The Last 6 Years of Phil Hellmuth’s Main Event Costumes
Every year since 2007, Phil Hellmuth has tried to make an entrance to the World Series of Poker Main Event. He gets dressed up with a different costume each year, and the entire room can’t help but be part of the spectacle.
Not everyone enjoys it, and even Doyle Brunson once said that he was happy to be elsewhere so he didn’t see Hellmuth “make a fool out of himself.”
Let’s see Phil’s most recent Main Event costumes, from 2026 to 2021.
2026 – SuperPhil
This year, Hellmuth’s 2026 WSOP costume was a custom job. Phil strode in (late as usual) to the 2026 Main Event as his own superhero, with a slick black bulbous wig atop his head.
The black and gold costume was complete with fake muscles, a flowing cape, and the Phil Hellmuth logo as the centerpiece.
Flanking Phil in their own costumes were Jungleman and the two Hellmuth sons (Nick and Phil Hellmuth III).
- GipsyTeam’s Outfit Rating: ⭐⭐
- Phil Hellmuth's Main Event Rank in 2026: Did Not Cash
2025 – Highway to Hellmuth
After claiming before the Main Event that he wouldn’t be playing due to how exhausting it is, Phil went back on his word and arrived in a new costume.
Five hours late for the start of Day 1b, Hellmuth showed up dressed like Gene Simmons, rocking a leather jacket, leather pants, and glossy jet black hair.
Gold microphone in hand, Highway to Hell blaring, he walked into the cardroom with Frankie C, Jungleman, Phil Hellmuth III, and some other band members.
- GipsyTeam’s Outfit Rating: ⭐⭐
- Phil Hellmuth's Main Event Rank in 2025: Did Not Cash
Michael Mizrachi took down the 2025 Main Event, and the poker world enjoyed seeing a familiar face hoisting the coveted bracelet.
2024 – Karate Hellmuth
On Day 1c of the 2024 WSOP, Hellmuth walked to his Main Event seat dressed in martial arts gear and a black belt. This year was the year of karate for Phil, perhaps because it appears to have been sponsored by the Karate Combat league.
Whatever the reason behind the fit, this one was far less cringeworthy than his other costumes. We’re not saying it’s a great costume, but there’s nothing too offensive about it.
While "Kung Fu Fighting” played, Phil was escorted out by Scotty Nguyen, Shannon Elizabeth from American Pie, and Daniel “Jungleman” Cates.
- GipsyTeam’s Outfit Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
- Phil Hellmuth's Main Event Rank in 2024: Did Not Cash
This was the year of Jonathan Tamayo’s Main Event scandal, where a laptop on the rail appeared to give him insight about opponents throughout the final table.
2023 – Poseidon
For the 2023 Main Event, Phil Hellmuth took on the image of Poseidon, flanked by 17 mermaids on his way to the table on Day 1b.
This year was the World Series of Poker Paradise in the Bahamas, so the outfit makes total sense. It actually wasn’t half bad, relative to his other costumes.
Phil even went barefoot, fully committing to the act. The fit was complete with a golden crown, sash, and tunic, a green hairpiece, and of course, a trident.
GGPoker’s Daniel Negreanu said, “I wouldn’t do it… but I’m glad Phil does.”
- GipsyTeam’s Outfit Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Phil Hellmuth's Main Event Rank in 2023: Did Not Cash
Daniel Weinman won the 2023 Main Event, scoring the largest-ever prize of $12,100,000.
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2022 – Darth Hellmuth
Hellmuth wore a very cheap Darth Vader costume to the 2022 Main Event, but was not able to force his way into the money. He couldn’t even last one hour.
Compared to other years, 2022 was very low effort. The costume was a onesie that looked as if it cost $15 at the local Walmart. There was no fanfare or escort out to the tables, and it felt rushed. He quickly changed out of the costume and returned with his usual hat and headphones.
This year gets a low rating from us, based purely on the lack of commitment. If you’re going to come dressed up every year, at least make some effort, Phil. On the plus side, he did look in shape, but maybe that was because of the black spandex.
- GipsyTeam’s Outfit Rating: ⭐
- Phil Hellmuth's Main Event Rank in 2022: Did Not Cash
Espen Jorstad won the 2022 Main Event, becoming the first Norwegian ever to do so.
2021 – Gandalf
Seven hours into Day 1f, Phil arrived at the 2021 Main Event dressed as Gandalf, the wizard from The Lord of the Rings.
This was a good year, not for Phil’s Main Event run, but for his costumes. A movie-accurate staff, a sword, the full Gandalf costume, with other wizards and 16 models in tow. It must have been hot in this outfit as well, so he scores extra points for that.
Phil couldn’t cast a spell to take him deep in this Main Event, but he did score a bracelet in the $1,500 No Limit 2-7 Lowball a couple of weeks earlier.
- GipsyTeam’s Outfit Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Phil Hellmuth's Main Event Rank in 2021: Did Not Cash
Koray Aldemir beat Damian Salas heads-up to win the 2021 Main Event, which attracted a smaller-than-average 6,550 player field.
