In the glamorous, high-stakes world of professional poker, the World Series of Poker (WSOP) is undoubtedly considered among the most celebrated and prestigious events. Held annually since the 1970s, it is now regularly hosted in Paradise, Nevada. Over the years, the WSOP has evolved to include 101 events and thousands of players.
During the last WSOP in 2024, a record-breaking number of attendees was reported. At one point, a new record for most single-day registrations was also set, with over 5,000 entrants signing up. As an even more impressive sign of just how big of a deal the WSOP has now become, the Main Event’s grand prize was a whopping $10 million.
That said, while most of the big winners at the WSOP are poker pros who have dedicated their lives to perfecting the card game, participants come from all walks of life. Interestingly, this includes many celebrities. Throughout the history of the WSOP, some of these stars have even performed well enough to take home some of the pot. So, if you want to know some of the most notable celebs to have joined the WSOP, read on:
Rene Nezhoda
Credit: @rbargainhunters on Instagram
First on the list is Rene Nezhoda, who is also still among the most active celebrities in the elite poker circuit. As recently as 2024, Rene even reached Day 6 of the WSOP Main Event. Born in 1977, Rene is best known for being a cast member on the hit reality show Storage Wars. Now in its 15th season, the show follows Rene and his family as they run their business, Bargain Hunters Thrift Store, and bid on storage units. Through the years, though, fans have come to know Rene for his poker prowess, too. According to an interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the card game was even his primary source of income before his reselling career took off.
Today, the Austrian-born TV personality is most notably an ambassador for Americas Cardroom, also called ACR Poker. The number one online poker site in the US, ACR Poker has been a trusted platform for pros and amateurs since 2001. This is thanks to its features, which include the adoption of secure financing options, like crypto, fast withdrawals, huge tourneys, and perks, such as a 100% first deposit welcome bonus of up to $2,000. To date, Rene is a co-ambassador of ACR Poker with his wife, Casey.
Ben Affleck
Throughout his career, Ben Affleck has put on many hats. Most famously, he’s known for being a highly successful actor, director, producer, philanthropist, and endorser. However, what not many people may know is that in the past, the Justice League headliner was even known to frequent casinos for blackjack and poker. Unsurprisingly, in terms of the latter, Ben has been known to take part in large-scale poker tournaments regularly. This includes the WSOP, wherein he has joined on more than one occasion. In 2007, he even played alongside his best friend and fellow Hollywood A-lister, Matt Damon.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Ben channeled his love for poker into more charitable efforts. Along with other celebrities, he held an online charity poker tournament where the proceeds went to Feeding America. Of course, using his star power for something he’s passionate about isn’t a rarity for Affleck. For instance, in 2023, he worked with the popular chain Dunkin’ (formerly Dunkin’ Donuts) after being openly a long-time fan of the brand. This was part of an ad for the Super Bowl with his ex-wife, Jennifer Lopez.
Jennifer Tilly
While some may argue that poker is dominated by men, multi-hyphenate celebrity Jennifer Tilly’s poker run proves that women are just as formidable on the felt. Known mostly for her role in Bride of Chucky, Jennifer has also made a name for herself in the mainstream thanks to her fashion sense and, most recently, her participation in the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. In poker circles, though, Jennifer is famous for her strategic performances and lucrative winnings.
Per her interview with Vogue, Tilly says she learned the poker ropes early on after her father gave her a WSOP video game. Later in adulthood, she met her current partner, poker pro Phil Lack, during a charity game. Through their relationship, Jennifer’s skills only improved. Today, one of her biggest poker achievements is a gold WSOP bracelet, which she nabbed after winning the 2005 World Series of Poker $1,000 Ladies Only Event – No Limit Hold’em.
Kevin Hart
Credit: @kevinhart4real on Instagram
Given that Kevin Hart is one of the most successful comedians in the world, some people may be surprised to know that he’s earned quite a bit from poker. Currently, he’s listed as having won almost $50,000 in total earnings, with one tournament win and five total cashes. In 2014, Kevin stood his own against other more experienced poker players during the WSOP Circuit.
Impressively, this wasn’t the only time that Kevin seemed to have bested other big poker players. For instance, in 2017, during the Super High Roller Bowl in Las Vegas, he beat out 16-time WSOP bracelet holder Phil ‘The Poker Brat’ Hellmuth. Given these undeniable skills, it’s no shocker that Kevin has often been by poker entities. This includes PartyPoker, which is a poker site owned by Ladbroke’s gambling group, Entain. While it has suffered drops in player pools over the years, prompting talks of the company being sold, it still remains a famous platform for many online card game aficionados.
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