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Celebrated Name: Phil Ivey
Real Name/Full Name: Phillip Dennis Ivey, Jr.
Gender: Male
Age: 45 years old
Birth Date: 1 February, 1977
Birth Place: Riverside, California, USA
Nationality: American
Height: 1.88 m
Weight: 78 kg
Sexual Orientation: Straight
Marital Status: Divorced
Wife/Spouse (Name): Luciaetta Ivey (divorced in 2009)
Children: No
Profession: Professional poker player
Net Worth in 2022: $110 million
Last Updated: March 2022

Also called “The Phenom,” American pro poker player Phil Ivey is renowned by friends and foes alike for his undeniable talent. A multiple-time record-breaker who has made millions in live games, Ivey is also one of the industry’s most famous faces. Although he hasn’t been as active since winning it big in Sochi in 2020, Ivey’s long and successful career has firmly cemented his spot among the richest professional poker stars in history.

If you’re ready to learn more about this enigmatic poker star’s personal and professional life, then read on:

Early Life of Phil Ivey

Phillip Dennis Ivey Jr. was born in 1977 in Riverside, California. When he was three months old, though, he and his family moved to Roselle, New Jersey where Ivey would spend his formative years. After graduating from Old Bridge High School in Old Bridge Township, Ivey began work in a New Jersey-based telemarketing firm. It was at this job that Ivey would be introduced to poker in the ’90s.

Proving himself a natural card shark, Ivey started visiting casinos in Atlantic City. Because he was underage, he used a fake ID to gain entry. Allegedly, the name on this ID is the basis of his other poker nickname, “No Home Jerome.” Upon entering adulthood, Ivey continued to play poker both online and off, before formally committing himself to the game in the early 2000s.

Personal Life

While he’s known as a cool and collected poker player, in real life, Ivey is said to be much more relaxed and good-humored. In his spare time, he likes to dabble in other hobbies like watching basketball games and playing golf. According to reports, Ivey spends a substantial amount of money collecting NBA memorabilia. His favorite teams are the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers.

With regard to golf, Ivey is a player as well as a fan of the sport. During the inaugural World Series of Golf, the New Jersey native even finished fourth. Although it’s not his main source of income, Ivey’s talent on the links has proven him lucrative, too. According to fellow poker pro-Daniel Negreanu, Ivey once won $1.2 million in a single day after besting the Canadian star on the course. Given all of this, it makes even more sense that Ivey is also cheekily called the “Tiger Woods of Poker.”

In terms of his family life, though, things haven’t been as smooth for Ivey. After seven years of marriage, Ivey and his then-wife Luciaetta filed a joint petition for divorce. This was granted in December 2009. Their union bore no children, which may have expedited divorce proceedings. Since 2013, Ivey has been dating Nellie Garcia. Not much is known about his current relationship, but sources say that Garcia is a model originally from Austin, Texas.

Age, Height, and Weight

Phil Ivey was born on 1 February 1977, which makes him 45 years old today. He stands at 1.88 m tall and he weighs 78 kg.

Career

Ivey’s career is made noteworthy by his success in online high-stakes games, live tournaments, and highest-stakes live cash games. Some of his most memorable feats include winning three WSOP bracelets in 2002, taking home more than $1.5 million at the 2008 WPT LA Poker Classic, and beating Texan billionaire Andy Beal to the tune of $16 million at the Bellagio’s Big Game in 2006. In the realm of online poker, Ivey has also taken part in Full Tilt Poker. Said to be a part of the original design team for the platform, Ivey has also played using his own Full Tilt account. This account has reportedly turned over some $20 million in profit, making it the most lucrative of any other online poker account ever.

Since the late 2010s, Ivey has reduced his professional poker participation to the occasional game. As mentioned previously, his last big win was at the Party Poker Live Super High Roller Series in Sochi, Russia. Although not the largest win he’s even had, this victory saw Ivey take home almost $900,000. Presently, his professional run has him ranked 11th in most career winnings and 2nd in most WSOP bracelets.

Recognitions & Awards of Phil Ivey

Even among the world’s poker elite, Ivey’s career stands out with his multiple cash finishes and bracelets. Recognized as an outstanding all-around competitor at the tables, Ivey is regarded among the greatest poker players of all time. To date, he has 10 World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelets, one World Poker Tour (WPT) title, and one final table appearance at the European Poker Tour. His abilities and achievements are so noteworthy that he was even made eligible for the Poker Hall of Fame before he met the age requirement of 40. On top of this, Ivey has also been named Poker Player of the Year twice by All In Magazine –– first in 2005, then again in 2009.

Phil Ivey is one of poker’s less controversial stars, but he hasn’t been exempted from legal troubles. In 2012 and 2014, Ivey was sued by two different casinos for alleged edge-sorting. This illegal card manipulation was allegedly the reason behind Ivey’s monumental wins in The Borgata Casino in New Jersey and the Crockfords in London. Both cases ended in favor of the casinos, with Ivey being forced to pay fines and forfeit winnings. According to the Borgata though, Ivey has yet to pay back the millions he owes. Reports say this non-compliance with court orders is why a federal judge has ruled that Ivey’s Nevada assets may be seized as reparation.

In 2022, Net Worth & Salary for Phil Ivey

All in all, legal troubles and divorce have done little to affect Ivey’s wealth. As of 2022, he is still among the richest pro poker players in history. With a net worth of about $110 million, Ivey certainly has no need to hurry back to the tables just yet.

For more net worth and salary information of another poker-loving celebrity, check out our profile on Deadmau5 on the blog.