Lee Markholt

Lee Markholt was born around 1968 and grew up in Eatonville, Washington. He is married and has two children, balancing his professional poker career with family life. Not much is publicly known about his early years before poker, but he turned to the game in the early 2000s and quickly made a name for himself on the live tournament circuit.

Markholt has built a career spanning more than 20 years, accumulating 210 live tournament cashes. His total earnings stand at $4,997,490 as of June 2025, with his latest cash of $3,478 coming on June 18, 2025. He has been a fixture in major events across the United States, including the World Series of Poker (WSOP) and the World Poker Tour (WPT). Despite frequent deep runs, he has not yet captured a WSOP gold bracelet.

Markholt has reached the final table of a WSOP event twice. Reaching a WSOP final table is a significant achievement, requiring skill, patience, and luck to navigate fields often numbering in the thousands. These appearances have solidified his reputation as a tough competitor, though he has fallen short of the bracelet each time. He continues to pursue that elusive victory.

With over 210 cashes, Markholt's earnings average roughly $23,800 per cash. His total of nearly $5 million places him among the top earners in live poker history. Many of his cashes come from deep runs in No-Limit Hold'em tournaments, where he has demonstrated consistent profitability. He has also recorded several six-figure scores, though specific amounts are not detailed in public records.

Markholt prefers to keep his personal life private. He resides in Washington state with his wife and two children. In the poker community, he is respected as a solid, experienced player who focuses on long-term success rather than flashy plays. He is known for his calm demeanor at the tables and his ability to adjust to different opponents.

In some poker databases, Markholt is listed under the name "Lee Mark Holt," likely a misspelling or variation. This alternate name appears in tournament results, but he is universally recognized as Lee Markholt in the poker world. His Hendon Mob player ID tracks all his results under the primary name.

While Markholt does not have a WSOP bracelet, his nearly $5 million in earnings and multiple final tables place him among the most successful players of his era. He represents the archetype of a grinder who earns consistent results through skill and perseverance. His career serves as an example of how longevity and discipline can lead to substantial success in tournament poker.

Lee Markholt's most recent recorded cash came on June 18, 2025, where he earned $3,478 in an unspecified event. This small score added to his career total of $4,997,490, keeping him just short of the $5 million milestone. As of mid-2025, he continues to actively participate in live tournaments, maintaining a steady presence on the circuit.

Markholt's career is comprehensively tracked by the Hendon Mob Poker Database, which lists his 210 lifetime cashes and all results under his primary name. The database also notes his alternate name "Lee Mark Holt," reflecting occasional misspellings in official records. His consistent performance over two decades has earned him a respected place in the poker community, though he remains without a WSOP bracelet.

While exact figures are not publicly available, Markholt's largest recorded score is believed to be over $200,000 from a World Poker Tour event, contributing significantly to his career total.

Within the poker community, Markholt is respected for his longevity and sportsmanship. He is often cited as a model of consistent tournament play, though he has not achieved the mainstream fame of some bracelet winners.