Here are the top five celebrity poker players that have extended their name from Hollywood to the felt.
The excitement, glamour, and prestige of the professional poker world is not unlike the glam of Hollywood itself.
Big-name celebrities have picked up on the thrills and tried their hands at the game of poker, too.
Some celebrity poker players have even won poker tournaments, stacking up cash in the background as their careers blossomed.
5. Matt Damon
Matt Damon is an award-winning actor known for films like Good Will Hunting, The Martian, and the Bourne franchise. In the poker world, he’s best known for his role in the film Rounders.
He plays a law student who competes in the World Series of Poker with his friend to pay off a huge debt.
Damon’s role in one of the most highly acclaimed poker movies in the world wasn’t purely method acting. Damon has been an avid poker player who competed in the underground cash games known as “Molly’s Game”.
He joined the World Series of Poker in preparation for his role in Rounders.
He has played against big names like Doyle Brunson at the 2010 WSOP Main Event, donating the proceeds to multiple charities.
4. Ray Romano
The Everybody Loves Raymond star has competed in the $10,000 WSOP Main Event every year since 2007.
Romano focused his attention on his passion for poker, competing in multiple tournaments with commendable success. He reached the final table in the No-Limit Texas Hold’em tournament, and made it to Day 3 against 6,352 players in the 2013 WSOP. On one occasion, Romano even brought his son along to a WSOP event.
Romano said he’s been playing in private games since he was a teenager, and continues to practice at a monthly “turbo style” gathering.
3. Ben Affleck
Affleck’s celebrity status as a major Hollywood actor in blockbuster films, but he’s caused a stir in the poker industry too.
Affleck has seen success after winning $356,400 at the Championship in 2004 after training with Amir Vahedy and Annie Duke.
He frequented high-stakes poker games run by Molly Bloom, has attended the WSOP many times, and participated in the Ante Up for Africa charity tournaments.
Affleck’s gambling activities go even beyond the felt. He was banned from the Hard Rock Casino for card counting where he reportedly won over $1 million dollars on multiple occasions, according to the NY Post.
2. Jean-Robert Bellande
You may recognize Jean-Robert Bellande from Survivor: China, or his appearance playing poker on the television show Poker After Dark.
Bellande is known as a high-rolling baller with a cutthroat playing style who isn’t afraid to take big swings.
Known on the felt as “Action Bob”, Bellande has seen plenty of action. He’s won more than $2,800,000, and possibly well beyond that figure.
Bellande finally took home the 2018 WSOP bracelet at the $5,000 No-Limit Hold ’em Six-Handed event, where he won $616,302.
He left a strong impression for his aggressive banter and table presence that stuck with him throughout his poker career.
1. Jennifer Tilly
No celeb has done as well as The Family Guy and Bride of Chucky actress Jennifer Tilly.
She’s been cultivating her poker game since her father gifted her the video game “World Series of Poker”.
The Monsters, Inc. voice actress went on to compete in professional tournaments winning over $1 million in cashes. Her first major success came at the 2005 WSOP Ladies No-Limit Texas Hold ’em event. She impressively beat out 600 other players to win $158,625.
She holds the distinction of being the first-ever celebrity to win a World Series Tournament.
Later that year she won the third World Poker Tour Ladies Invitational Tournament near Los Angeles. In 2008, she put her chips away and retired from playing poker professionally.
These top five celebrity poker players have found their passion both on the screen and behind the felt. You can follow in the footsteps of the A-listers, and play your favourite poker game at Ozoon. Maybe one day we’ll see you sitting beside Ray Romano at the WSOP tournament, competing for the cash. Or maybe one day you’ll feature in our best poker players in Canada list. You never know.