Chris Moneymaker

Date of Birth: November 21, 1975

Zodiac Sign: Scorpio

Biography

Chris Moneymaker, born Christopher Bryan Moneymaker, is an American poker player who gained fame after winning the 2003 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event. His victory is often credited with sparking the poker boom of the mid-2000s. Moneymaker was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and holds a degree in accounting from the University of Tennessee. Before his poker career took off, he worked as an accountant. Moneymaker’s journey to poker stardom began when he won a $39 satellite tournament on PokerStars, which earned him a seat in the WSOP Main Event. Despite being an amateur player at the time, he triumphed over a field of 839 players to win the $2.5 million first prize. His victory is particularly notable because he was the first person to become a world champion by qualifying through an online poker site.

5 Interesting Facts about Chris Moneymaker

1. Chris Moneymaker has a surname that perfectly fits his career as a professional poker player.

2. He was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2019.

3. Moneymaker’s win at the 2003 WSOP Main Event is often referred to as the “Moneymaker Effect” for its role in popularizing poker around the world.

4. Before becoming a professional poker player, Moneymaker worked as an accountant and was also a part-owner of a restaurant.

5. He has written a book titled “Moneymaker: How an Amateur Poker Player Turned $40 into $2.5 Million at the World Series of Poker.”

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Chris Moneymaker

1. “I’m just a regular guy who got very lucky.”

2. “Poker is a skill game pretending to be a luck game.”

3. “When you’re on the big stage, you can’t be afraid to go for it.”

4. “I think everyone has a little bit of a gambler in them.”

5. “Success in poker is about doing the right things over and over again.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At his peak, Chris Moneymaker’s net worth was estimated to be around $16 million.

Children

Chris Moneymaker has three children. His personal life has remained relatively private, but he has mentioned balancing his poker career with family responsibilities as a significant aspect of his life.