Phil Hellmuth Jr., Biography

Born in Madison, Wisconsin in 1965, Phil Hellmuth Jr. is one of five children of Lynn and Phil Hellmuth. He attended local schools, graduated from high school and attended the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

In 1989, the 24-year-old Phil Hellmuth made history by becoming the youngest person ever to win the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event by defeating two-time defending champion Johnny Chan, a record that would stand for 19 years. In 1993, Hellmuth placed second in the WSOP competition and set another record by winning three championship bracelets. The bracelets are the highest non-monetary prize awarded.

Hellmuth is widely recognized as the greatest poker player to ever play the game. His 2007 World Series of Poker win marked his 11th career WSOP title – the most for any professional player. In addition to amassing an unsurpassed record 11 WSOP championships, Hellmuth set astonishing records for the most World Series cash prizes (68) and the most appearances at final tables (41). In 2007, he was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame.

Hellmuth is one of the most recognizable faces on television, with frequent appearances not only as a poker player, but as a host on ESPN, Bravo and NBC, as well as a competing coach against Annie Duke on FSN's The Best Damn Poker Show I and II.

In addition to his poker successes, Hellmuth has created a successful second career as author of poker how-to books including the bestseller, Play Like the Pros. In addition, Hellmuth created video and interactive games including: Phil Hellmuth Jr.’s Texas Hold ‘em cell phone game on Oasys Mobile plus introduced the Poker Brat clothing line. In 2007, he established Phil’s House Publishing Company, based in Las Vegas.

To commemorate the 20th year of his initial WSOP championship, Hellmuth launched a new book, Deal Me In, which profiles 19 fellow poker players at the top of the poker pantheon plus Hellmuth, the Poker Brat, himself. His published titles include: Play Poker Like the Pros, Phil Hellmuth Jr.’s Texas Hold ‘em, Bad Beats and Lucky Draws, Read ‘em and Reap, Phil Hellmuth Jr.’s Super Course, Million Dollar Poker Plays, Million Dollar Secrets, Million Dollar Tournament Strategies, and Million Dollar Online Poker Secrets. His autobiography, Poker Brat, is due for release in 2010.

As his net worth has increased, so has Hellmuth’s participation in charity poker tournaments and contributions to Habitat for Humanity, Doctors Without Borders, the TASER Foundation and Heifer International. He has given away all of his WSOP bracelets to family and friends with the exception of his first, which he keeps for luck.

Hellmuth lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife and their two boys.