Phil Ivey Biography
Love him or hate him, Phil Ivey’s wealth earned through gambling is unimaginable. His influence on the gambling world is undeniable. This professional poker player in his mid 40ies is one of the most mysterious poker figures. He rarely appears in the media and leads a quiet life. However, his rise to stardom was quite dynamic and well-deserved.
How old is Phil Ivey?
Phillip Dennis Ivey Jr. is 45 years old. Born in 1976, in Riverside, California, Phil Ivey made his first steps in poker at a very early age. Namely, his grandfather started teaching him poker when he was just eight years old. At that time, they played for pennies, as Phil explained. Little did he know that he would earn millions of dollars years later.
Phil Ivey’s personal life
Phil Ivey got married in 2002 to Luciaetta (they were high school sweets) since they attended the same high school in Roselle, New Jersey, where Phil moved with his parents, a couple of months after his birth. They started a divorce in 2009.
Where does Phil Ivey live?
After the divorce, Phil Ivey resides in Las Vegas.
With lots of free time, he has a couple of hobbies. Basketball is the top one. As you may assume he is a tall guy (1.88 cm – 6 ft 2 in). Favourite teams are LA Lakers and Houston Rockets. He even participated in World Series of Golf and ended 4th in final group.
Gradually, his talent flourished, and he perfected his skills. However, he got used to playing only Five-card stud poker. During his teenage years, he was definitely a master among his peers. Therefore, it is unsurprising that he reportedly earned the nickname ‘No Home Jerome’. Namely, Phil Ivey used to fake his ID in order to play at the casinos. Later on, when he became a pro, he earned a few more nicknames – ‘The Phenom’ as well as ‘Tiger Woods of Poker.
However, the road to becoming a professional was a long one. After high school, Phil Ivey landed a job in a telemarketing company. He quickly started playing poker with his colleagues and advanced his skills. Quickly, he took his first steps in professional poker.
Becoming a Professional Poker Player
At the very beginning of his professional career, Phil was aware of the fact that he yet had a lot to learn. We have written about this phenomenon before. This is probably one of the most important things to remember. Achieving any result in any type of industry demands hard work. Becoming a professional poker player is no different. You never stop learning new stuff. Otherwise, you are done.
Either way, he lost to giants such as Daniel Negreanu, Barry Greenstein, and alike. People described him as a player fond of playing too many poker hands and playing to lose.
Phil Ivey’s net worth 2022
Nowadays, Phil Ivey is the synonym of an aggressive player who eventually wins no matter what. If there is anything worth playing for, he will win it eventually. He plays both online and live poker. His net worth is estimated at more than $100 million. He is the one of richest poker players in the world.
Phil Ivey bracelets
So far he has managed to win 10 WSOP bracelets. He was very close to win his 11th bracelet, but Aleksejs Ponakovs Latvian poker player had more luck that night.
If he had won this game he would join Phil Hellmuth the only poker player with more than 11 bracelets.
Is Phil Ivey broke?
No, Phil Ivey is not broke. Some tabloid magazines were writing about his financial problems but in the end, we saw those were just rumors.
Giving Back to the Community
As a true professional and a man of outstanding skills and willpower, Phil Ivey decided to share his wealth with the community. Therefore, he established “The Budding Ivey Foundation” with his mother, in honor of his late grandfather. The latter taught him the basis of poker and opened the doors to unimaginable potential.
Working under the belief that “One person can make a difference”, the foundation helps the ones in need. The people and children who are at risk turn to them for help. The foundation makes no selection based on financial, educational, or other circumstances. The main focus is put on children and their families and the various ways they can achieve a decent life.
Do you find the story of Phil Ivey inspirational?
