Chris Moneymaker

There are few names as synonymous with modern-day poker success as Chris Moneymaker.

There are few names as synonymous with modern-day poker success as Chris Moneymaker, the then 27-year old being credited with the poker boom of the noughties when he took down the 2003 WSOP Main Event, snagging $2.5million for his first-ever live cash, having spent just $86 (or $40 in many accounts) on an online PokerStars satellite to get him there.

The ‘Moneymaker Effect’ came into being, an eponynous phrase used to describe the ensuing boom in online poker, almost every player seeking to emulate the ‘rags to riches’ formula which the Atlanta-born then-accountant employed to make it big.

His autobiography released in 2005 ‘Moneymaker: How an Amateur Poker Player Turned $40 into $2.5 Million at the World Series of Poker’ – co-authored with Daniel Paisner – relates his epic adventure in 2003, the blurb reading:

"Borrowing money to get to Las Vegas, he entered his first real-time tournament and spent the next four days battling for a top spot at the final table. Filled with everything from his early gambling ventures to a play-by-play of his major hands at the World Series of Poker, Moneymaker is a gripping, fast-paced story for anyone who has ever dreamed of winning it big."

Moneymaker went on to turn professional, hooking up with PokerStars and then-owners of the WSOP Harrah’s Entertainment, and has made more money from endorsements than from actually playing.

Although many have argued that he is far from being a top pro, Moneymaker himself has never claimed any such thing, and has steadily worked his way to almost $4million in career tournament earnings in mostly mid-stake events, with only three 6-figure paydays since his epic win heads-up against Sammy Farha when his rivered full house outgunned Farha’s 2 pair.

His personal life and poker career were heavily intertwined, Moneymaker explaining that the main reason for his first marriage failing, divorcing in 2004, was ‘me wanting to be a traveling poker pro.’

"She didn't sign up for that life. She was married to a stay-at-home accountant who was not traveling the world, gone all the time, and gambling a lot of money. And it was a choice I had to make. I tried to be good, stay at my job, and be that accountant, but in all honesty I didn't want to."

Moneymaker has a daughter from his first marriage, Ashley who born three months before he won the WSOP Main Event, and he married his current wife, Christina Wren, in Las Vegas in April 2005, the couple settling down in Nashville, Tennessee.

His travelling pro days are certainly not over, even 14 years after his memorable Main Event victory – this year 2017 seeing him play not only in the USA but also in the Bahamas, Macau and Sochi in Russia – the latter at the PokerStars Championship Live event, a 15th place finish and $30,000+ payday showing he is still a force to be reckoned with at the poker table.

Read More
5 months ago1,346PokerTube,

Published 5 months ago

The Most Stacked Table EVER - The Cage Cash Game Tournament Poker Hybrid

Have you heard of The Cage? It's ACRPoker's brand of new poker where you blend cash games with tournaments. There are blind levels...

1 year ago2,148PokerTube,

Published 1 year ago

Chris Moneymaker Vs. Loperchaun (qualifier) - ACR Heads-Up Party [Match #4]

Want to know which ACR Ambassador is the best poker player heads up? We've got you! Check out the ACR Heads-Up Party where our amb...

5 years ago4,241Bellagio1,

Published 5 years ago

JohnnieVibes VLOG #36: I Made a Final Table!

It's been a busy times for Johnny Moreno as he plays in a number of live streams with some big names including Daniel Negreanu, bu...

5 years ago7,378BDJB,

Published 5 years ago

Run It Up Reno VI - Day 3

Another exciting tournament day on the tables at the Peppermill Casino Resort in Reno is topped off with the legendary Run It Up K...

6 years ago4,444BDJB,

Published 6 years ago

Moneymaker Talks PokerStars Power Up!

Main Event champion and the man behind the poker boom sits down to discuss 'Power Up'. The revolutionary game launched by PokerSta...

7 years ago5,661BestPokerVids,

Published 7 years ago

How to Play Turbo Online Tournaments

Pokerstars Team Pros ElkY, Jason Mercier, Andre Akkari and Chris Moneymaker share their top tips for the Turbo Championship of Onl...

7 years ago7,464BestPokerVids,

Published 7 years ago

Pokerstars Festival - Chris Moneymaker Interview

Chris Moneymaker interviewed by Talk Radio's Marc Berman at the new Pokerstars Festival taking place in Atlantic City, NJ

7 years ago9,775BestPokerVids,

Published 7 years ago

Poker Mistakes that will Make You Laugh

Sometimes, even the best poker players will make mistakes, and of course will fail. But also sometimes they do some mistakes that ...

7 years ago6,437BestPokerVids,

Published 7 years ago

National Heads-Up Championship - Duhamel Vs Moneymaker

Jonathan Duhamel and Chris Moneymaker do battle in their semi-final match in the 2011 National Heads-Up Poker Championship at Caes...

7 years ago6,608BestPokerVids,

Published 7 years ago

National Heads-Up Poker Championship - Brunson Vs Moneymaker

It's poker old timer Doyle Brunson taking on the spark of the poker boom Chris Moneymaker as these WSOP Main Event Champions battl...

The Greatest Runs Ever in the World Series of Poker

Since its inception in 1970, the WSOP has crowned hundreds of champions, but some runs have stood out from the rest.

Chris Moneymaker After the Poker Boom: 20 Years Later

Twenty years ago, Chris Moneymaker changed the poker world forever when he won the 2003 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event

Want to Make a Million Playing Poker? Pros Tell You How

Noah Kagan recently asked a bunch of poker pros how they would make a million dollars if they started today

Chris Moneymaker Gives Tips on Finding Success at WSOP

The 2023 WSOP marks the 20th anniversary of Chris Moneymaker and his historic run to victory in the Main Event after nabbing a seat to the tournament via an online satellite

Live Poker Events, 9 months ago

Michael Rossi Imitates Chris Moneymaker's Satellite to Main Event Success Two Decades on

As we arrive at the 20 year anniversary of Chris Moneymaker’s incredible success at the World Series of Poker, another man has achieved almost the same feat

Promos, 10 months ago

ACR Running Satellites for Upcoming Moneymaker Tour

America's Cardroom (ACR) is running a pair of satellite events offering packages for the new Moneymaker Tour

Business & Industry, 10 months ago

Latest Filing in the Chris Moneymaker PayPal Lawsuit Appeal

After more than a year in the legal battleground, there is new movement in the ongoing legal battle between PayPal and the plaintiffs in the "Moneymaker" lawsuit

Promos, 1 year ago

Next Moneymaker 2.0 Promo Coming Up on ACR

ACR is getting ready to run the Next Moneymaker 2.0 Promotion where players can aim to follow in the footsteps of Chris Moneymaker and change their lives forever

Live Poker Events, 1 year ago

Chris Moneymaker Wins Moneymaker Main Event in Australia

Does Chris Moneymaker live a charmed life or what?

“Moneymaker” Lawsuit against PayPal Goes Global

The lawyer fighting the “Moneymaker” lawsuit against payment giants PayPal has found a cunning way to expand the class action suit worldwide