Dan Bilzerian

Daniel Brandon Bilzerian was born on December 7, 1980, in Tampa, Florida, to corporate takeover specialist Paul Bilzerian and Terri Steffen. He is the brother of poker player Adam Bilzerian. Bilzerian studied for four years at the University of Florida, majoring in Business and Criminology, but dropped out to pursue professional poker.

Bilzerian enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1999 and underwent Navy SEAL selection, but was dropped days before completion due to a safety violation. He served active duty until 2003, reaching the rank of Quartermaster (E-4), and continued in the Navy Reserve until 2007, receiving an honorable discharge.

Bilzerian is best known for playing high-stakes private cash games, often claiming enormous wins. In November 2013, he posted an unverified claim of winning $10.8 million in a single night, and in 2014 said he won $50 million over the year. However, his live tournament results are extremely limited. his total live earnings are just $36,626 from a single cash: a 180th-place finish in the 2009 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event for $36,626. He also played the 2008 WSOP Main Event but did not cash.

Bilzerian rarely participates in public tournaments. In the 2024 WSOP Main Event, he was eliminated on the first day in just two hands. In his first hand, he triple-barreled a bluff with ten-eight into pocket aces. In the second, he shoved all-in with queen-five from the big blind and was called by ace-jack, losing when his opponent made a flush. His only other notable tournament exposure includes a brief ambassador deal with online poker in 2020, which ended quickly.

Despite his lack of tournament success, Bilzerian claims to have won tens of millions in private games, a statement supported by some poker pros like Chance Kornuth. He also had a six-figure win on Hustler Casino Live.

Bilzerian has been involved in multiple legal disputes. In 2011, he was sued by the estate of Bradley Ruderman over winnings from poker games allegedly funded by a Ponzi scheme. His business Ignite International Brands Ltd., which sold CBD and vape products, faced allegations that his father Paul Bilzerian improperly funneled money into it while owing over $180 million to the SEC. Dan claimed he was never directly involved in running the company.

Bilzerian gained fame on Instagram (28.9 million followers) by posting a lavish lifestyle involving models, firearms, and poker. He holds citizenship in the United States, Armenia (since 2018), and Saint Kitts and Nevis. In 2026, running as a Republican, he launched a congressional campaign in Florida's 6th U.S. House District. His campaign has been marked by antisemitic conspiracy theories and Holocaust denial.

Bilzerian resides in Las Vegas, Nevada. He has never married but is known for a public playboy image. His father's history as a convicted financial criminal and the trust funds provided to Bilzerian and his brother have fueled speculation about the true source of his wealth.