Who is Phil Hellmuth? Net Worth, Profile and More

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Few professional poker stars have racked up as many successes as Phil Hellmuth. Considered to be one of the classic card game’s most gifted players, Hellmuth has some of the highest earnings and most career wins in the industry. Just recently, he cemented his latest achievement –– finally besting his long-time rival-turned-pal Tom Dwan in their latest High Stakes Duel. This latest poker win saw Hellmuth take home more than $200,000 in one go. On top of all his other cash wins, this furthers Hellmuth’s status as one of the wealthiest stars in the game.

For those interested in top-tier poker pros, here’s a bit more on one of the true faces of the modern game.

Personal Life: Phil Hellmuth

According to a poker player profile on Phil Hellmuth, he was born Phillip Jerome Hellmuth Jr. on July 16th, 1964 in Madison, Wisconsin. While Hellmuth was able to attend the University of Wisconsin later on, his childhood was plagued by poor grades and a lack of friends. Once he reached his 20s, though, he found his passion and pursued poker in Las Vegas. It was there that he eventually found his footing –– and ultimately a lucrative career through which he now supports his family.

Since 1992, Hellmuth has lived with his wife Katherine Sanborn, who practices psychiatry at Stanford University. Together, they have two sons: Philip III and Nicholas.

Career: Phil Hellmuth

Without a doubt, Phil Hellmuth has been one of the most polarizing players in poker throughout his career. Admired by some for his bold attitude, Hellmuth’s brash and loud behavior has also been considered unprofessional by others. In poker circles, he is even sarcastically nicknamed “Poker Brat.”

Love him or hate him, though, Hellmuth has undeniable talent at the tables. One of the game’s best players since the late ’80s, the “Brat” currently holds the records for the most World Series of Poker bracelets at 15 (and is the only player to have won one in each of four separate decades). He is also the present record holder for most cash wins in bracelet events, at an astonishing 162. Hellmuth was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2007.

As if he wasn’t earning enough from poker, Hellmuth has also become a recognized businessman. He has secured both sponsorship deals and ambassador roles through his prominence in the poker world, and also played a role in the establishment of Ultimate Bet –– one of the leading poker sites of the 2000s, in the aftermath of the poker boom. Unfortunately for Hellmuth, this site was ultimately shut down in 2011. Part of the infamous “Black Friday” affair that saw the U.S. Department of Justice shut down numerous poker sites, Ultimate Bet’s downfall led to a little bit of backlash for Hellmuth. After a while though, the negativity subsided and the Brat got back to playing poker.

Controversies

Unsurprisingly considering his brash reputation, Hellmuth has been embroiled in a number of controversies over the years. Aside from the aforementioned Ultimate Bet fiasco, he was also criticized for his part in the 2018 WSOP Main Event. During said event, his obnoxious actions allegedly caused fellow player James Campbell to be out short of the money. To make amends, Hellmuth later covered James’s 2019 Main Event buy-in.

More recently though, at the 2021 WSOP final table, Hellmuth made headlines for an expletive-laden rant. Indeed, having just lost a few hands, the Brat delivered one of his most explosive episodes to date; according to recordings, his whole outburst included over 40 uses of the “F-bomb.” Once again, reactions were mixed –– some laughing with Hellmuth and others shaking their heads in disapproval.

How Rich is Phil Hellmuth?

Given his impressive career (that shows no signs of slowing down!), Hellmuth’s net worth is significant even by pro poker standards. As of 2022, he is estimated to be worth around $20 million. This number doesn’t necessarily take all winnings into account however, and is expected to rise over the years as Hellmuth continues to play pro poker and nab hefty endorsement deals left and right.

Whether you’re a fan or not, Phil Hellmuth is a poker star who’s changed the game forever. And though he’s still far from his goal of becoming a billionaire, his drive and talent mean success will always be in the cards.

To find out more about high-profile personalities, like YouTube star Mr. Beast, check out our other celebrity net worth posts when you get a chance.

An Inspiration

Phil Hellmuth is a sports person who loves to always focus on his game. He might not be one of the most famous persons around the world in sports – but he does have the ability that one can learn