Josh Arieh

Josh Arieh was born on September 26, 1974, in Rochester, New York, and later moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where he resides. He began competing in poker tournaments in 1999 and quickly made a name for himself. Arieh is a personal friend of former Major League Baseball pitcher John Smoltz; in 2010, he served as Smoltz's caddy during Smoltz's attempt to qualify for the U.S. Open Championship.

Arieh's first WSOP bracelet came in 1999 in the $3,000 Limit Hold'em event, earning $202,800. His breakout moment occurred in the 2004 WSOP Main Event, where he finished third for $2,500,000 — still his largest single cash. That final table featured a famous confrontation with eventual champion Greg Raymer.

In 2005, Arieh won his second bracelet by defeating Chris Ferguson in a $2,000 Pot Limit Omaha event for $381,600. He added two more bracelets in 2021: the $1,500 Pot Limit Omaha ($204,766) and the $10,000 Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better ($484,791). His dominant summer earned him the 2021 WSOP Player of the Year award, edging out Phil Hellmuth. In 2023, he captured two more bracelets — the $10,000 Limit Hold'em Championship ($316,226) and the $25,000 H.O.R.S.E. High Roller ($711,313). At the 2025 WSOP Online, he won a seventh bracelet in the $500 No-Limit Hold'em Ultra Deepstack for $67,656.

Through 2026, Arieh has made over 50 WSOP final tables and has cashed 196 times. Notable runner-up finishes include the 2014 $5,000 No-Limit Hold'em 8-Handed, the 2019 $50,000 Poker Players Championship, the 2026 $50,000 Poker Players Championship (second for $895,837), and the 2026 $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. Championship (second for $275,620). He is one of only three players to achieve a third-place or better finish in the Main Event and a second-place or better finish in the prestigious $50,000 Poker Players Championship, joining Poker Hall of Famers Scotty Nguyen and Phil Hellmuth.

WSOP Bracelets

Arieh has also enjoyed success on the World Poker Tour. His best WPT result came in the 2009 Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic, where he finished second for $952,290. He also placed third in the 2004 WPT Borgata Poker Open ($286,900) and has accumulated WPT earnings of $1,450,594 from 11 cashes. In 2006, he won the Calvin Ayre Wild Card Poker Tournament for $500,000.

Arieh is known for an aggressive, high-pressure style that often involves verbal banter and psychological tactics. He has been described as a divisive figure — respected for his skill but occasionally criticized for confrontational outbursts. Notably, during the 2004 Main Event, he made remarks about Greg Raymer that he later apologized for. Despite this, he maintains friendships with many top players and is recognized as a tough competitor.

Josh Arieh married his longtime girlfriend Rachel in 2024. He has been eligible for the Poker Hall of Fame since 2014 but has yet to be inducted. As of 2026, his live tournament earnings stand at over $13.8 million (Hendon Mob) while other sources report figures exceeding $16 million. His seven WSOP bracelets, spanning three decades, solidify his place among poker's elite.