Media personalities who aren't poker pros also contribute greatly to the game's popularity. When Ben Affleck or Neymar Jr sit at a table, interest in poker surges and eyes turn to the sport. In the end, this is fantastic for the game and boosts the player base.

Here are the best poker players among celebrities, in no particular order.

Among movie stars, Ben Affleck, Jennifer Tilly, James Woods, Tobey Maguire, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Kevin Hart are the most avid poker players. Let's explore these celebrities and their poker achievements.

Ben Affleck: Known for roles in "Pearl Harbor," "Dogma," and "Gone Girl," Affleck's biggest poker success was winning the 2004 California State Poker Championship, earning $356,000. While he has no other major recorded wins, playing poker in private games may be more lucrative for Ben. Affleck also enjoys other forms of gambling, like blackjack.

Ben Affleck, perhaps thinking over a call/fold spot

Jennifer Tilly: Famous for 90s films like "Bullets Over Broadway" and "Liar Liar," Tilly became a serious poker player in the 2000s. Her career winnings exceed $1,000,000, including a WSOP bracelet from the 2005 Ladies Only Event. Tilly continues playing poker professionally, recently winning a charity tournament in Las Vegas.

Jennifer Tilly tops the Poker and Celebrity list. No other actress has surpassed the million-dollar mark in official tournament winnings

Jennifer Tilly is usually the most stylish and talkative at the table

James Woods: The "Once Upon a Time in America" and "Casino" star has career winnings of $430,468. While lacking WPT or WSOP victories, his largest win was $39,859 for 24th place at a 2006 WPT event. At 77, Woods still plays actively and made it into the money in at least two tournaments in 2024.

James Woods appear to play poker more seriously than most celebs on this list

Tobey Maguire: The beloved SpiderMan has earned $218,858 in live MTTs. Many consider him the strongest celebrity player, reportedly winning tens of millions in private games. Maguire's poker skills are matched by his controversial personality, as revealed in Molly Bloom's book about organizing celebrity poker games. The Hollywood film that followed was a reasonable portrayal of poker. Molly’s Game mirrored reality in several ways and is definitely worth the watch.

Tobey Maguire has quite the high-stakes poker story attached to his name

Kevin Hart: The comedian is closely associated with poker through endorsement deals with PokerStars and partypoker. The multi-talented business mogul and "Jumanji" star regularly plays in major live MTTs but hasn't secured any big wins yet. He once famously knocked out pro Fedor Holz in a $300,000 buy-in tournament. Whenever he graces the felt, entertainment is guaranteed. Check out the smile he put on Daniel Negreanu’s face during a bluff.

Daniel threw away 76o when Kevin bet on the Ace river – a classic play

Leonardo DiCaprio: One of today's finest actors developed a poker passion through his friendship with Tobey Maguire. However, Maguire significantly outplays his friend. Molly Bloom revealed that DiCaprio often acted as bait for wealthy businessmen, while Maguire reaped the rewards.

Leonardo beside Tobey Maguire

Many sports stars also enjoy playing poker. Here are some of the most notable:

Neymar Jr: Brazil's all-time top scorer has long been interested in poker. As of July 2024, the footballer has won $32,131 playing professionally. PokerStars recognized Neymar's passion and offered him an endorsement deal. His main contribution has been popularizing poker in Brazil, attracting numerous players to online poker rooms.

Neymar at the World Series of Poker

Ronaldo: The football legend took up poker after retiring. While his total winnings of $45,760 aren't staggering, Ronaldo's association with poker is cemented through his PokerStars partnership. Nowadays, he’s clearly focused on his business over poker. He recently sold his stake in Cruzeiro, the club which gave him his start.

Ronaldo on the left, beside Jonathan Duhamel

Michael Phelps: The 23-time Olympic gold medalist has had some poker success. In 2012, Phelps won over $100,000 at Caesars Palace. However, his tournament results are less impressive, with total winnings of $11,401. Still, for someone who’s career required most of their waking hours, Michael Phelps is doing just fine as a poker player.

Boris Becker: The Grand Slam tennis champion began playing poker before retiring. Becker represented PokerStars, partypoker, and Good Game but never achieved significant wins. His total poker earnings barely exceeded $100,000. In 2017, Becker faced bankruptcy, owing creditors over 50 million pounds.

Boris turned a disguised straight, but lost to a full house on the river

As you’ve seen, many of the top poker brands love to align with celebrities, especially athletes. PokerStars is the leader in this regard, pairing with top stars like Neymar Jr to build their brand and player base.

Player Rating
4.5
Players online
2,400
Deposit bonus
100% up to $1,000
Mob. client
Auxiliary software
Other
Regular rake races
Overlays in tournaments
Playing with Americans
Bonuses from the GipsyTeam
Bonuses for active players
Player Rating
4.5
Players online
500
Deposit bonus
-
Mob. client
Auxiliary software
Other
Play in USDT
Regular rake races
Bonuses from the GipsyTeam
90% rakeback
Player Rating
4.9
Players online
3,500
Deposit bonus
100% up to $600
Mob. client
Auxiliary software
Other
High rakeback
Daily Leaderboards
Satellites to worldwide tournament series
Bonuses from the GipsyTeam
Access to exclusive promotions
Bonuses for active players

GipsyTeam's Online Poker section helps players choose the best platform. All listed rooms have operated for over a year and earned user respect. Reviews, feedback, and ratings guide your choice, with current players highlighting the practical advantages and disadvantages of each site.

If you need a less expensive way to begin learning and playing – freerolls are here for you. They cost nothing to enter, but you’ll be competing for real money. Use them to polish your skills and slowly build up a bankroll.

Register using this link to get access to GipsyTeam bonuses:
  • Increased first deposit bonus
  • Increased rakeback and reloads
  • Help with deposits and cashouts
  • Access to private freerolls
  • Round-the-clock support
Win real money in tournaments without buy-ins!
114 more freerolls
Today 19:00 EDT (23:00 GMT)
$100
Free To Play - Round The Clock - Poker Tournament - $100 USD GTD
Today 20:00 EDT (00:00 GMT)
$100
Free To Play - Round The Clock - Poker Tournament - $100 USD GTD
Today 20:15 EDT (00:15 GMT)
$100
Daily Freeroll ($100 GTD)
The code
Enter bonus code GTPRO when registering:
Today 21:00 EDT (01:00 GMT)
$100
Free To Play - Round The Clock - Poker Tournament - $100 USD GTD
Today 22:00 EDT (02:00 GMT)
$50
Free To Play - Round The Clock - Poker Tournament - $50 USD GTD
12 October 03:00 EDT (07:00 GMT)
$50
Free To Play - Round The Clock - Poker Tournament - $50 USD GTD
12 October 03:01 EDT (07:01 GMT)
$50
Free To Play - Round The Clock - Poker Tournament - $50 USD GTD
12 October 04:00 EDT (08:00 GMT)
$50
Free To Play - Round The Clock - Poker Tournament - $50 USD GTD
12 October 04:15 EDT (08:15 GMT)
₮50
Freeroll NLHE Satellite
12 October 05:00 EDT (09:00 GMT)
$50
Free To Play - Round The Clock - Poker Tournament - $50 USD GTD
12 October 05:15 EDT (09:15 GMT)
₮40
Freeroll NLHE Satellite
12 October 05:30 EDT (09:30 GMT)
₮24
Freebuy Satellite
12 October 06:00 EDT (10:00 GMT)
$50
Free To Play - Round The Clock - Poker Tournament - $50 USD GTD
12 October 06:15 EDT (10:15 GMT)
₮30
Freebuy NLHE Satellite
12 October 07:00 EDT (11:00 GMT)
$100
Free To Play - Round The Clock - Poker Tournament - $100 USD GTD
12 October 07:15 EDT (11:15 GMT)
₮50
Freebuy NLHE Satellite
12 October 08:00 EDT (12:00 GMT)
$100
Free To Play - Round The Clock - Poker Tournament - $100 USD GTD
12 October 08:15 EDT (12:15 GMT)
₮40
Freebuy NLHE Satellite
12 October 09:00 EDT (13:00 GMT)
$100
Free To Play - Round The Clock - Poker Tournament - $100 USD GTD
12 October 09:50 EDT (13:50 GMT)
$200
Daily Freeroll ($200 GTD)
The code
Enter bonus code GTPRO when registering: