Justin Smith

Justin Smith was born on January 8, 1988, in Hartford, Connecticut. He spent his early years in New York and Connecticut before moving to Melbourne, Florida, and later settling in the Kissimmee/Poinciana area of central Florida. While attending Poinciana High School, he worked as a bagger and clerk at a local grocery store. During his senior year, a near-fatal motorcycle accident left him temporarily in a wheelchair and cost him his job. A friend introduced him to low-stakes online poker as a way to earn some money, and he began playing Texas Hold'em at the age of 17 with a bankroll of just $50.

Smith quickly moved up the ranks in online poker, starting with $0.01/$0.02 limit games in early 2005 and eventually playing high-stakes cash games up to $4,000/$8,000 limit and $2,000/$4,000 Pot-Limit Omaha. He became a red-named pro on Full Tilt Poker and was a regular in the famous "Big Game" at Bobby's Room in the Bellagio, as well as appearing on Poker After Dark.

His first major tournament success came in 2007 during the Full Tilt Online Poker Series, where he tied for first in the $1.5 Million Guarantee, earning $175,326. By the end of 2011, he had amassed over $2 million in tournament winnings, including five cashes at the 2009 WSOP and a third-place finish at the 2009 WPT Bellagio Cup V Championship for $464,870.

Smith's most notable achievements came on the World Poker Tour. In 2010, he finished second in the WPT Bellagio Cup VI for $594,755, after busting Phil Ivey in third place. Later that year, he won a WPT High Roller title in London, taking home £141,000. In 2011, he placed fourth in the Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic $100,000 Super High Roller, earning $289,440.

At the 2012 WSOP, Smith participated in the $1 Million Buy-in "One Drop" tournament, which featured 48 top pros and wealthy businessmen. He was unfortunately the first player eliminated, losing with a straight against a flush. Despite this setback, his live tournament winnings exceeded $2.2 million by 2019.

After years of intense play, Smith became burned out and took a long break from poker. He last cashed at the WSOP in 2013 and did not play a meaningful hand for nearly a decade. During his hiatus, he focused on producing movies and TV shows, as well as getting involved in the music business. One of his notable projects is a biopic about the late Doyle Brunson, though no release date has been set as he searches for the right actor.

In June 2024, Smith returned to the WSOP to compete in Event #66: $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Championship. He explained that the urge to play came suddenly, and he felt ready to return. He noted that the poker landscape had changed significantly, with many unfamiliar players and the influence of cryptocurrency. Smith expressed interest in winning his first WSOP bracelet and planned to enter a few more events that summer.

Smith is known for his aggressive and adaptable style, particularly in high-stakes cash games. He built his bankroll from micro-stakes to the highest levels, demonstrating a deep understanding of game theory and opponent exploitation. His ability to transition between online and live play, as well as between tournaments and cash games, made him a formidable opponent during the poker boom.

Despite his relatively short time at the top, Smith left a lasting impact on the poker community. He appeared on the covers of Bluff Magazine (October 2010) and WPT Magazine (January 2011), and his high-stakes exploits were legendary. His return to the WSOP in 2024 was welcomed by fans who remembered his past successes.

In 2026, a different Justin Smith, a quality engineer from Yakima, Washington, won the WSOP COLOSSUS event for $550,000, but this is not the same person as "BoostedJ" Smith. The poker world continues to watch both players, but "BoostedJ" remains a distinct figure with his own legacy.

As of 2024, Smith's live tournament earnings stand at over $2.2 million, and he remains an influential figure in the poker world, both for his past achievements and his ongoing projects outside the game.