Who Are Some of the Best Celebrity Poker Players?

person playing poker
Photo by Michał Parzuchowski

With thousands of tutorials, willing teachers, and strategy guides like how to play online poker in Australia, anybody can play poker and that includes celebrity entertainers, sports stars, actors, and more. World-famous poker tournaments like WSOP are a chance to win big and make a name for yourself in the world of poker and even big names like Matt Damon would be remiss to miss out. Below, we look at some of the best celebrity poker players. 

1. Jennifer Tilly

Jennifer Tilly gained worldwide success as a Hollywood actress but she is also a very keen poker player. Receiving her first video poker game from her father at a young age, she grew her interest in the game and has kept it alive to date. Tilly has won a WSOP bracelet and more than $1 million in live poker winnings. She won the 2005 Ladies No-Limit Texas Hold’em event and has appeared in many advertisements for Ultimate Bet and Absolute Poker. As Tilly tells it, she learns from the best – her coach and boyfriend, professional poker player Phil Laak.

2. Ben Affleck

This beloved, Oscar-winning batman actor is one of Hollywood’s most famous poker players. Affleck has been participating in cash poker events for more than 10 years and has played in several WSOP tournaments. In 2013, he entered the WSOPE in Rozvadov and won $255,000 against Chino Rheem in a €1,650 No Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw event. Affleck has also studied poker under poker geniuses like Daniel Negreanu and is so good, he was banned from the Hard Rock Casino over accusations of card counting. Affleck loves poker but also has a fondness for blackjack and, according to the NY Post, has taken home more than $1 million in winnings on more than one occasion.

3. Matt Damon

Poker lovers will remember Matt Damon as the face of Rounders, arguably one of the best gambling films of all time. Damon seems to have extended his poker activities beyond the movie into real life. Known for making regular appearances at WSOP tournaments, he was also a participant in the infamous poker world revealed in Molly’s Game. He prefers to keep his poker life under wraps but has won enough cashes to make waves. He competed in his first WSOP in 1998 going up against Texas Dolly, who eliminated him from the competition. In 2010, however, he won a WSOP bracelet in the WSOP $5,000 No Limit Hold’em event – his first ever.

4. Sam Simon

Creator of The Simpsons, Sam Simons is known to frequent local poker games. He has been playing live poker since the 1990s and has several WSOP winnings to his name. According to reports, he is comfortable at most poker tables, including Better and Omaha 8. Sam won the WSOP No-Limit Texas Hold ’em main event in 2007, becoming the first multi-millionaire to hold the title. 

5. Jean Robert Bellande

Jean Robert Bellande is a previous contestant on Survivor, China. While he was eliminated early, he remained on the show as part of the jury. But besides his time on Survivor, Bellande is known as a high roller in Macau, often playing in high-stake games. He won a WSOP bracelet in 2018 and, by his own account, has won over $2.9 million in poker tournaments and lost millions more.

Conclusion

Backed by sizeable bankrolls, these celebrities are no strangers to pool halls and tables. But, don’t let their celebrity status lull you into a false sense of security, actors like Ben Affleck are so good at poker they have been accused of card counting. At the end of the day, they help raise the game’s profile, which is already so high, making it more fun for players worldwide.