Phil Hellmuth Jr. is the greatest player to ever play the game, winning an unprecedented 13 world championships at the World Series of Poker, including his latest wins in July 2012, and October 2012, when he won the coveted WSOPE “Europe” in Cannes, France.
In 1989, 24 year-old Phil Hellmuth became the youngest person ever to win the World Series of Poker Main Event by defeating two time defending champion Johnny Chan. Phil’s record as the youngest champ stood for nearly 20 years.
In 1993, Hellmuth set another record by winning 3 bracelets as well as a 2nd place finish all in the same year. He recorded three heartbreaking 2nd place finishes in the 2011 Series in No Limit Deuce to Seven Draw, Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo, and the $50,000 buy-in mixed game H.O.R.S.E. In 2012, he made the final table of the “One Drop One Million Dollar Buy-In” at the WSOP.
Hellmuth holds the world record for both most cash finishes at the WSOP (99) and most WSOP final tables (49). Of his 49 final tables, 20 are in non-Hold’em games such as 2-7 Lowball, Seven Card Stud, Seven Card Razz, Pot Limit Omaha, and H.O.R.S.E. Of those 20 non-Hold’em events, Hellmuth has finished runner-up 5 times. As of January 2014, his live tournament winnings are $17,978,409.
He has won WSOP championships in 1989, 1992, 1993 (3), 1997, 2001, 2003 (2), 2006, 2007, and 2012 (2).
Personal History
Phil Hellmuth Jr. grew up in Madison, Wisconsin, the oldest of 5 children in a Catholic family to Phil Hellmuth, Sr., a dean at the University of Wisconsin, and Lynn Hellmuth, a sculptor. At Blessed Sacrament elementary, he was best friends with his classmate, comedian Chris Farley.
Phil Jr. begin playing cards with his family and first learned Texas Hold ‘Em at the UW student union. His most spirited games were against his grandmother, Agnes Slattery, to whom he dedicated his Harper Collins book Play Poker Like the Pro’s.
Phil Hellmuth attended the University of Wisconsin for three years, dropping out after winning decent money in local poker games. He traveled to Las Vegas 10 times before winning at the tables, and he often returned to Madison to build a bankroll by working as a field laborer for Blaine Farms de-tassling corn and tilling soil.
Philanthropy
Phil has chaired and emceed poker charity events that have raised over $30.2 million for charities worldwide. He is a longstanding poker tournament host and emcee for fundraising galas sponsored as well as benefitting…..The Clinton Global Initiative, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Eva Longoria’s “Eva’s Heroes”, Blessings in a Backpack, The Illinois Holocaust Museum with the J.B. Pritzker Foundation, Susan G. Komen, The Shimon Peres’ Peace Thru Sports Foundation, and many more. In 2010, Phil visited US troops in the Middle East on a USO Tour. It is the personal goal of Phil Hellmuth Jr. as well as Holdem with Hellmuth to help charities worldwide, raise $100,000,000 or more!