The 10 Richest Poker Players in France: Ranking of 2025 Fortunes
Richest Poker Players in France
TOP 10 Richest French Poker Players in 2025
France has several poker stars who have amassed impressive fortunes. From poker tables to investments to sponsorship deals, these players have turned their winnings into veritable financial empires. Prepare to be amazed by the sheer size of these fortunes and the varied backgrounds of these champions, from circuit professionals to brilliantly diversified personalities.
10ᵉ : Bruno Fitoussi - 4 million euros
Bruno Fitoussi is a poker pioneer in France. Nicknamed "The King" in Parisian circles, he helped popularize Texas Hold'em back in the 1990s. His track record includes a 2ᵉ place in the prestigious $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. tournament at the 2007 WSOP (over $1.2 million in winnings) and numerous performances at major international events. A former consultant to the Aviation Club de France, Fitoussi has diversified his income by advising gambling circles and by commentating on television. His fortune, estimated at 4 million euros, comes from tournament winnings, consulting fees and occasional partnerships obtained thanks to his status as an emblematic figure in French poker.
9ᵉ : Roger Hairabedian - 5 million euros
Roger "Big Roger" Hairabedian is known for his imposing size as much as for his success at the tables. He is the first Frenchman to win two WSOP braceletswith victories at the World Series of Poker Europe in 2012 and 2013. Having started out in the gaming circles of Cannes, Hairabedian has amassed some 5 million euros in career earnings. He has won numerous tournaments on the European circuit, building one of the longest records in French poker.
Away from tournaments, this veteran has capitalized on his reputation by taking part in sponsored events and sharing his experience, thus providing additional income. With an estimated net worth of 5 million euros, Roger Hairabedian is one of the living legends of French poker, and has turned his achievements into a solid financial base.
8ᵉ : Fabrice Soulier - 6 million euros
Fabrice "FabSoul" Soulier has been one of France's poker elite for over two decades. Winner of a WSOP bracelet in 2011 (the prestigious 50,000 $ H.O.R.S.E. tournament) and world poker champion in a variety of formats, he has amassed almost $7 million in live tournament winnings over the course of his career. Soulier first made a name for himself with regular performances on the European circuit (including a win at the 2008 Grand Prix de Paris) before shining in Las Vegas.
A former member of Team Winamax and then ambassador for other platforms, he has benefited from additional income thanks to sponsorship contracts. He has also made sound investments in the online gaming world. His fortune is estimated at around 6 million euros, the fruit of his tournament winnings, his sponsoring agreements and its poker content production activities.
7ᵉ : David Benyamine - 7 million euros
David Benyamine is a professional poker player from Paris, renowned for his success in both tournaments and cash games. He has won a WSOP bracelet in 2008 (in Pot-Limit Omaha) and a World Poker Tour title in Paris in 2003, propelling him onto the international scene. Later moving to Las Vegas, Benyamine became a regular at the high-stakes tables, taking on the world's best in high-stakes cash games. His tournament winnings exceed $7 million, to which can be added years of (sometimes fluctuating) profits at the cash tables.
A former member of the professional Full Tilt Poker team, he enjoyed substantial sponsorship income during the heyday of online poker. With personal investments and an extended career in the USA, his personal fortune is estimated at around 7 million euros. This sum reflects not only his card winnings, but also past contracts and good management of his capital over time.
6ᵉ : Sylvain Loosli - 8 million euros
Sylvain Loosli first came to public attention in 2013 when he reached the final table of the WSOP Main Event. This native of Toulon finished 4ᵉ of the 2013 world championshipHe went on to win the EPT Barcelona Super High Roller (1ᵉʳ), pocketing almost $2.8 million in one go. He later confirmed this by winning the EPT Barcelona Super High Roller in 2015 (1ᵉʳ for 1.3 million euros), proving that his initial success was no fluke. A member of Team Winamax for many years, Loosli enjoyed fixed sponsorship income in addition to his tournament winnings.
A discreet but effective player, he has accumulated a personal fortune of around 8 million euros. His income comes mainly from his exploits in international tournaments, but also from advertising contracts and careful management of his winnings, some of which he has reinvested to ensure his financial stability.
5ᵉ : Antoine Saout - 9 million euros
Antoine Saout went down in French poker history when he achieved the feat of reaching the twice to the WSOP Main Event final table. Revelation of the year 2009 with a 3ᵉ place in the Main Event (for $3.5 million in winnings at just 25 years of age), he repeated the performance in 2017 with a 5ᵉ place in the same global tournament. These stellar performances have enabled him to accumulate nearly $8-9 million in live tournament winnings. Sponsored by Winamax from his promising beginnings, Saout has benefited from the financial and media support of a major online poker room, which has ensured him a steady income away from the tables.
A regular player on the major circuits (EPT, WPT), he has managed to turn his winnings into cash and remains one of the most respected French players in the game. His fortune is estimated at around 9 million euros, fueled by his results in international tournaments, his sponsorship contracts at Winamaxand a measured approach to bankroll management that has enabled him to avoid financial setbacks.
4ᵉ : Benjamin Pollak - 10 million euros
Benjamin Pollak has established himself as one of the finest tournament players of his generation. His most famous feat is his 3ᵉ place at the 2017 WSOP Main Eventwhere he won over $3.5 million. But this Parisian has other high-flying performances to his credit, totaling some $12 million in career winnings. A specialist in High Roller tournaments, Pollak has shone on the European circuit (including a victory in a Super High Roller at the partypoker Millions in Barcelona in 2018).
His consistency at the highest level has seen him named French Player of the Year on several occasions. In addition to his prize money winnings, he has been able to count on sponsorship contracts, notably with online poker platforms following his 2017 success, which have provided him with a substantial additional income. His personal fortune is estimated at around €10 million. This sum reflects his major tournament winnings, cautiously reinvested, as well as his partnerships with poker industry brands.
3ᵉ : Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier - 12 million euros
Bertrand Grospellier, better known under the pseudonym "ElkY", has long been France's most successful poker player. A former e-sport champion who has successfully turned his hand to poker, ElkY has landed the Triple Crown (one EPT win, one WPT win and two WSOP bracelets in total) during his career. He has over $14 million in tournament winnings, making him one of France's biggest live winners. His major successes include his EPT PCA title in 2008 (2 million $), a WPT win the same year, and WSOP bracelets in 2011 and 2019.
Beyond the tables, ElkY has long been a member of Team PokerStars Pro and then an ambassador for other online rooms, providing him with a substantial fixed income. He has also taken advantage of the Twitch streaming wave to share his sessions, reinforcing his brand image. Thanks to his cumulative winnings international sponsorship contracts and a few personal investments (notably in crypto-currencies and gaming-related start-ups, areas he is particularly fond of), Bertrand Grospellier's fortune is estimated at around 12 million euros. This makes him one of the most successful French poker players of all time.
2ᵉ : Patrick Bruel - 55 million euros
Patrick Bruel isn't just a singer and actor - he's also an accomplished poker champion. A lifelong poker enthusiast, he has won a WSOP bracelet in 1998which helped popularize the game in France at the time. While he has over $1 million in tournament winnings (including a WPT victory in Paris in 2002), it's mainly off the tables that Bruel has built his wealth. His fortune is estimated at around 55 million euroswhich makes him one of France's richest celebrities. This sum comes from a flourishing and diversified artistic career, combined with his passion for poker.
Indeed, Patrick Bruel has sold millions of albums and sold out major concert halls, while also starring in blockbuster films - activities that have paid off handsomely. He has invested his earnings intelligently, notably in real estate and cateringand has long been the site's emblematic ambassador. Winamaxadding lucrative advertising contracts to his income. Bruel is proof that a poker player can build a financial empire by diversifying his sources of income, his sporting achievements adding to his exceptional entrepreneurial and media success.
1ᵉʳ : Jean-Noël Thorel - 250 million euros
At the top of this ranking, Jean-Noël Thorel is a special case: pharmacist turned high-rollerThorel's fortune is estimated at around 250 million euros. Founder and CEO of the NAOS dermo-cosmetics group (which notably owns the Bioderma brand), Thorel built an empire in the beauty industry long before he made his mark at the poker tables. A passionate gambler, he regularly takes part in the world's biggest tournaments and high-limit private games. Although strictly an amateur, he has accumulated over $9 million in winnings from live tournaments, frequently reaching the final table of tournaments. Super High Roller (including a second-place finish at Triton London in 2023 for over 2.8 million $).
But it's his business successes that make up the overwhelming majority of his fortune. Jean-Noël Thorel has reinvested part of his poker winnings in business and charity, while continuing to run his international group. His presence at the top of the poker scene is motivated by passion rather than profit, but it has earned him a certain notoriety in the industry. With around a quarter of a billion euros in assets, he dominates the rankings of France's richest poker players, illustrating that a career outside poker can bring inordinate means to indulge one's passion for the game.
Conclusion
Poker in France is not just a game, it's also a real lever for financial success for those who know how to combine talent, strategy and business acumen. From seasoned professionals like Jean-Noël Thorel, who turned his passion into a financial empire, to circuit stars such as Patrick Bruel and ElkY, these players embody excellence and income diversification in a highly competitive environment. Their career paths demonstrate that poker can be much more than a matter of playing cards: it's an entrepreneurial adventure where tournament winnings are complemented by sponsorship contracts, shrewd investments and rigorous asset management.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions about the Wealth of French Poker Players
Q: Who will be the richest French poker player in 2025?
R: In 2025, the richest French poker player will be Jean-Noël Thorel, with an estimated fortune of around 250 million euros. This businessman and high-roller tournament regular thus overtakes Patrick Bruel, who occupies second place with around 55 million euros.
Q: Is Patrick Bruel the richest French poker player?
R: Patrick Bruel is one of France's richest poker players, with a fortune of around 55 million euros. However, he won't be number 1 in 2025 - Jean-Noël Thorel, billionaire entrepreneur and top amateur player, is well ahead of him. Nevertheless, Bruel remains France's richest poker player, with a career essentially built on poker and entertainment combined.
Q: How do poker players make so much money?
R: Poker players' wealth comes from several sources. First, the tournament winnings can be very high for winners of major international events (several million euros for a prestigious title such as the WSOP Main Event). Secondly, many players sign sponsoring agreements with online poker sites or brands, providing them with a fixed income and bonuses.
Added to this are the cash game games private tournaments, where the stakes can be just as high as in televised tournaments. Finally, the best players often invest their winnings in a variety of areas (real estate, businesses, cryptocurrencies), growing their wealth off the mat.
Q: Who is the richest poker player in the world?
R: On a global level, the unofficial title of richest poker player is often awarded to personalities such as Dan Bilzerianwith an estimated fortune of around $200 million. However, Bilzerian is a special case in that his wealth comes largely from inheritance and investments, rather than from his poker results.
If we consider only poker-related winnings and fortunes, we can mention such legends as Justin Bonomo or Bryn Kenneywho have each amassed more than $50 million in tournament winnings, or businessmen gamblers like Bill Klein and Paul Phua whose personal fortunes (built up outside poker) also exceed 200 million. In short, France's richest player, Jean-Noël Thorel, falls short of some of the world's poker moguls, but his financial success in the poker world places him among the exceptionals even on an international scale.
