The 10 Richest Poker Players in Canada: 2026 Wealth Ranking

Richest Poker Players in Canada

Poker has allowed several talented Canadians to build genuine fortunes. Through enormous tournament winnings, lucrative sponsorship deals, and other income sources, these professional players have accumulated impressive assets. Here is the top 10 of the richest Canadian poker players.

Top 10 Richest Canadian Poker Players in 2025

1. Daniel Negreanu – Approximately CAD $120M

Daniel “Kid Poker” Negreanu is unquestionably the most famous and wealthiest Canadian poker player. With six World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelets and two World Poker Tour (WPT) titles to his name, he has accumulated more than $50M USD in tournament winnings over his career. His personal fortune is estimated at more than $100 million, with some evaluators placing it at around CAD $120M. A large part of this wealth comes from his live tournament results – Negreanu long held the 1st place on the worldwide All-Time Money List.

Daniel Negreanu

In parallel, he has benefited from very lucrative sponsorship deals, notably with PokerStars for 12 years, then as GGPoker ambassador. These partnerships have brought him additional millions and reinforced his fame. Negreanu has also diversified his income by publishing a successful book on poker and making media appearances (he was seen in the film X-Men Origins: Wolverine in a cameo, for example). Interesting anecdote: despite his immense success, Daniel went through tough beginnings in Las Vegas, going bankrupt several times in his youth.

His perseverance paid off, making him one of the most successful players in history, with a friendly style and legendary game-reading ability that have allowed him to amass this considerable fortune.

2. Timothy Adams – Approximately CAD $110M

Timothy Adams is the Canadian king of high rollers. Very media-shy, this Ontarian has nonetheless accumulated a fortune estimated at nearly $110 million Canadian through his performances at the highest stakes. He is the second-largest Canadian earner in live tournaments behind Negreanu, with more than $38M USD in tournament winnings. A specialist in high-stakes tournaments, he has twice won the prestigious Super High Roller Bowl (including a victory in Sochi in 2020 for $3.6M USD) and has distinguished himself on the Triton Poker circuit, earning millions with each victory.

Timothy Adams

Unlike others, Adams doesn’t have extensive income outside of poker – he isn’t particularly active on Twitch or in public sponsorship – but he has multiplied his online winnings under the alias “Tim0thee” and made a few appearances in charitable events. His fortune therefore comes mainly from his tournament winnings, which he has managed prudently. A notable moment from his career: in 2019 in Jeju, he won an enormous Triton Main Event, then a few months later pulled off a memorable bluff against Mikita Badziakouski during a €250,000 High Roller at WSOP Europe (even though he didn’t win that particular tournament).

Timothy Adams embodies calm and methodical success – not very media-present but formidably effective – which has allowed him to amass a colossal fortune among the global poker elite.

3. Sam Greenwood – Approximately CAD $50M

Sam Greenwood is another Canadian who has made his fortune through very high-stakes poker tournaments. A former stock trader, this Torontonian turned to professional poker with great success. His live tournament winnings exceed $36M USD, placing him among the 20 most prolific players in the world. His personal fortune is estimated at around $50 million Canadian, fed by his many performances.

Sam Greenwood

Greenwood excels particularly in Super High Rollers: he has won $50,000 and $100,000 buy-in tournaments around the world (EPT, partypoker MILLIONS, etc.), including several victories worth more than a million dollars each. While he has only one WSOP bracelet, Sam has a multitude of final table appearances at prestigious events. Unlike some of his counterparts, he does not have a major permanent sponsorship deal, but he has sometimes worn poker site logos during his deep runs.

Beyond his tournament winnings, Greenwood has no doubt grown his money through his financial knowledge and smart investments. A fun fact: Sam isn’t the only one in his family in poker – his twin brothers Luc and Max Greenwood are also successful players, and the three brothers have already participated together in final tables of the same tournament, a rare feat that underscores the “family” atmosphere of his success. Sam Greenwood’s trajectory shows how an analytical and competitive mindset can quickly build a substantial fortune in professional poker.

4. Daniel Dvoress – Approximately CAD $50M

Daniel Dvoress is one of the heavyweights of the new generation of high rollers, having accumulated a fortune estimated at around $50 million Canadian through his prowess at the tables. Born in Russia but raised in Canada, Dvoress made his name in private games and ultra-selective tournaments. In live tournaments, he has won approximately $38.7M USD to date, notably winning the Super High Roller Bowl London 2019 (for approximately $4M USD) and a WSOP bracelet in the online Millionaire Maker in 2020.

Daniel Dvoress

Very active on the Triton Poker circuit, Daniel strings together final tables against the world’s best, which guarantees him enormous winnings year after year. Unlike some champions, he remains relatively out of the spotlight: no flashy sponsoring or personal Twitch channel – Dvoress prefers to focus his efforts on the game itself. He is sometimes nicknamed the “Ice Man” for his calm and composure at the table, a quality that has undoubtedly helped him secure astronomical sums. He also participates in high-stakes cash game sessions whose results are not public, but which contribute to his bankroll.

As an anecdote, Dvoress long belonged to a circle of young Toronto professionals who trained together online, honing their strategies in the shadows before exploding onto the international scene. This studious approach served him well: now a multimillionaire, Daniel Dvoress remains one of the most feared Canadian players and one of the largest poker-derived fortunes.

5. Jonathan Duhamel – Approximately CAD $45M

Jonathan Duhamel entered Canadian poker legend by winning the 2010 WSOP Main Event, becoming the first Canadian world poker champion. This triumph earned him a one-time windfall of $8.94M USD, laying the foundations of a fortune now estimated at approximately CAD $45 million. After this historic victory, Duhamel signed many advertising contracts, notably as a PokerStars ambassador for several years, which provided him with a stable seven-figure income.

Jonathan Duhamel

He also published a book and participated in charitable events, reinforcing his image as a modest young champion. On the poker side, Duhamel continued to perform: he won two more WSOP bracelets (in 2015 and 2017) and totaled nearly $18M USD in live tournament winnings over his career. Among his other lucrative achievements, a high roller victory at the European Poker Tour de Deauville in 2011 and several final tables on the North American circuit stand out. A notable anecdote from his post-title life: in 2011, he was the victim of a violent robbery carried out by former associates, who stole cash and his world champion bracelet.

Fortunately, the police recovered the trophy, and this episode did not slow Duhamel’s financial ascent. Between his tournament winnings and advertising income, the former Boucherville student wisely invested and preserved his bankroll, and is today among the richest poker players in Canada.

6. Mike McDonald – Approximately CAD $25M

Michael “Mike” McDonald, nicknamed “Timex”, experienced a meteoric rise in poker that made him a multimillionaire in his early twenties. In 2008, at just 18 years old, he won the EPT Dortmund for $1.3M barely a year after he was legally allowed to play – a precocity record. Today, his fortune is estimated at around CAD $25 million, the product of his table performances but also his ancillary activities.

Mike McDonald

Mike has accumulated more than $13M USD in live tournament winnings over his career, with many notable achievements: a 2nd place at the 2014 PCA ($1M), several High Roller titles, and a notable return to the circuit after a hiatus during which he had announced his premature “retirement.”

Beyond pure winnings, McDonald has diversified his income. He founded PokerShares, an innovative company allowing people to bet on poker players’ results, which provides him with entrepreneurial income. Furthermore, he is said to be a savvy investor, having notably benefited from the cryptocurrency wave – a contribution that could represent additional millions in his fortune if certain industry rumors are to be believed. As an anecdote, Mike is known for taking unusual challenges: in 2018, he almost won a six-figure bet by attempting to make 90 out of 100 basketball free throws (he made 88, narrowly missing the bonus!).

In any case, thanks to his strategic genius and business acumen, Mike McDonald has amassed a solid fortune and remains one of the most financially successful Canadian figures in poker.

7. Mike Watson – Approximately CAD $20M

Michael Watson, often called “SirWatts” online, is a pillar of Canadian poker who has managed to transform his longevity into a solid fortune estimated at nearly $20 million Canadian. A versatile competitor, Watson has accumulated approximately $18M USD in live tournament winnings, maintaining himself for more than a decade among the world’s elite. He won the WPT Bellagio Cup in 2008 ($1.7M USD) and the PCA (PokerStars Caribbean Adventure) Main Event in 2016, and more recently a WSOP bracelet in 2021 that was particularly meaningful to him.

These major victories, combined with countless paid positions on the international circuit, have fueled his income. Added to this are his online winnings on PokerStars and other platforms under the alias “SirWatts,” where he has also earned millions over the years. Unlike some of his compatriots, Mike Watson has not been a very media-prominent sponsorship figure, and he has not officially represented a poker room as a long-term ambassador.

Mike Watson

But he is very respected in the field for his exemplary professionalism. He has no doubt benefited from backing (investors who finance buy-ins in exchange for a share of the winnings) in very large tournaments, and has also grown his money through rigorous bankroll management.

One anecdote illustrates his perseverance: he reached numerous WSOP final tables over his career, and it was only after more than 50 paid finishes that he finally won his first bracelet – a testament to his consistency. Today, Mike Watson’s career continues on its trajectory, and his fortune reflects a track record of hard work and an unwavering passion for the game.

8. Sorel Mizzi – Approximately CAD $15M

Sorel Mizzi is one of Canada’s online poker prodigies who managed to transpose his success to the live circuit, amassing a fortune estimated at CAD $15 million. Originally from Toronto, Mizzi first made a name for himself under the aliases “Imper1um” and “Zangbezan24” online, where he won millions in online tournaments during the 2000s. He then shone in live play, with more than $12.5M USD in official tournament winnings to date. Among his notable exploits are a 3rd place finish in the £1 Million One Drop High Roller of 2012 and numerous final tables in High Rollers in Macau and Las Vegas.

Sorel Mizzi

Sorel was also named Player of the Year 2010 by BLUFF magazine thanks to his remarkable performances that year. In addition to table winnings, he has been able to benefit from occasional sponsorships – he was associated for a time with an online poker room that supported him during certain tournaments, which added to his income. Mizzi has however experienced some controversies in his online career (stories of shared accounts led to suspensions), but he managed to bounce back and maintain his profitability.

As an anecdote, Sorel is recognized for his overflowing enthusiasm: during a victory in Australia, he celebrated by doing a lap of honor carrying the Canadian flag on his shoulders, showing how much he savors his successes. Still active today, Mizzi continues to play around the world, and his solid fortune testifies to his talent for winning across all poker variants and formats.

9. Pascal Lefrançois – Approximately CAD $10M

The Québécois Pascal Lefrançois made his name by winning a WSOP bracelet as early as 2010, then by coming close to the Main Event final table that same year (eliminated 11th in the world championship). Since then, he has climbed the high roller ranks and built a fortune estimated at more than $10 million Canadian. His live tournament winnings are approximately $10M USD, highlighted by two major performances that boosted his bankroll: in 2018, Pascal won the partypoker MILLIONS Grand Final Barcelona title (a prestigious Main Event with a €10,000 buy-in) for a prize of €1.7M; the following year, he triumphed at the WSOP Europe High Roller One Drop 2019 in Rozvadov, pocketing a further €3.8M.

Pascal Lefrançois

These two combined scores exploded his track record and income. Although less media-present than others, Lefrançois has no doubt used these victories to secure his fortune, through investments and by carefully selecting his tournaments. He is appreciated for his seriousness and calm at the tables, which sometimes earns him the nickname of the Québécois “poker machine.” While he has no long-term sponsorship deal with an online room, he has been seen wearing the logo of Playground Poker Club, the famous Montreal room, underscoring his local attachment.

A fun fact: Pascal briefly juggled poker and finance studies before fully committing to cards, and he attributes part of his prudent bankroll management to his academic background. Thanks to a few very lucrative breakthroughs and a well-managed career, Pascal Lefrançois joins the club of Canadian millionaire players in dollars, and features in 9th place in this wealth ranking.

10. Kristen Bicknell (Foxen) – Approximately CAD $5M

Kristen Bicknell – now also known as Kristen Foxen since her marriage – is the wealthiest Canadian female poker player, with a fortune estimated at around $5 million. Originally from St. Catharines, Ontario, Kristen first distinguished herself online where she won hundreds of thousands of dollars under the alias “krissyb24,” twice becoming a Supernova Elite on PokerStars (which already earned her significant bonuses). In live play, she has accumulated more than $5M USD in tournament winnings, having won three WSOP bracelets (including the Ladies Event 2013 and two open events in 2016 and 2020).

Kristen Bicknell

She has strung together successes in mid-stakes and high-stakes tournaments, which propelled her to the top of the global women’s ranking for several years. Beyond the tables, Bicknell has also benefited from notable sponsorship deals: she was a partypoker ambassador between 2018 and 2021, which provided her with additional income while also giving her increased visibility. She is also active on Twitch and social media, generating poker-related influencer income.

Interesting anecdote: Kristen was named GPI (Global Poker Index) Women’s Player of the Year three consecutive years (2017, 2018, 2019), a rare feat that shows her consistency – and these honors were often accompanied by bonuses or additional contracts. Now married to American Alex Foxen (also a poker champion), they form a genuine poker “power couple”. Together, they intelligently manage their careers and investments, consolidating a comfortable financial base. Kristen Bicknell-Foxen, by breaking the glass ceiling of poker, has demonstrated that a Canadian woman can not only excel at the highest level, but also accumulate a fine fortune through this game.

FAQ on the 10 Richest Poker Players in Canada

Q: Who is the richest poker player in the world?
A: If one includes billionaire businessmen who play poker as amateurs, names like Andy Beal (a Texas banker who faced the pros in high-stakes games, with a fortune of several billion) or Canadian Guy Laliberté (founder of Cirque du Soleil and initiator of the Big One for One Drop tournament) feature among the wealthiest. However, these fortunes come mostly from their businesses outside of poker.

Among full-time poker professionals, the title of richest player is debated. Often cited is Dan Bilzerian, who claims to have accumulated more than $200M in private games (even if he inherited part of his wealth); or legends like Phil Ivey and Bryn Kenney, whose assets are estimated at around CAD $100M. Ultimately, it all depends on whether you count only money earned through poker or the total assets of people who play poker. In any case, Daniel Negreanu is among the richest professional players in the world, even if he is probably no longer the absolute number one globally in terms of total fortune.

Q: How do poker players earn money outside of tournaments?
A: The best poker players don’t rely solely on tournament winnings. Many also play cash games where the stakes can be just as high – these private or casino games can bring in substantial sums, often more consistently than tournaments. In addition, players can sign sponsorship deals with online poker sites or brands, becoming ambassadors and being paid to represent the brand (logo wearing, event appearances, streaming, etc.).

Contracts for top players can be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars per year, or even more. Some players also monetize their image and expertise via Twitch or YouTube by streaming their sessions, which generates advertising revenue and fan donations. Others write books, sell poker courses or coaching, or create educational content (videos, masterclasses) for specialized platforms – another income source.

Finally, several invest their winnings in parallel ventures: real estate, startups, cryptocurrencies, etc., in order to diversify their assets. Poker therefore offers a platform and capital that savvy players can grow well beyond the felt.

Q: Are poker winnings taxable in Canada?
A: In Canada, the taxation of poker winnings is a sensitive subject. As a general rule, gambling winnings are not taxable for individuals, as they are considered lottery-type winnings (therefore non-recurring and due to luck). Thus, an amateur who wins a one-off tournament will not pay tax on those winnings.

However, the case of professional players is more nuanced. If poker is a person’s primary activity and they derive regular income from it to live on, the Canadian tax authority (CRA) may attempt to reclassify these winnings as business or self-employment income, and therefore taxable. This depends on several factors (frequency of winnings, professional approach, sponsors, etc.). In practice, few professional Canadian players declare their poker winnings as taxable income, and there have been legal battles on this subject. For example, the CRA has already investigated certain major Canadian winners (such as Jonathan Duhamel) to determine whether they should be taxed.

So far, most live tournament winnings have not been taxed in Canada, but the situation could change if authorities determine that a player is engaged in a lucrative professional activity. In summary: a regular Canadian who wins at poker pays no tax on it, while a professional player could theoretically be taxed, even though this is rare and complex to implement.

Q: Do players keep the full amount of their tournament winnings?
A: Not necessarily – it is common for players not to keep 100% of their winnings, for various reasons. Firstly, many players use staking or sell shares: they sell percentages of their tournament entry to investors or other players. In return, these backers receive the same proportion of any winnings. For example, if a player sells 50% of their action in a tournament, half of any winnings will go to the investors. This allows the player to reduce their entry costs and lower variance, but in exchange they share their winnings.

Then there are the entry fees themselves (buy-ins) which can be very high – a posted win of $1,000,000 does not account for the fact that the player may have paid $100,000 to enter, sometimes multiple times in case of re-entry. These costs are deducted from the actual profit. Furthermore, if the tournament takes place abroad, there may be withholding taxes at source in certain countries (for example in the United States, a tax may be levied on the winnings of foreigners, which the player may sometimes partially recover through a tax treaty).

Finally, many professionals have private agreements: they may share their winnings with associates or coaches, or redistribute among friends when swapping percentages with each other to reduce variance. In short, the gross figure won on stage is not always what ends up in the player’s bank account, who may only receive a portion after honoring all these arrangements.

Q: Which Canadian has won the most money in poker tournaments?
A: In terms of gross live tournament winnings, the biggest-winning Canadian in history is Daniel Negreanu, with approximately $50 to $55 million USD won in official events. He occupied the top spot on the worldwide All-Time Money List for many years. Behind him comes Timothy Adams, who has amassed nearly $37 to $38 million USD in tournaments, placing him second in Canada.

Other Canadians like Daniel Dvoress and Sam Greenwood follow closely with more than thirty million USD each. It should be noted that these amounts represent cumulative winnings and not net profit (see the previous question). Furthermore, if online winnings were included, players like Chris Moorman (British resident in Canada) or other expatriates might appear, but generally the ranking is by nationality of origin and live tournaments.

On a worldwide scale, Negreanu remains in the top 5 of the biggest live tournament earners, even if American Bryn Kenney and Englishman Justin Bonomo have surpassed him in recent years thanks to enormous scores (they each approach $57 million USD in winnings). Nevertheless, Negreanu remains the undisputed Canadian number one in terms of tournament winnings and, combined with his other income, the wealthiest Canadian player in the poker world to date.