Paul Newey

Paul Newey was born on 6 September 1968 in Dorset, England. In 1991, he co-founded Ocean Finance, a loan and mortgage business based in Staffordshire. He sold the company in 2006 and left his CEO position in 2009. Newey later co-founded New Wave Ventures, a privately owned investment fund. He has appeared on the Birmingham Post rich list in 2013, 2015, and 2017, with an estimated net worth of $335 million at the end of 2017.

Newey is an avid gambler. On 4 January 2005, he nearly broke the bank at Birmingham's Genting Casino Star City, winning £3 million and forcing owner Stanley Leisure to issue a profit warning. He lost his winnings later that month. In 2014, Newey won four times at the $5,000-a-spin slot machines at Aria Casino in Las Vegas, totaling $1.75 million.

Newey began playing high-stakes poker tournaments in 2012, entering the $1,000,000 Big One for One Drop at the World Series of Poker (WSOP). He was eliminated on Day 2 without cashing. He returned in 2014 for the same event, finishing 7th for $1,418,667—his largest live cash to date.

His other notable results include runner-up in the €50,000 No-Limit Hold'em Eight Max at EPT Prague (2014) for $689,808, 5th in the €100,000 No-Limit Hold'em Eight Max at EPT Grand Final (2016) for $555,523, and second and third in high-roller events at the 2016 Asia Championship of Poker ($455,910 and $417,040 respectively).

Newey has four WSOP money finishes (as of 2018), including a 726th place in the 2016 Main Event. He has no WSOP bracelets. On the European Poker Tour, he has 6 final tables and 14 money finishes. His World Poker Tour results include one final table and one cash. His online poker alias is "topdoll287" (sometimes reported as "topdoll827").

Major Tournament Results

Newey’s career total live earnings exceed $6.2 million, placing him among the top UK players. His best live cash remains the $1,418,667 from the 2014 One Drop. Other significant results include multiple high-roller final tables on the EPT and in Asia.

Newey has continued to compete in high-stakes events, with several cashes at the WSOP and WSOP Paradise from 2024 to 2026. Notable recent results include:

• 7th place in the $2,750 WSOP Paradise Mini Main Event in December 2024 for $120,600.
• 95th place in the $26,000 WSOP Paradise Super Main Event in December 2024 for $86,100.
• 38th place in the $25,000 High Roller 8-Handed at the 2025 WSOP for $53,178.
• A series of cashes at the 2026 WSOP, including 45th in the $10,000 Super Turbo Bounty for $14,380 and 135th in the $2,500 Freezeout for $5,240.
• At the 2026 WSOP Europe, he placed 165th in the €5,300 Main Event for €14,000.

Newey resides in Tamworth, England. He is known for his low-key demeanor and rarely discusses his personal life publicly. He has credited his logical reasoning skills to his background in chess.

With career live earnings exceeding $6.2 million and a top-20 ranking among UK all-time money list, Paul Newey is recognized as one of the most successful British high-roller players. His disciplined, patient style and deep-stack expertise have made him a respected figure in the poker community, while his background in business and gambling adds a unique dimension to his poker persona.

• As of 2026, Paul Newey has 25 career WSOP cashes, including one final table from the 2014 Big One for One Drop. His total WSOP earnings exceed $1.9 million. In the 2024-2026 period alone, he has recorded 10 cashes for $308,000, with the largest being $120,600 from the 2024 WSOP Paradise Mini Main Event. He has also cashed in the 2026 WSOP Europe Main Event.

• Beyond Ocean Finance, Newey co-founded New Wave Ventures, a private investment fund based at Adam House in London. His net worth was estimated at $335 million in 2017, placing him on the Birmingham Post Rich List. His disciplined, analytical approach to poker is often attributed to his background in business and chess.