The Eye-Watering Net Worths of the World’s Top Gamblers

When we think of the highest-paying jobs, we generally include positions like the CEO of a big company, a world-renowned surgeon, or even an entrepreneur. But we’ve got another career that you can add to that list: professional gamblers. Believe it or not, there are some very highly paid people on in this profession. Sure, there’s an element of luck here, but it also takes a skilled player with nerves of steel to be consistently successful.

Get ready to be shocked as we examine the eye-watering net worths of the world’s top gamblers. 

Alan Woods

Imagine your net worth was $500 million. Well, Alan Woods doesn’t have to imagine because that is his rumored worth. Woods built his wealth over the years and even worked with former partner Bill Benter, who is also on this list. Both of them were known for counting cards in Las Vegas. It became so obvious, and their winnings became so big, that they were both eventually blacklisted by the casinos in Las Vegas. It was then that they focused on horse races in Hong Kong. 

Woods got into some trouble while living in the Philippines when law enforcement started to investigate his betting. He ended up having to leave the Philippines but is still actively betting today.

Bill Benter

Next up we’ve got Bill Benter, who as mentioned, was Alan Woods’ partner for a while. Even though Woods is worth a lot of money, Benter has him beaten by a long shot. Benter’s estimated worth is $1.55 billion. He got his beginning the same way as Woods did, by counting cards. He was only 22 years old when he started gambling, and he built his wealth relatively quickly. 

Benter didn’t earn his fortune just counting cards, though. He was also responsible for creating software used in horse race betting that alone is responsible for almost $1 billion of his wealth. 

Andrew Black

Many of the gamblers on this list made their money in physical casinos, but that’s not necessarily the case for Andrew Black. Black is an entrepreneur from Britain estimated to be worth $670 million. Black took an interest in horse racing and is even a racehorse owner himself. 

If we’re talking about icons on this list, Black is pivotal because he was the founder of an online gambling platform in the early 2000s that was revolutionary at the time, providing unparalleled convenience to this form of entertainment that allowed everyday people to try their luck. It paved the way for many other online betting platforms, including Canadian $10 deposit casinos, that are thriving today.

Tony Bloom

Here’s someone who has many accolades to his name. British businessman Tony Bloom has an estimated net worth of $1.7 billion. Bloom wears many hats, including sports bettor, poker player, and entrepreneur. He attended the University of Manchester and holds a degree in mathematics.

January 2004 was when Bloom’s winning took off, during the Australian Poker Championships. He won the title and then went on to enjoy many other wins. Those in the industry call him “The Lizard.” This is because he has the uncanny ability to remain calm even when under extreme pressure, making it next to impossible for opponents to read him.

Edward Thorp

American Edward Thorp is said to be worth approximately $800 million. Thorp was formerly a mathematics professor, which is part of the reason he’s done so well. If you’ve ever wondered who started the concept of card counting, it’s Thorp. 

Thorp has played in tournaments around the world and even wrote a book to help other aspiring gamblers. Titled Beat the Dealer, it covers topics such as the basic rules of blackjack, how to spot when someone’s cheating, winning strategies, and more. Thorp has done so well in the realm that he was inducted into the Blackjack Hall of Fame.

Phil Ivey

It’s impossible to name the best poker players in the world without mentioning Phil Ivey. Ivey is worth a reported $125 million and has 10 World Series of Poker wins. His most famous win is $16 million in just one game. 

Unlike some of the others, Ivey wasn’t a card counter. He started by playing poker with co-workers and friends, just for fun. It’s crazy to look at where a fun hobby has led him in terms of wealth. If you’ve ever checked out the Full Tilt Poker website, then you’ve got Ivey to partially thank for it. He was on the design team.

Kerry Packer

Most people would agree that Kerry Packer is the top of the crop when it comes to the wealthiest gamblers. Packer’s worth is estimated to be around $5 billion. What makes Packer a little different is he came from money. That makes it hard to determine how much of his wealth is attributed to family money and how much he earned from gambling.

Nevertheless, this Australian made a name for himself by always gambling big. Unlike some of the others mentioned in this list, he had a lot of losing streaks. And not only did he lose often, he would lose a lot of money too. It is estimated that he lost an eye-popping $40 million between two casinos in a less than a year. However, his biggest win was $20 million in May 1995—in just 40 minutes of gambling. 

Packer wasn’t just about gambling though, as he also made a name for himself as a media tycoon. He passed away in December 2005 at age 68.

You’ll Never Look at Gambling the Same Way

Now that you know how much money some of these professional gamblers have managed to amass, it will be pretty hard to look at them the same way. They often come across as very unassuming during big tournaments and matches. You’d never believe that some of these professional players are worth millions, even hundreds of millions. There’s no question that Lady Luck has been on their side more than once.