as the founder of modern card-counting strategies, Thorp has inspired countless gamblers with his proven skill in games of blackjack and baccarat.
His book on how to beat the house edge, “Beat the Dealer,” has sold over one million copies since it was published in the ‘60s. To help solidify his position among the richest gamblers in the world, Thorp has also turned his attention to the stock market, with a book titled “Beat the Market” that has achieved similar success.
Bill Benter: $1 billion
With a degree in physics and a fierce passion for betting, Bill Benter used his intelligence to make a fortune off of blackjack and horse racing. It took seven years for Las Vegas casinos to ban him, but by the, he had made millions and switched to horse racing in Hong Kong instead.
Together with Alan Woods, Benter created an algorithm that could predict the results of horse races with astonishing accuracy. With tens of millions in profit per year, Benter appears to live a comfortable life presenting lectures at universities and donating to charitable causes.
Tony Bloom: $1.5 billion
Despite his status as a man of mystery, there’s little doubt that Tony Bloom is one of the world’s best gamblers — if not the best gambler in the world. One of the richest poker players in the world, his cold-blooded poker style has earned him the nickname ‘The Lizard,’ but it’s his business acumen that sets him apart from the average poker player.
Bloom founded his own betting consultancy firm, Starlizard, believed to be one of the top betting firms in the world. The company focuses on wagers for soccer leagues worldwide. As talented as he is at poker, Bloom’s knack for entrepreneurial endeavors is by far his greatest asset.
Kerry Packer: $5 billion
The prime spot among the biggest gamblers in the world goes to Kerry Packer. He wasn’t the world’s best gambler when it comes to win rate, but the richest gambler in the world certainly knew how to take a loss, and playing cautiously was never in his rulebook.
Packer is famous for his legendary losing streaks. He once lost around $40 million in casinos in London and Vegas over a period of 10 months. But his exciting play style also led to incredible wins, like the time he won $20 million by playing several games of $250,000 blackjack simultaneously.
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