Phil Hellmuth

Phillip Jerome Hellmuth Jr. was born on July 16, 1964, in Madison, Wisconsin. He attended Madison West High School and later the University of Wisconsin–Madison for three years before dropping out to become a full-time poker player. Since 1992, he has lived in Palo Alto, California, with his wife, Katherine Sanborn, a psychiatrist at Stanford University, and their two sons, Phillip III and Nicholas. Hellmuth is a Golden State Warriors fan and has attended many games with team owner Joe Lacob.

Hellmuth made his first WSOP cash in 1988, finishing fifth in the $1,500 Seven Card Stud Split. In 1989, at age 24, he became the youngest player to win the WSOP Main Event, defeating two-time defending champion Johnny Chan heads-up to earn $755,000. That record stood until 2008. He is the only player in poker history to win a WSOP bracelet in five different decades.

As of 2023, Hellmuth holds a record 17 WSOP bracelets, the majority in no-limit hold'em. Notable bracelet wins include:

• 1989: $10,000 No Limit Hold'em World Championship ($755,000)
• 1992: $5,000 Limit Hold'em ($168,000)
• 1993: $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($161,400) and $2,500 No Limit Hold'em ($168,000)
• 2012: Main Event of the World Series of Poker Europe ($1,333,841)
• 2021: Event #31: $1,500 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw ($84,951) – his 16th bracelet
• 2023: $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em Super Turbo Bounty Freezeout ($803,818) – his 17th bracelet

He has 73 WSOP final tables and over $20 million in WSOP earnings, ranking fourth on the WSOP All Time Money List as of September 2020. He also has eight cashes in the WSOP Main Event (1988, 1989, 1997, 2001, 2003, 2008, 2009, 2015).

Hellmuth has won over $30 million in live tournament earnings, with 417 total cashes (as of 2026). His top five cashes include:

• 4th place in the 2012 Big One for One Drop ($2,645,333)
• 4th place in the 2016 Super High Roller Bowl ($1,600,000)
• 1st in the 2012 WSOPE Main Event ($1,333,841)
• 2nd in the 2011 $50,000 Poker Players Championship ($1,063,034)
• 1st in the 2023 Super Turbo Bounty Freezeout ($803,818)

On the World Poker Tour, he has made five final tables and 18 cash finishes, but has never won a WPT title. Hellmuth also participates in high-stakes cash games and televised events.

Hellmuth is known as "The Poker Brat" for his frequent outbursts and emotional reactions at the table, often complaining about bad beats and disparaging opponents. Despite this, his fiery personality has made him a fan favorite and a YouTube phenomenon. He is a tight-aggressive player who emphasizes hand selection and position, and he is renowned for his ability to read opponents, often accurately guessing their hands on televised shows.

Hellmuth has authored multiple poker strategy books, including "Play Poker Like the Pros" and "Phil Hellmuth's Texas Hold'em," and has contributed to poker education through videos and columns.

Inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2007, Hellmuth is widely regarded as one of the greatest tournament players in history. His record 17 WSOP bracelets—the most of any player—solidify his legacy. He continues to compete at the highest levels, playing in events like the Poker Players Championship and the PGT Last Chance series. Beyond poker, he engages in philanthropy and remains one of the most recognizable faces of the game worldwide.