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Daniel Negreanu
Daniel Negreanu
Daniel Negreanu
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Daniel Negreanu (/nɪˈɡrɑːnuː/;[5] born July 26, 1974) is a Canadian professional poker player who has won seven World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelets and two World Poker Tour (WPT) championship titles. In 2014, independent poker ranking service Global Poker Index recognized Negreanu as the best poker player of the previous decade.[6]

Key Information

As of August 2025, he has the seventh-highest live tournament poker money winnings of all time,[7] with US$56.9 million.[8] He was named the WSOP Player of the Year in 2004 and 2013, making him the only player to receive the accolade more than once. He was also the 2004–2005 WPT Player of the Year. He is the first player to make a final table at each of the three WSOP bracelet-awarding locations (Las Vegas, Europe, and Asia-Pacific), and the first to win a bracelet at each.[9] In 2014, he was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame.[10]

Early life

[edit]

Negreanu was born in Toronto, Ontario, in 1974, seven years after his parents, Annie and Constantin, emigrated from Romania. He can speak Romanian fluently.[11] The Negreanus had hoped to start a new life in the United States but ended up settling in Toronto where Constantin worked as an electrician and sold confectionery.[12] Daniel is five years younger than his brother Mike.[12] At an early age, Negreanu was ambitious, stating in a 2009 interview "From the age of four, I thought I'd be rich. I told my mom I'd build a house out of Popsicle sticks and move to California."[13]

He attended Pineway Public School in North York, where the principal complained to his mother about Daniel's "poor manners or behavior" and threatened to expel him for "ignoring the school rules."[13] While nursing dreams of a career as a professional snooker player, the then 15-year-old learned to play poker.[14] At the age of 16, he was spending time in pool halls, hustling, betting on sports, and playing cards.[15]

When he was several credits short of graduation, he dropped out of high school and began his life as a rounder playing at local charity casinos, usually at Casino Country and Fundtime Games and looking for illegal games around the city.[15] While in Toronto, he met and began dating Evelyn Ng,[16] who would also become a well-known professional poker player. After building a bankroll, he left for Las Vegas at the age of 22 to pursue his dream of becoming a professional poker player. However, "The Strip" got the better of him and he was forced to move back home to Toronto to rebuild his bankroll.

Poker career

[edit]

Negreanu is an accomplished tournament and cash game player. He has seven World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelets and two World Poker Tour (WPT) championships. He has also reached multiple WSOP and WPT final tables and won various other tournament titles. Negreanu was named the 2004 Card Player Player of the Year[17] and the WSOP Player of the Year.[3] He was also named the 2004-05 WPT Player of the Year. In 2006, Negreanu was named "Favorite Poker Player" at Card Player Magazine's Player of the Year Awards Gala. In 2013, he captured two WSOP bracelets and another WSOP Player of the Year award, becoming the only player to win the award twice.[18] In November 2014, Negreanu was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in Las Vegas.

Negreanu has regularly played the "Big Game" in Bobby's Room, in the Bellagio casino, Las Vegas, where the limits are $400–$800 or greater and the games are mixed. He is a self-professed action junkie who claims to always seek new challenges and set high goals for himself. Unlike many players, he is outspoken about his results and regularly posts updates in the Full Contact Poker forums. Some of Negreanu's success is attributed to his ability to read opponents. When asked about this, Negreanu explained that the most important skill he employs is observing what hands his opponents play and how capable they are of playing them.[19]

Tournament poker

[edit]

World Series of Poker

[edit]

Negreanu's first cash at the WSOP was also his first WSOP bracelet. Negreanu won $169,460 in the $2,000 Pot Limit Hold'em event in the 1998 World Series of Poker, becoming the youngest WSOP bracelet winner in history — a record he held until 2004 (Scott Fischman). Negreanu has since captured another six bracelets, including the $50,000 Poker Players Championship in 2024.[20] He has 36 career WSOP final table appearances, including two apiece at the WSOP Europe and at the WSOP Asia-Pacific, and 103 money finishes.[3]

World Series of Poker bracelets
Year Tournament Prize
1998 $2,000 Pot Limit Hold'em $169,460
2003 $2,000 S.H.O.E. $100,440
2004 $2,000 Limit Hold'em $169,100
2008 $2,000 Limit Hold'em $204,874
2013A A$10,000 No Limit Hold'em Main Event A$1,038,825
2013E €25,600 High Roller No Limit Hold'em €725,000
2024 $50,000 Poker Players Championship $1,178,703

An "A" following a year denotes bracelet(s) won at the World Series of Poker Asia-Pacific
An "E" following a year denotes bracelet(s) won at the World Series of Poker Europe

In addition to his 7 bracelets, he also won a WSOP Circuit ring in 2006.[21] After winning the tournament, he explained his strategy and provided some insights into his play: "I had a strategy designed for each individual player and pretty much followed it at the final table. The key to winning for me is that I stayed out of marginal situations. I don't want to get into a race with 6-6 against A-K and hope to stay alive. I think what I am best at is playing after the flop, and I wanted to get as many situations as I could where I was up against (an opponent) and could take them on after the flop. My goal is to see the most flops I can. I like to set traps. I let (opponents) get involved, and then trap them. If I get them drawing dead (which happened twice at the final table in big pots) - that's always the plan."[22]

World Poker Tour

[edit]
World Poker Tour Titles
Year Tournament Prize (US$)
2004 $10,000 Borgata Poker Open $1,009,100
2004 $15,000 Five Diamond World Poker Classic $1,795,218

Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP)

[edit]
SCOOP Titles
Year Tournament Prize (US$)
2013 $5,200 PL Omaha [6-Max] $216,000

World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP)

[edit]
WCOOP Titles
Year Tournament Prize (US$)
2016 $2,100 HORSE Championship $200K GTD $61,865.47

PokerGo Tour (PGT)

PGT Titles
Year Tournament Prize (US$)
2021 PokerGO Cup #7 - $50,000 NLH $700,000
2021 Poker Masters #5 - $10,000 NLH $178,200
2022 PokerGO Cup #6 - $25,000 NLH $350,000
2022 Wynn High Roller #2 - $15,300 NLH $216,000
2022 Super High Roller Bowl VII - $300,000 NLH $3,312,000
2024 PGT Last Chance #1: $10,100 No-Limit Hold'em $218,400
2024 PGT PLO Series #3 - $5,100 Pot-Limit Omaha $147,500
2024 WSOP #58 - $50,000 Poker Players Championship $1,178,703
2024 PGT PLO Series II #6 - $10,100 Pot-Limit Omaha $265,200
2025 PGT Mixed Games #6: $15,200 Dealer's Choice $292,500
2025 PGT PLO Series #3: $5,100 Pot-Limit Omaha $182,850

Other notable tournaments

[edit]

Negreanu's first major successes on the tournament poker scene came in 1997 with three tournament wins, including two events at the World Poker Finals at Foxwoods Resort Casino, earning $55,064.[23][24][25][26]

In November 2008, Negreanu won the fourth-annual British Columbia Poker Championships main event, topping a field of 690 players (a personal high for Daniel), and earning $371,910 CAD (US$299,951).[27]

In 2014, he was the runner-up in The Big One for One Drop which paid him $8,288,001.[28] The runner-up finish marked the highest live cash for Negreanu. The event was held at the WSOP but was not eligible for a WSOP bracelet.

Negreanu won $1 million as the winner of the 2016 Shark Cage tournament organized by PokerStars.net.[29]

As of 2024, his total live tournament winnings exceed $52,400,000.[30] His 252 cashes at the WSOP account for over $22,100,000 of those winnings.[3]

In October 2022, he won $3,312,000 in the $300,000 buy-in Super High Roller Bowl VII.[31]

Cash games

[edit]

In addition to Negreanu's regular appearances in the big game at Bobby's Room, he played in all seven seasons of the television show High Stakes Poker. He also played in two seasons of PokerStars Big Game.

Online poker and sponsorship

[edit]

In December 2005, Negreanu became the professional spokesperson for an online poker site called Poker Mountain. He played at this cardroom under the screen name "KidPoker". In June 2005 he announced his decision to terminate that relationship due to software issues that were problematic enough to cause a shutdown of the site.[32] In 2006, he used Full Contact Poker to launch a competition to select a protégé, whom Daniel would attempt to mold into a world-class live tournament poker player. He agreed to pay the protégé's entry fee into four $10,000 buy-in events. Daniel's first protégé was Brian Fidler. In 2007, Daniel ran a second protégé promotion, which was won by Anthony Mak.

In June 2007, Negreanu signed with PokerStars, joining Chris Moneymaker and many other professional poker players as a member of Team PokerStars.[33] His Full Contact Poker site has since returned to being a forum and informational site. After "Black Friday" (the 2011 US government crackdown on online poker), Negreanu moved back to Canada in order to continue playing online poker on PokerStars. On May 23, 2019, after nearly 12 years as a member of Team PokerStars, Negreanu announced he and PokerStars were parting ways.[34]

Negreanu is a brand ambassador and spokesperson for GGPoker since 2019.[35]

Heads-up challenge

[edit]

On July 29, 2020, after a years-long feud with fellow poker pro Doug Polk, Negreanu publicly accepted a challenge to a high-stakes grudge match. They played 25,000 hands of No-Limit Texas Hold'em at $200/$400 stakes.[36][37] The duel ended on 4 February 2021 with Polk winning approximately $1,200,000 over 25,000 hands.[38]

High Stakes Duel

[edit]

In 2021, Daniel Negreanu challenged Phil Hellmuth to a heads-up match after Phil Hellmuth was critical of Daniel's plays in his heads-up match against Doug Polk. The two played three rounds in High Stakes Duel 2, which aired on PokerGO, with the buy-in doubling from the initial $50,000 to $200,000 by the third round. Phil Hellmuth beat Negreanu in all three rounds,[39] winning a total of $350,000. As per the rules, he was allowed to cash out his winnings after winning three rounds, although Negreanu wanted to continue playing.

In 2023, it was announced that Negreanu would take on Eric Persson in High Stakes Duel 4 in May. Negreanu defeated Persson in Round 1 to win the $100,000 prize pool.[40] Round 2 was scheduled for August, with Negreanu facing Doug Polk. Negreanu defeated Polk and took home the championship belt and $200,000.[41]

Poker Masters

[edit]

In September 2021, Daniel Negreanu had some success in PokerGo's Poker Masters tournaments. He placed 3rd in Poker Masters 2, a $10,000 buy-in event, and won $103,200. He placed 1st in Poker Masters 5, another $10,000 buy-in event, winning $178,200. In the tenth event, a $25,000 buy-in tournament, he placed 3rd for $152,000.[42]

Other poker activities

[edit]

Upon opening, the Wynn Las Vegas resort recruited him as their "Poker Ambassador" to play for any stake in their poker room. The arrangement lasted until October 2005, when he opted out because it was restricting his ability to play for high stakes outside the Wynn.[43]

Negreanu has played poker on various TV shows such as Late Night Poker, Poker After Dark, and High Stakes Poker, as well as serving as a commentator and stand-in host on Ultimate Poker Challenge.[44][45][46][47] He also appeared in the third season of Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament. In January 2007, Negreanu appeared in the Fox Reality original series Rob and Amber: Against the Odds, in which he mentored reality television personality Rob Mariano in his bid to become a professional poker player.[48]

In May 2008, Negreanu's book Power Hold'em Strategy was released.[49] The book resembles the Doyle Brunson book Super/System in that it has contributions from several other poker players, including Evelyn Ng, Erick Lindgren, Paul Wasicka, Todd Brunson, and David Williams. Negreanu's section presents and explains the strategy of small ball poker. Negreanu is also featured in the 2006 poker video game Stacked with Daniel Negreanu, providing tips and hints as to how to play effectively. He has written over 100 articles for CardPlayer Magazine and contributed to Doyle Brunson's revised book, Super System II. He has tutored on the web as part of Poker School Online and also personally given lessons to celebrities such as Tobey Maguire and Shannon Elizabeth. In addition to his poker books, Negreanu has created a 38-section Master Class teaching poker theory and play through video.[50]

Other ventures

[edit]

Negreanu made a cameo appearance as a poker player playing against the mutant Gambit in the film X-Men Origins: Wolverine.[51] He also played a poker player in The Grand,[52] and he appeared as himself in the film Lucky You.[53] On season two of Sports Science, he tried to fool a lie detector. He also appeared in Katy Perry's music video for "Waking Up in Vegas" as a poker player. In 2013, he appeared on an episode of the CBC Television program Mr. D, again playing himself. He also appeared in a TV series dedicated to poker called Tilt in 2005. Daniel was a major advocate of the move to bring the National Hockey League to Las Vegas, along with Malaysian billionaire and fellow poker player Richard Yong.[54]

Negreanu is also a fan of Hearthstone. After picking up the game in 2015, he began streaming it alongside poker on Twitch and was invited to a showmatch during the Hearthstone World Championship at BlizzCon 2015 in Anaheim, California, against former StarCraft: Brood War pro and fellow WSOP and WPT champion Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier, which he won 3–1.[55]

In September 2015, Negreanu posed for a PETA vegan campaign.[56] In January 2021 Chess.com announced that he would play in the third edition of the PogChamps chess tournament.[57] In 2018, Negreanu was promoted and credited as an associate producer for a documentary about veganism in sports, The Game Changers.[58]

Personal life

[edit]

In August 2005, Negreanu married Lori Lin Weber. They separated in November 2007 and later divorced.[59] In May 2019, he married Amanda Leatherman. In 2024, Negreanu and his wife Amanda, started their own Podcast called "The Mania Podcast".[60][61]

Negreanu has a blog at Full Contact Poker where he posts his thoughts and feelings about life, politics and poker. He became a vegetarian in 2000 and has been vegan since 2006, claiming it makes him a better player.[62] He became a US citizen in March 2016.[63]

On October 1, 2020, Negreanu was one of 12 individuals named in a $330 million defamation lawsuit brought by poker professional Mike Postle. Others named in the suit include Phil Galfond, ESPN and Negreanu's heads-up challenge opponent Doug Polk.[64] In April 2021, the lawsuit was dropped.[65]

Bibliography

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Daniel Negreanu

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Daniel Negreanu (born July 26, 1974) is a Canadian professional poker player renowned for his aggressive playing style, ability to read opponents, and status as one of the most popular figures in poker history. With seven (WSOP) bracelets, two (WPT) titles, and total live tournament earnings exceeding $56.9 million as of 2025—placing him eighth on the all-time money list—Negreanu has solidified his legacy as a high-stakes competitor and global ambassador for the game. Inducted into the in 2014 at age 40, he earned the nickname "Kid Poker" early in his career for his youthful success and charismatic presence. Born in , , to Romanian immigrant parents, Negreanu developed an interest in games like Magic: The Gathering and chess as a child before discovering poker at age 15. He dropped out of high school at 16 to pursue poker full-time in local card rooms, honing his skills in low-stakes games despite initial family opposition. By 21, he relocated to , marking the start of his professional ascent; his first major breakthrough came in 1997 with a runner-up finish in a $200 buy-in tournament, followed by his debut WSOP cash in 1998. Negreanu's early career was defined by his intuitive "feel" for the game, particularly in No-Limit Hold'em, which propelled him to prominence during poker's mainstream boom in the early 2000s. Negreanu's pinnacle achievements include WSOP bracelets won in 1998 ($2,000 Pot Limit Hold'em), 2003 ($2,000 S.H.O.E.), 2004 ($2,000 Limit Hold'em), 2008 ($2,000 Limit Hold'em), 2013 (WSOP $1,100 No-Limit Hold'em and Main Event), and 2024 ($50,000 Poker Players Championship), the latter ending an 11-year drought and earning him $1,175,000. His 2004 season was particularly dominant, with over $4.4 million in earnings, a WSOP bracelet, two WPT titles (Bay 101 Shooting Star and Bellagio Five-Star), and WSOP and WPT Player of the Year honors. Beyond tournaments, he has been a longtime for since 2007, contributing to the site's growth through endorsements, commentary, and content creation, while also authoring poker strategy books like Power Hold'em Strategy. In his , Negreanu resides in with his wife, Amanda Negreanu (married 2019), and has openly discussed their IVF journey toward starting a .

Early years

Family and childhood

Daniel Negreanu was born on July 26, 1974, in , , , to Romanian immigrant parents Annie and Constantin Negreanu. His parents emigrated from to in 1967, seven years before his birth, in pursuit of better opportunities for their family. Negreanu grew up in alongside his older brother Mike, in a household shaped by his parents' immigrant experiences and emphasis on hard work. At age 16, Negreanu developed an interest in such as pool and cards, which influenced his decision to leave high school just one art credit short of graduation, forgoing any formal higher education to pursue these activities full-time.

Introduction to poker

Daniel Negreanu first discovered poker at the age of 15 while playing with friends and frequenting local clubs in , where he was influenced by observing pool and card games in the city's scenes. This early exposure ignited his interest in games of chance and skill, drawing him into informal sessions that honed his initial understanding of the game. By age 16, Negreanu had dropped out of high school to pursue full-time, spending time in pool halls where he developed a reputation for . At 16, Negreanu began actively hustling in 's casinos and pool halls, playing small-stakes Texas hold'em and other poker variants against adults who were often much older and more experienced. His Romanian heritage, instilled through his immigrant parents' emphasis on hard work, contributed to the relentless drive he applied to these early endeavors, allowing him to win consistently and build a modest bankroll in charity casinos and venues. These experiences sharpened his ability to read opponents and manage risks, as he navigated low-limit games and side bets in the competitive underground scene. In 1995, at age 21, Negreanu moved to with his accumulated savings, seeking bigger opportunities in the poker capital, but faced immediate hardships including repeated losses that depleted his bankroll and forced him to return to temporarily. Upon regrouping, he ventured back to Vegas, enduring frugal living conditions while grinding low-limit to survive. By age 22, Negreanu achieved his first notable success in Vegas , steadily growing his bankroll through persistent play and emerging as a formidable presence at the tables. Largely self-taught, Negreanu refined his strategy by closely observing seasoned players during long sessions and studying poker books on probability and tactics, which helped him transition from a local hustler to a professional contender without formal coaching. This observational approach, combined with his innate feel for the game, laid the foundation for his decision to pursue poker as a full-time career.

Poker career

World Series of Poker

Daniel Negreanu made his (WSOP) debut in 1998, entering the $2,000 Pot Limit Hold'em event as a 23-year-old unknown and winning his first for $169,460, becoming the youngest winner in WSOP history at the time. Over the ensuing decades, he established himself as one of the most successful players in WSOP history, accumulating over 290 cashes and more than $25 million in earnings, making him the all-time leading money winner in WSOP events as of November 2025. His consistent deep runs and versatility across poker variants have solidified his legacy, with seven s spanning multiple disciplines from 1998 to 2024. Negreanu's bracelet victories highlight his adaptability in both limit and no-limit games, as well as mixed formats. He earned WSOP Player of the Year honors twice, in 2004 and 2013, becoming the only player to achieve this distinction multiple times under the modern points system. These awards recognized his dominance that year, including multiple final tables and significant cashes in high-profile events.
YearEventBuy-inPrize
1998Pot Limit Hold'em$2,000$169,460
2003S.H.O.E.$2,000$100,440
2004Limit Hold'em$2,000$367,800
2008No-Limit Hold'em with Rebuys$1,000$457,638
2013Pot Limit Omaha$1,500$222,336
2013No-Limit Hold'em Main Event ()AU$1,100AU$825,000
2024Poker Players Championship$50,000$1,178,703
Beyond bracelets, Negreanu has made numerous deep runs in marquee WSOP events without securing the gold. In the 2001 Main Event, he finished 11th for $63,940 after leading the final 12 players but busting in a key confrontation. He achieved a career-high runner-up finish in the 2014 $1,000,000 Big One for One Drop, earning $8,288,001 despite entering the final table as chip leader. More recently, in the 2025 Main Event, Negreanu busted on Day 3 in a coinflip with pocket nines against ace-queen, failing to advance further after starting with a strong stack. He also placed third in the July 2025 $1,000 Online No-Limit Hold'em 6-Max event for $82,440, marking another strong performance in a bracelet-eligible tournament. These results underscore his enduring competitiveness at the WSOP, even in his late 40s.

World Poker Tour and other live tournaments

Negreanu achieved significant success on the (WPT), securing two titles during the 2004-2005 season. His first victory came at the WPT Poker Open, where he outlasted a field of 418 entries to win $1,009,100. Later that year, he captured his second WPT title at the WPT Five Diamond World Poker Classic at Bellagio Resort & Casino, defeating 112 competitors for $1,770,218 and earning the season's Player of the Year honors. These accomplishments highlighted his dominance in mid-stakes no-limit hold'em events during poker's expanding television era. Beyond his WPT triumphs, Negreanu posted several notable results in other live tournaments outside major series. In 2022, he won the VII for $3,312,000 after navigating a star-studded field of 24 players in a $300,000 buy-in no-limit hold'em event. He also reached key final tables, including a third-place finish in the 2015 WPT Alpha8 for $640,103, where he competed against high-caliber opponents like and . As of November 2025, Negreanu's cumulative live tournament earnings total $56.9 million, placing him eighth on The Mob's all-time money list. His consistent performances in WPT and similar circuits, often bolstered by prior WSOP Player of the Year awards that secured prime invitations, underscore his versatility and enduring impact on professional poker.

Online poker achievements

Daniel Negreanu joined PokerStars as a sponsored pro in 2007 and played actively on the platform until ending his sponsorship in 2019. During this period, he secured his first major online tournament victory in the 2013 Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP) Event 39-H, a $5,200 pot-limit Omaha 6-max event, defeating a field of 133 entrants to win $216,000. He added a second online title in the 2016 World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP) Event 55-H, the $2,100 H.O.R.S.E. tournament, where he outlasted 147 players for a first-place prize of $61,865. In September 2019, Negreanu transitioned to as a global , shifting his focus to high-stakes online on the platform. Since joining, he has earned more than $2 million in online cashes, with notable deep runs in flagship events like the weekly Super MILLION$ series. His live bankroll has provided a stable foundation for taking calculated risks in these online high-roller formats. In the 2025 WSOP Online series on , Negreanu experienced a challenging September portion with multiple early exits across several events, including no cash in his first seven attempts at the $25,000 GGMillion$ Super before finally placing on his eighth entry. Earlier in the series, he achieved a strong third-place finish in the $1,000 no-limit hold'em 6-max event, earning a significant payout while falling just short of an eighth WSOP . Overall, Negreanu has accumulated approximately 500 online cashes throughout his career, with a post-2019 emphasis on high-roller online tournaments that align with his expertise in mixed games and no-limit hold'em.

High-stakes events and challenges

Negreanu's involvement in high-stakes heads-up challenges has been marked by both significant victories and defeats. In 2021, he faced in a highly publicized online heads-up no-limit hold'em consisting of 25,000 hands played over 36 sessions and streamed live, resulting in a net loss of $1.2 million for Negreanu. This marathon duel highlighted the intensity of elite-level confrontations, with Polk maintaining the lead after an initial session where Negreanu won $116,500. Seeking redemption, Negreanu excelled in PokerGO's IV in 2023. He first defeated Eric Persson in Round 1 at a $100,000 buy-in, claiming the $200,000 winner-take-all pot after a tense match that showcased his adaptability in play. Advancing to Round 2 against Polk at a doubled $200,000 buy-in, Negreanu secured victory in the $400,000 pot, earning the and $200,000 in the process—this win avenged his prior loss and affirmed his prowess in winner-take-all formats. In the Poker Masters series, Negreanu has consistently reached final tables in high-buy-in events, demonstrating his endurance in invitation-only fields of top professionals. For instance, in 2018, he finished sixth in a $25,000 no-limit hold'em event for $75,000, contributing to his reputation for deep runs in elite settings. More recently, during the 2022 Poker Masters, he achieved multiple cashes, including a ninth-place finish in one event for $22,800, underscoring his ongoing competitiveness despite varying outcomes. Negreanu has also competed in ultra-high-roller tournaments like the Triton Million for Charity in 2019, a £1,050,000 buy-in event that drew a star-studded field and raised funds for charitable causes; he placed seventh, earning approximately $1.6 million and adding to his legacy in million-dollar buy-in spectacles. In 2024, he participated in the PokerGO Cup series, logging consistent deep runs across multiple events—such as fourth place in a $10,100 no-limit hold'em for $63,000 and fifth in another for $30,450—though he did not secure a victory, his performances highlighted sustained form in high-stakes live play.

Cash games and sponsorships

Negreanu has been a regular participant in high-stakes , notably the Las Vegas Big Game in Bobby's Room at the Bellagio casino since the mid-2000s, where he has faced off against prominent professionals including . These private games, often featuring buy-ins exceeding $100,000, have allowed him to apply his skills in informal, deep-stacked settings beyond structures. His successes in major , such as multiple bracelets, have bolstered the substantial bankroll required for such high-limit play. Negreanu gained further visibility in cash game circles through his appearances on the television series High Stakes Poker, which aired from 2006 to 2011 across seven seasons. He featured prominently in episodes showcasing multimillion-dollar pots, including aggressive bluffs and strategic confrontations with players like Brunson and Phil Ivey, highlighting his adaptability in no-limit hold'em cash formats with blinds up to 400/400/800. In terms of sponsorships, Negreanu joined as a Team Pro in June 2007, serving as a key ambassador for over a decade and promoting the site through endorsements and events until the partnership concluded amicably in May 2019. The deal, reportedly worth between $2 million and $4 million annually, was impacted earlier by the 2011 U.S. market restrictions following Black Friday but persisted until its end. Following this, he signed with in November 2019 as a global ambassador, where he continues to participate in promotional streams, content creation, and collaborations tied to their online partnerships. Additionally, Negreanu endorses poker education through an ongoing series launched in 2018, teaching strategies for , tournaments, and opponent reading to aspiring players. These sponsorships have formed a significant portion of his income, complementing his on-table earnings with multi-million-dollar annual value.

Other pursuits

Media and entertainment

Negreanu has established himself as a key voice in poker broadcasting, leveraging his expertise to analyze high-stakes play for audiences worldwide. He served as a commentator for 's coverage of the events starting in 2005, including feature table commentary during the Main Event alongside players like and . His involvement with continued through 2017, where he provided insights into tournament dynamics and player strategies during broadcasts of major WSOP finals. In recent years, Negreanu has transitioned to PokerGO, becoming a regular analyst for their live streams and series beginning in 2020. He offers color commentary on events like the WSOP Main Event and High Stakes Duel, often joining co-commentators such as Remko Rinkema and Phil Hellmuth to break down hands and player decisions. This role has extended to 2025, including vlogs from the WSOP where he documents his tournament runs and behind-the-scenes experiences on his YouTube channel, which boasts over 900,000 subscribers. Beyond poker-specific media, Negreanu has ventured into film and entertainment projects that highlight his public persona. In 2009, he made a brief as a casino gambler in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, sharing a poker table scene with the character during a nightclub sequence. He later contributed to the 2018 documentary as an associate producer, supporting its exploration of plant-based diets in elite athletics, aligning with his personal advocacy for . Negreanu has also engaged in crossover entertainment, participating in a 2015 Hearthstone exhibition match at BlizzCon against fellow poker professional Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier. The showmatch, part of the Hearthstone World Championship festivities, showcased his enthusiasm for the digital card game and drew attention to parallels between poker and esports strategy. Additionally, he has appeared as a guest on prominent podcasts, sharing insights on poker psychology and reading opponents, though specific episodes emphasize his broader discussions on mindset and competition.

Writing and business ventures

Negreanu has authored several influential books on , focusing on practical advice for players at various skill levels. His debut book, Hold 'em Wisdom for All Players, published in 2005 by Cardoza Publishing, offers 50 concise tips on Texas hold'em, addressing common rookie errors, table dynamics, and advanced techniques such as exploiting opponent tendencies. The book emphasizes conceptual play over rote memorization, drawing from Negreanu's experience in both and tournaments. In 2008, he followed up with More Hold 'em Wisdom for All Players, expanding on the original with deeper insights into no-limit hold'em scenarios, including position awareness and pot control. This sequel builds on reader feedback from the first volume, incorporating more hand examples to illustrate adaptive . Negreanu's 2008 release, Power Hold 'em Strategy, published by Cardoza, compiles contributions from multiple professionals but features his extensive chapter on "small ball" poker—a low-risk, high-volume approach suited to deep-stacked tournaments that prioritizes accumulating small edges over confrontational play. The book has been praised for bridging theoretical strategy with real-world application. Beyond books, Negreanu has contributed to poker education through structured training programs and periodic columns. In the 2000s, he penned strategy articles for outlets like magazine, analyzing hands and discussing psychological aspects of the game, such as reading tells and managing tilt. These pieces provided accessible breakdowns of live tournament scenarios, helping recreational players refine their approaches. In 2018, he partnered with to create "Daniel Negreanu Teaches Poker," a 24-lesson online course that delves into mindset cultivation, opponent observation, and hand reviews from his career highlights. The series highlights conceptual tools like equity assessment and bluff timing, appealing to both novices and pros seeking to enhance mental resilience. Negreanu's business ventures extend into digital poker communities and endorsements. In 2005, he launched Full Contact Poker, an online forum and blog network that fosters discussions on strategy, hand histories, and industry news, evolving into a key resource for aspiring players. He served as a sponsored professional for from 2007 to 2019, contributing to promotional content and live event coverage during that period. In 2020, Negreanu joined as a global , where he helps develop educational tools within the platform, including strategy videos and interactive challenges designed to teach balanced ranges and exploitative play. These initiatives have diversified his income streams beyond tournament winnings.

Philanthropy

Daniel Negreanu co-founded the "St. Jude Against All Odds" charity poker tournament in 2014 as part of the Charity Series of Poker (CSOP), a nonprofit organization dedicated to hosting official charity poker events, with the initiative raising over $1.9 million for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital by 2022 to support pediatric cancer treatment and research. As co-chair, Negreanu has continued to lead annual iterations of the event, which has contributed to CSOP's overall fundraising exceeding $6 million for various children's hospitals and related causes since its inception. His poker tournament winnings have periodically bolstered these efforts, including direct support for St. Jude through event proceeds. In September 2025, CSOP hosted the Viva St. Jude event in Las Vegas, helping surpass $1 million raised specifically for St. Jude through Negreanu-supported initiatives. In 2024, Negreanu hosted the Keep Memory Alive at the Lou Ruvo for Brain Health in , an event benefiting neurological research and treatment for conditions like Alzheimer's and . That same year, he donated $10,000 to the IDF Widows & Orphans Fund during a separate charity at WSOP Paradise, which raised approximately $140,000 to support families of fallen Israeli Defense Forces members. During the , Negreanu participated in relief efforts by offering one-on-one poker lessons through a raffle organized by founder Dave Portnoy, aiming to raise at least $25,000 for pandemic , with Negreanu pledging to match the amount upon reaching the goal, ultimately contributing over $50,000 to frontline worker support. In 2022, he joined fellow poker professional at Tiger Jam, ' annual charity poker event benefiting the TGR Foundation's youth education and wellness programs. Negreanu has advocated for animal rights since becoming in 2006, collaborating with PETA on campaigns including a 2015 advertisement encouraging plant-based diets with the tagline "Vegan? You Bet." He further promoted and awareness through involvement in a 2015 documentary project with director , aimed at challenging stereotypes around meat consumption and its ethical implications.

Personal life

Relationships and family

Negreanu dated fellow Canadian poker professional during his early years in , a relationship that coincided with both of their rising careers in the game. In August 2005, he married Lori Lin Weber, a resident, in a ceremony attended by friends from the poker world; the couple separated in November 2007 after two years, citing the demands of his travel schedule, and their divorce was amicable. Negreanu met poker journalist and host Amanda Leatherman through industry events in the early , and after an initial romance, they rekindled their relationship leading to an engagement on 2018; the pair married on May 17, 2019, at the Terranea Resort in . As of November 2025, the couple has no children but has publicly discussed their ongoing IVF journey toward starting a , sharing updates on podcasts and ; they share their home with rescue dogs. Negreanu remains close to his family, including his parents, Constantin and Annie, who immigrated from to in the late 1960s and offered unwavering support during his early career challenges, such as financial hardships while building his bankroll. He is also tight-knit with his older brother Mike, five years his senior, who has provided emotional backing throughout his professional journey.

Lifestyle and beliefs

Negreanu adopted a vegetarian diet in 2000 primarily for health reasons, transitioning to in 2006 after ethical considerations regarding became more prominent in his life. He has since maintained this lifestyle, crediting it with enhancing his mental clarity and physical performance during long poker sessions. Negreanu actively promotes on , sharing recipes and insights with his over 414,000 followers as of November 2025. In terms of spiritual practices, Negreanu incorporates and into his routine to foster positive thinking and emotional resilience, viewing these as essential for managing the psychological demands of professional poker. He has cited the works of , particularly The Power of Now and , as influential in shaping his approach to living in the present moment and overcoming mental barriers like tilt. Negreanu is also a vocal advocate for , emphasizing its role in personal growth; in his 2025 vlogs, he partnered with to encourage others to seek professional support, stating that attending therapy demonstrates strength rather than weakness. His hobbies reflect a balanced approach to downtime outside poker, including , which he pursues regularly for relaxation and skill-building akin to the game's strategic elements. Negreanu is an avid video gamer, notably enjoying since 2015, where he has streamed sessions and competed in exhibition matches, appreciating its blend of probability and opponent analysis. He prioritizes fitness through consistent exercise to maintain stamina, while strictly avoiding alcohol and recreational drugs, which he considers detrimental to focus and has publicly advocated banning alcohol from poker tournaments as a performance enhancer. Negreanu's public persona, encapsulated by his enduring nickname "Kid Poker" earned from his youthful appearance and early WSOP success in 1998, emphasizes approachability and integrity in the game. He is renowned for exemplary , often praising opponents and calling out to uphold fair play, while his exceptional ability to read opponents' hands—frequently announcing exact holdings aloud—has become a hallmark of his style, blending psychological insight with genuine respect for the competition.

Residences and citizenship

Daniel Negreanu was born on July 26, 1974, in , , , to Romanian immigrant parents. He relocated to , , in 1996 at the age of 21 to pursue a professional poker career, and has maintained his primary residence there ever since, including a modern mansion purchased in 2023 on the outskirts of the city. Negreanu holds dual citizenship, having been granted Canadian citizenship by birth and becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen on March 12, 2016, in part to participate in the upcoming . As a dual citizen residing primarily in the United States, he has navigated complex tax obligations related to his international poker earnings, including a 30% withholding on U.S. tournament winnings applicable to non-residents prior to his naturalization and ongoing deductions for gambling losses under U.S. . In October 2020, Negreanu was named as one of 12 defendants in a $330 million filed by fellow poker player Mike Postle, who alleged libel and slander over public accusations of in live-streamed games at Stones Hall; the also targeted podcaster Joey Ingram and others for their investigative reporting on the matter. The case was voluntarily dismissed by Postle in April 2021 without a , reportedly settling privately among the parties involved. Negreanu frequently travels to for professional commitments, including a notable visit to in September 2025 for the WSOP Online Bracelet Series on , where he streamed his play but endured a challenging run with multiple early eliminations.

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