In this article, we take a closer look at the top 5 US poker players of 2025, highlighting their exceptional achievements, career-defining moments, and the records they have set on their journey to becoming icons of the poker world. These players have consistently delivered stellar performances, both in the United States and internationally, making them household names.
1 – Bryn Kenney – $73,041,920
Bryn Kenney aka King Kenney, is the current leader of Hendon Mob’s United States’ all-time money list with over $73 million in live poker earnings. Not only does Kenney lead the USA Hendon Mob All Time Money List, but is also currently the overall leader of the global all-time money list, cementing himself as the wealthiest poker player in the world of poker.
Born and raised in New York, Kenney initially played Magic: The Gathering, but his love for card games ultimately introduced him to Poker. He started his poker career at the age of 17 and never looked back. As of January 2025, Kenney has won 33 poker tournaments, scored two World Series of Poker Bracelets, and earned a whopping $73 million from his 212 cashes.
Kenney’s career-best live cash came in 2019 when he finished as the runner-up in the 2019 Triton Poker SHRS London $1 Million Triton Million for Charity and earned a staggering $20,564,324 payday. His latest victory includes winning the 2024 Triton Poker SHRS Monte Carlo $125k Main Event, pocketing $4,410,000.
2 – Justin Bonomo – $65,611,097
Before Bryn Kenney took over the lead in 2024, it was Justin Bonomo who used to lead the money list. Bonomo currently holds second place in the United States’ all-time money list with over $65 million in live tournament earnings. Bonomo also ranks second on the global all-time money list cementing himself as one of the top high-stakes pros.
Just like Kenney, Bonomo initially started his poker journey by playing Magic: The Gathering. As the popularity of poker grew among his peers, Bonomo thought of giving the game a try. His biggest live cash came in 2018 when he won his career third bracelet in the WSOP $1 million High Roller event for a career-high payday of $10 million.
Bonomo began his live poker journey in 2005, and as of now, he has cashed in 246 live tournaments earning $65,611,094 in total. He has won 36 live tournaments and scored three WSOP bracelets. Some of his recent cash includes a final table finish in the 2024 WSOP Paradise $25k Super Main Event, pocketing $1.3 million for his 7th place finish.
3 – Jason Koon – $59,175,978
Jason Koon, well known for being a high-stake regular, ranks 3rd on the United States’ all-time money list. Koon currently has $59 million in live poker earnings from just 231 cashes. He also has won 34 live tournaments and has one bracelet under his name. Koon has proved his prowess in high-stakes tournaments by holding the most Triton poker titles to his name. Jason Koon is a Triton poker regular and has won a record 10 triton title, along with 54 live cashes, earning $29 million.
His career-best live cash also came in the Triton Poker, when he won the Triton Poker SHRS Montenegro $1 million NLH Short Deck Ante Only for a massive $3,579,836 payday. His recent cashes include money finishes in the 2024 WSOP Paradise Triton Main Event, and a 5th place finish in the 2024 WSOP Paradise PLO Super High Roller, pocketing over $860,000.
4 – Dan Smith – $57,323,565
Dan Smith ranks 4th on the United States’ all-time money list and also ranks 6th on the global all-time money list. Like Koon, Smith has proved why he is among the best high-roller players with over $57 million in live poker earnings and 32 tournament victories. Smith’s most live earnings came in the Triton Poker, where he cashed in 29 events earning almost $23 million.
Smith used to be a professional chess player and shifted to poker because of the money. He started his poker career at 15 online poker, and by the time he turned 18, Smith solidified his position in the online poker community. Unlike his peers, Smith started his poker journey in the early 2010s and soon rose to stardom in a decade.
Smith’s biggest cash is $8,765,628 which came in 2019 when he finished on the podium at the Triton Poker London Million for Charity. It’s the same event where Bryn Kenney scored a whopping $20 million. His recent cashes include a final table finish in the Triton Poker SHRS Monte Carlo $150k NLH 8-Handed, pocketing $1 million for his 6th place finish.
5 – Issac Haxton – $50,589,312
Issac Haxton comes in 5th on the US all-time money list and is one of the most controversial poker players in the past few years. Issac Haxton’s live tournament career includes 19 poker victories, 219 tournament cashes, and one gold bracelet, pushing his live earnings past $50 million. Like several players on this list, Haxton started his journey of poker from Magic: The Gathering.
In addition to his 5th place rank on the US all-time money list, he holds the 9th place on the Global all-time money list, behind Spanish pro-Adrian Mateos. Haxton is a PokerGoTour regular and frequently participates in PGT high-roller tournaments. His career’s biggest live cash also came in the 2018 $300k PGT Super High Roller Bowl, adding a whopping $3.67 million to his earnings.
Besides competing in US poker tournaments, Haxton is also an Asian Poker Tour regular and has won the 2024 APT Taipei Super High Roller for a $287,690 payout. The pro wrapped up 2024, with two money finishes in the 2024 WSOP Paradise, earning $220,000.
As 2025 just began, everyone is vying to see who will take over the lead, or will we see any shake-up on the Top 5 US player list? We have to wait.
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