Celebrity Poker Players: Actors, Athletes & Famous Faces at the Tables
Poker has always attracted famous names, but the gap between celebrities who play for cameras and those who play for real money is wider than most people think. This page profiles every notable actor, athlete, creator, and crossover figure who has sat down at a poker table.
Some hold seven-figure lifetime earnings and compete against the best in the world. Others went viral for a single session and never came back.
We separate verified results from reputation so you know exactly where each name stands. For more, browse our full directory of poker players we cover.
Actors & Entertainers
Hollywood’s relationship with poker runs deeper than publicity stunts. Several actors on this list hold WSOP bracelets and six-figure tournament records built over decades.
Jennifer Tilly
Oscar-nominated actress (Bullets Over Broadway) and voice of Tiffany in the Chucky franchise. Tilly is the most accomplished celebrity poker player alive: WSOP bracelet winner (2005), $1,056,898 in lifetime tournament earnings across 63 cashes.
A regular on High Stakes Poker Season 15 (December 2025). Inducted into the Women in Poker Hall of Fame in 2022. Tilly also features on our list of the hottest female poker players in the game right now.
▶ Read Jennifer Tilly’s Profile (coming soon)
Gabe Kaplan
Star of Welcome Back, Kotter and one of the original celebrity poker crossovers. Kaplan has $2,015,776 in lifetime earnings across 38 cashes, including a 1980 Super Bowl of Poker title.
He served as commentator on High Stakes Poker for nine seasons (Seasons 1-6, 8-9, and a single episode of Season 10) before retiring from the booth in January 2023.
▶ Read Gabe Kaplan’s Profile (coming soon)
James Woods
Two-time Oscar nominee (Salvador, Ghosts of Mississippi) and three-time Emmy winner who has quietly built one of the deepest celebrity tournament records in poker. Woods has $458,155 in lifetime earnings across 131 cashes.
His focus is mixed games like Razz, HORSE, and Dealer’s Choice. Best WSOP finish: 5th in the 2018 $1,500 Dealer’s Choice ($23,686). Still grinding at age 78, with four WSOP cashes during the 2025 series alone.
▶ Read James Woods’ Profile (coming soon)
Ben Affleck
Academy Award-winning actor and director (Good Will Hunting, Argo). Affleck won the $10,000 California State Poker Championship in 2004 for $356,400, coached by Annie Duke.
He was a regular in the underground Hollywood games later chronicled in Molly’s Game. No recorded tournament activity since 2004.
▶ Read Ben Affleck’s Profile (coming soon)
Matt Damon
Oscar winner (Good Will Hunting) whose 1998 film Rounders is widely credited as one of the biggest cultural catalysts for the poker boom. Damon and Ed Norton trained at New York’s underground Mayfair Club during filming.
His actual tournament record is thin: $540 in lifetime earnings from a single Hendon Mob cash. His poker legacy is the movie, not the results, and that movie arguably did more for the game’s mainstream popularity than most players’ entire careers.
▶ Read Matt Damon’s Profile (coming soon)
Arden Cho
Teen Wolf actress and Netflix’s Partner Track star who has quietly built a legitimate poker resume. Cho finished 2nd at the 2024 PGT Championship ($200,000), defeating top professionals before falling heads-up.
She holds $436,828 in lifetime earnings across 13 cashes.
▶ Read Arden Cho’s Profile (coming soon)
Tobey Maguire
The original Spider-Man holds $218,858 in verified tournament earnings (12 cashes), but his true poker notoriety comes from the underground Hollywood games that inspired Molly’s Game.
The character “Player X” in the film is widely believed to be based on Maguire. In January 2026, court testimony reportedly showed he won $7.8 million from billionaire Andy Beal in a 2019 high-stakes match.
▶ Read Tobey Maguire’s Profile (coming soon)
Kevin Hart
One of the highest-grossing comedians alive and a poker industry fixture across three sponsorship deals: PokerStars (2017-2019), partypoker (2020-2022), and currently DraftKings.
Hart debuted on PokerGO’s High Stakes Poker Season 15 alongside eleven-time bracelet winner Phil Ivey and all-time WSOP earnings leader Daniel Negreanu, winning a $900,000 pot against Andrew Robl.
▶ Read Kevin Hart’s Profile (coming soon)
Jason Alexander
Best known as George Costanza on Seinfeld, Alexander won the Celebrity Poker Showdown Championship in 2006 ($500,000 for the United Way of Greater New Orleans). He holds $37,750 in Hendon Mob earnings across 7 cashes.
He has hosted his annual celebrity charity poker tournament for over 23 consecutive years, raising over $168,000 at the 2025 edition alone. Currently the spokesperson for the WSOP free-to-play mobile app.
▶ Read Jason Alexander’s Profile (coming soon)
Shannon Elizabeth
American Pie star with $247,851 in lifetime earnings (18 cashes) and a standout 3rd-place finish at the 2007 NBC National Heads-Up Championship ($125,000), where she defeated three WSOP bracelet winners.
Former Full Tilt Poker and CarbonPoker ambassador. Now plays primarily at charity events through her Shannon Elizabeth Foundation.
▶ Read Shannon Elizabeth’s Profile (coming soon)
Vince Van Patten
Former professional tennis player (ATP World No. 26) and child actor who became the World Poker Tour’s lead commentator when Season 1 aired in 2003, a role he still holds after 23 consecutive years.
Van Patten has $124,983 in tournament earnings (9 cashes) and is the longest-tenured member of the WPT broadcast team.
▶ Read Vince Van Patten’s Profile (coming soon)
Trishelle Cannatella
Reality TV personality (MTV’s The Real World: Las Vegas, The Traitors Season 2 winner) with $53,367 in lifetime earnings across 16 cashes. Best result: 3rd at the WPT Celebrity Invitational ($20,000).
Active on the Las Vegas and New Orleans tournament circuits. Most recent cash: January 2026.
▶ Read Trishelle Cannatella’s Profile (coming soon)
Sasha Barrese
Best known as the bride Tracy in The Hangover trilogy, Barrese pivoted from acting to poker. She has $120,306 in tournament earnings (34 cashes), with a best result of 22nd at the 2014 WPT Seminole Hard Rock Showdown ($25,372).
Plays primarily in Las Vegas. Multiple WSOP and WSOP Circuit cashes since 2012.
▶ Read Sasha Barrese’s Profile (coming soon)
Norm Macdonald
Beloved comedian and former Saturday Night Live Weekend Update anchor who was also a dedicated poker player. Macdonald competed in the WSOP Main Event multiple times and played on PokerStars’ Celebrity Showdown series.
Known for his dry wit at the table and genuine love of the game. Passed away in September 2021 at age 61.
▶ Read Norm Macdonald’s Profile (coming soon)
Athletes
Professional athletes bring the same competitive instincts to the poker table. The crossover between sports and poker has produced legitimate tournament results and some of the biggest celebrity cash game sessions ever filmed.
Richard Seymour
NFL Hall of Famer (2022) and three-time Super Bowl champion with the Patriots. Seymour is the most accomplished professional athlete in poker tournament history with approximately $980,000 in lifetime earnings across 35 cashes.
He won a WSOP Circuit ring in February 2026 ($106,577) and plays regularly at WSOP and high-roller events. Appeared on Poker After Dark multiple times.
▶ Read Richard Seymour’s Profile (coming soon)
Bruce Buffer
The UFC’s iconic octagon announcer holds $569,927 in verified earnings across 62 cashes, highlighted by an 8th-place finish at the 2024 WSOP $50,000 High Roller ($212,423).
He competed against Viktor Blom and Chance Kornuth in that event. Also won the 2010 Grand Slam of Poker Main Event. Openly pursuing a WSOP bracelet.
▶ Read Bruce Buffer’s Profile (coming soon)
Gerard Piqué
Former Barcelona defender (615 appearances, 8 La Liga titles, 3 Champions League trophies, 2010 World Cup winner). Piqué has built $738,611 in lifetime earnings from just 7 cashes: an average of over $105,000 per cash, nearly all at EPT Barcelona.
Best result: runner-up in the 2019 EPT Barcelona €25K High Roller (€352,950). PokerStars Athlete who appeared on The PokerStars Big Game on Tour Season 2 in May 2025.
▶ Read Gerard Piqué’s Profile (coming soon)
Neymar Jr
Brazilian football superstar and poker’s highest-profile active sports ambassador. Neymar signed with PokerStars in 2015 and was elevated to Cultural Ambassador in 2021.
He competes primarily online under the username “neymar-jr.” Notable results include a 7th-place finish in the 2025 WCOOP $10,300 Super Tuesday. During the opening week of SCOOP 2026 (March 2026), he reached three final tables including 3rd in the $5,200 PKO Bounty Builder SHR.
▶ Read Neymar Jr’s Profile (coming soon)
Chris Eubank Jr
British boxer and former IBO super-middleweight champion. Eubank was 888poker’s Cultural Ambassador in 2022, bagging the 7th-biggest stack on Day 1c of the 888poker LIVE Barcelona Main Event that May.
He has appeared on PokerGO’s Poker After Dark and at EPT Monte Carlo (May 2025). No verified tournament earnings on Hendon Mob, but active in high-stakes cash games, including streamed sessions on Hustler Casino Live.
▶ Read Chris Eubank Jr’s Profile (coming soon)
Content Creators & Influencers
The newest wave of poker interest is being driven by creators whose audiences dwarf traditional poker media. A single livestream appearance from MrBeast drew more concurrent viewers than most WSOP final tables.
Alexandra Botez
Chess Woman FIDE Master and BotezLive co-host who has become poker’s most successful streaming crossover. Botez won $456,900 on Hustler Casino Live (May 2022) and holds $150,873 in verified tournament earnings (14 cashes).
Current ClubWPT Gold Ambassador (May 2025). Also featured on our famous female poker players page.
▶ Read Alexandra Botez’s Full Profile
MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson)
The world’s most-subscribed YouTuber (~471 million subscribers) made a massive splash at the Hustler Casino Live “Creator Game” on May 1, 2022, winning approximately $438,900 in a session that drew over 100,000 concurrent viewers.
The game featured high-stakes cash game legend Tom Dwan, 17-time bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth, and Alan Keating. No regular poker appearances since 2022.
▶ Read MrBeast’s Profile (coming soon)
Kylie Jenner
Beauty mogul and one of the most-followed people on social media (~500 million combined followers). Jenner became poker’s most unexpected ambassador in March 2026 when she filmed a Vanity Fair “hot girl poker” tutorial for her Spring 2026 cover story.
We fact-checked every tip in her Vanity Fair tutorial. She hosts poker nights at her Hidden Hills estate with boyfriend Timothée Chalamet. No tournament earnings.
▶ Read Kylie Jenner’s Profile (coming soon)
Timothée Chalamet
Oscar-nominated actor (Dune, Wonka, Marty Supreme) who hosted a Cartier-sponsored poker night at Chateau Marmont in February 2025 to celebrate his nomination. Three full tables, professional dealers.
Guests included Tobey Maguire, Kevin Hart, and Nathan Fielder. Maguire, profiled above, has been playing private celebrity games since before Chalamet was born.
Co-star Elle Fanning publicly called him “pretty good at poker.” No tournament earnings.
▶ Read Timothée Chalamet’s Profile (coming soon)
Crossover Figures
These names blur the line between celebrity and professional poker player. Some hold WSOP bracelets and multi-million dollar tournament records. Others built their fame through poker and crossed over into media, business, or entertainment.
Alejandro “Papo MC” Lococo
Argentine freestyle battle rapper turned poker star. Winner of the 2016 Red Bull Batalla de los Gallos Argentina, Lococo has become one of poker’s biggest active names with $15,924,975 in lifetime earnings (64 cashes).
His landmark result: winning the $500,000 buy-in Triton Million at WSOP Paradise in December 2024 for $12,070,000 and a WSOP bracelet. Current CoinPoker Ambassador (March 2026).
▶ Read Papo MC’s Profile (coming soon)
David Williams
A top Magic: The Gathering competitor who finished 2nd at the 2004 WSOP Main Event ($3,500,000) and won a WSOP bracelet in 2006. He also captured the 2010 WPT World Championship (~$1.5M).
His $9,551,335 in lifetime earnings across 185 cashes make him one of the most accomplished players on this page. Also competed on MasterChef Season 7.
▶ Read David Williams’ Profile (coming soon)
Liv Boeree
British science communicator and physics graduate who won the EPT San Remo Main Event in 2010 (€1,250,000) and a WSOP bracelet in 2017. The only woman to have won both an EPT title and a WSOP bracelet.
Boeree retired in 2019 but returned at WSOP Paradise in December 2024, finishing 4th for $2,800,000: the largest single tournament cash by a woman in poker history. Lifetime earnings: $6,699,290 (107 cashes). ▶ Read Liv Boeree’s Full Profile
Tony Bloom
Chairman and majority owner of Brighton & Hove Albion FC (Premier League) and founder of Starlizard, believed to be the UK’s largest sports betting consultancy.
Won the 2004 Aussie Millions Main Event and the 2022 Poker Masters $25K PLO ($360,000). Lifetime earnings: $3,890,086 across 69 cashes.
▶ Read Tony Bloom’s Profile (coming soon)
Vanessa Rousso
Attorney, former Team PokerStars Pro (2006-2015), and Big Brother Season 17 contestant (3rd place). Rousso holds $3,557,622 in lifetime earnings (70 cashes).
Highlights include a 2nd-place WCOOP Main Event finish ($700,782) and an EPT Monte Carlo High Roller title. Now retired from professional poker.
▶ Read Vanessa Rousso’s Profile (coming soon)
Victoria Coren Mitchell
British TV presenter (BBC’s Only Connect), author, and the first person to win two EPT Main Events: EPT London 2006 (£500,000) and EPT Sanremo 2014 (€476,100).
Inducted into the Women in Poker Hall of Fame in 2016. Lifetime earnings: $2,504,768 (64 cashes). Semi-retired from tournaments, still plays cash games in London.
▶ Read Victoria Coren Mitchell’s Profile (coming soon)
Maria Konnikova
Russian-American psychologist, New Yorker contributor, and author of the bestseller The Biggest Bluff. Konnikova went from complete poker novice to WSOP bracelet winner under the mentorship of Erik Seidel.
She won a PCA National Championship in 2018 and an online WSOP bracelet in October 2024. Lifetime earnings: $1,021,110 (121 cashes). Current PokerStars Ambassador.
▶ Read Maria Konnikova’s Profile (coming soon)
Dan Bilzerian
Instagram personality famous for his extravagant lifestyle and self-reported poker winnings. The verified record tells a different story: $36,626 in lifetime earnings from a single cash (180th place, 2009 WSOP Main Event).
Despite claiming $50+ million in winnings, no verified high-stakes results exist beyond private games. Professionals including poker commentator and Upswing Poker founder Doug Polk have publicly disputed his credentials.
▶ Read Dan Bilzerian’s Full Profile
Molly Bloom
Not a poker player, but the most famous poker game organiser in history. Bloom ran exclusive underground games in Hollywood and New York (2004-2013) with players including Tobey Maguire, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Ben Affleck.
Her memoir Molly’s Game became an Aaron Sorkin film earning an Oscar nomination. Now a keynote speaker and podcast host.
▶ Read Molly Bloom’s Profile (coming soon)
Tiffany Michelle
Actress (ER, Nip/Tuck, Gilmore Girls) who made poker history with a 17th-place finish in the 2008 WSOP Main Event ($334,534) out of 6,844 players. At the time, the deepest run by a woman in the event’s history.
Lifetime earnings: $460,831 (43 cashes). Won a WSOP Circuit ring in 2022. Currently Creative Director and host of Gardens Poker Night.
▶ Read Tiffany Michelle’s Profile (coming soon)
Qiyu “Nemo” Zhou
Chess Woman Grandmaster who became the youngest Finnish national champion at age 5. Zhou was the first chess player signed by an eSports organisation (Counter Logic Gaming, 2020).
She streams on Twitch as “akaNemsko” and holds $53,512 in tournament earnings (8 cashes), including winning the Celebrity Poker Tour Invitational I in 2023.
▶ Read Nemo Zhou’s Profile (coming soon)
Magnus Carlsen
Widely regarded as the greatest chess player of all time, with five World Championship titles and a record FIDE rating of 2882. Carlsen dabbles in poker recreationally, with $22,207 in Hendon Mob earnings (2 cashes).
Former Unibet Global Ambassador (2020-2024). Has publicly stated he has “no ambitions” in poker, though observers say he could become world-class if he committed.
▶ Read Magnus Carlsen’s Profile (coming soon)
Curious About Poker? Where the Celebrities Play
Several of the players on this page compete on real poker platforms you can join today. Neymar grinds online tournaments on PokerStars. Alexandra Botez represents ClubWPT Gold.
Bruce Buffer is a regular at WSOP events. If you want to try the same games they play, online poker rooms offer micro stakes tables starting at $0.01/$0.02.
Our step-by-step Hold’em guide for new players covers everything from hand rankings to position and pot odds. For the latest tournament results and player stories, check our poker news coverage.