Many types of people love playing poker, a game that requires consistency, cunning, and luck. Celebrities are no exception. The popular card game appeals to their sense of glamour and style. Many Hollywood actors and actresses have tried their luck with it. It’s fun and fashionable, and they love winning.
Here is a list of the top six celebrity poker players and winners.
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1. Jennifer Tilly
Oscar nominee Jennifer Tilly has also found fame as a poker player. She and her husband Phil Laak marketed the game by appearing in ads for Cereus Poker Network, a now-defunct network comprising the online poker sites Absolute Poker and Ultimate Bet.
Tilly has been playing since 1996. The actress won more than $150,000 in the World Poker Series that year and came in first at the Bellagio Cup two years after that, winning another $3 million. A decade ago, her net worth was estimated to be around $18 million.
2. Shannon Elizabeth
Maybe you remember her from the American Pie film series. She entered the spotlight for her role in it and turned her attention to poker soon after. In 2005, she started playing professionally, taking part in the World Poker Series. While she didn’t win any money, she had a strong showing.
Elizabeth took part in the NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship two years later and came in third. While she doesn’t play anymore, she has made more than $200,000 from poker throughout her career.
The last that was heard about her poker playing was in the first season of Celebrity Big Brother, and it didn’t help her. Regardless, she will always rank among the top celebrity female poker players in history.
3. Jason Alexander
This actor is best known for playing George Costanza in Seinfeld, one of the most popular shows of the 90s. He is also known for some film roles and his successes at poker. He started taking part in celebrity poker tournaments around two decades ago. He won the last table in the 8th season of Bravo’s Celebrity Poker Showdown, earning $500,000. He couldn’t keep the money; it went to a charity chosen by him.
Alexander also played in the World Poker Series in 2007 and 2009. In 2009, he finished in the top third. He lost in 2007.
He was also on NBC’s Poker After Dark. He has made around $30,000 from professional poker playing. His last participation was in 2010, after which he took an eight-year break. It’s not known whether he’ll return to poker.
4. Tobey Maguire
Tobey Maguire, a successful actor and film producer, became interested in card games at a very young age. When it emerged that he was good at poker, everybody was surprised because he’d never talked about it. He has been playing actively since 2004, currently with the aid of a device. Among his victories is in the National Heads-Up Poker Championship.
5. Ben Affleck
Oscar-winning actor Ben Affleck is one of Hollywood’s best-known poker players. He has faced off against Amir Vahedi and other famous poker pros, who have written books about poker for beginners.
Affleck has been taking part in cash poker tournaments for more than ten years. One of his highest-profile participations has been in the World Poker Series.
He came in third in a 10,000 euro pot-limit competition in Omaha in 2009 and won 1,650 euro in a Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw World Poker Series event in 2013.
6. Matt Damon
Matt Damon’s role in Rounders was no coincidence. He made history with that movie, playing a university student skilled at poker. He takes part in tournaments to help a friend pay back a huge loan. The film came out in 1998, the same year he appeared in the WPS for the first time. He lost to Doyle “Texas Dolly” Brunson, but that’s how his poker career started.
Matt Damon finished 45th in the 2011 World Poker Finals, earning $540. One year earlier, he participated in the WPS No-Limit Hold’em. He’s active in poker behind the scenes. Not much is known about his current performance.