You’ve played blackjack , bk8, and roulette , and now it’s time to meet some of the lucky folks who have gambled their way to fame and fortune .
Daniel Negreanu
From the ” Kid Poker” to ” Johnny Football” , Daniel is commonly recognized as one of the game’s top professional poker players. In 2009, he became the youngest player to reach the $1 million mark in career winnings, at age 23. Both of his parents were teachers , so education played a huge role in his life. Negreanu took pride in his education, while also maintaining a strong GPA and participating in various extracurricular activities .
Daniel is famous around the world for his ability to read the minds of his opponents. This skill has led him to become one of the top players at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas , where he has won more than $10 million in tournament winnings . He has played against some of the best poker players in the world, like Phil Ivey, Tom Dwan, and Phil Hellmuth.
He is an avid Canadian hockey fan , and also supports a number of charities that focus on education and cancer research .
Phil Ivey
A nine-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner , Phil Ivey has been called ” the world’s greatest live card player .” Currently, he resides in Las Vegas and plays regularly at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino. In fact, he is probably most famous for winning a $9 million hand of baccarat at the Bellagio in 2010. During that tournament , Ivey won his first bracelet, but ended up losing his entire $30 million bankroll in just 56 hands .
When he’s not playing cards , Ivey enjoys other hobbies, like golf and tennis . He’s even dabbled in acting, starring in a made-for-TV movie titled ” The Perfect Storm .”
In addition to playing poker professionally , Phil also coaches aspiring poker players . He runs a blog on his website called ” Ivey Poker Training .”
Heather B . Taylor
Just as classy as she is beautiful , Heather B . Taylor is best known as the winner of the first season of ” The Poker Princess .” She appeared on the show wearing a stunning red gown while arguing with contestants on the poker table . After the show aired, she became an instant celebrity , even appearing on ” Entertainment Tonight” and in the magazine cover girl for ” Sports Illustrated .”
Before becoming a professional poker player , Heather was a professional model and actress . Her modeling career took off when she won an ” Upscale Model Look” contest at the age of 18 . She has appeared in a number of commercials , advertising campaigns, and commercials for casinos.
Heather is married and has two children. She also founded a non-profit organization called the Taylor Family Foundation , which assists victims of domestic violence .
