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Poker Player Profile: Phil Hellmuth
(April 30, 2006)
Known by many as “the Poker Brat” due to his often wild and uncontrolled outbursts at the table, Phil Hellmuth is nevertheless considered one of today’s poker greats. A legend-in-the-making, Hellmuth can boast 9 World Series of Poker bracelets and 17 final tables. He owns several “Diamond Jim Brady” titles, four Hall of Fame Poker bracelets, and he placed second in the US Open Championship of 1996. He also has collected over twenty international poker titles on top of that. Very few poker players can match this type of statistics.
Hellmuth was born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin. Known today as one of the most successful tournament players of all time, he got his start playing poker in college at the University of Wisconsin. After a couple years he had amassed such a sizable bankroll that he decided, much to the chagrin of his parents, to quit college and focus on a professional poker career. However, it didn’t take long to convince his parents that it was in fact a smart move as the money began to steadily roll in. At only 24 years of age, he became the youngest player ever to win a WSOP bracelet. He beat Johnny Chan in the main event to make history and begin his legacy.
In one of his more composed moments during an interview, Phil shed light on his guiding philosophy: "I would like everyone in the world to truly 'see the good' in everyone else. I believe that if that were the case, then we wouldn't have wars, murders and cruelty anymore. I am not denominational in my religious choices, but I believe that Buddha had it right when he told his followers, 'It is important to see the good in everyone.' I have a long way to go in my life to get to where I would like to be, but when I am at my best I am able to see the good even in some of the slimiest poker players out there. Sometimes it is hard, but I can always find something good in them eventually." So, despite his bad boy reputation (which he fully acknowledges and often laments), he would appear to be, at heart, a caring and thoughtful man whose deep commitment to his family and friends shines through the nastier moments. Unfortunately many people feel he will be remembered more for his volatile table image than for the unparalleled success he has achieved.
Phil currently lives in Palo Alto, California, with his wife and two children. When he’s not busy playing poker, he is usually at least thinking or writing about it. He is the author of several top-selling books on poker strategy. He travels the tournament circuit, attending mainly the larger buy-in events. He is a spokesperson for Ultimate Bet, the online poker room, and he is featured in several television commercials on the Nature Channel, promoting the World Poker Tour. Phil Hellmuth is clearly one of the most visible faces in poker today.
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