{"id":69516,"date":"2024-09-18T20:14:45","date_gmt":"2024-09-18T20:14:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pokerscout.com\/?p=69516"},"modified":"2024-09-18T20:14:45","modified_gmt":"2024-09-18T20:14:45","slug":"wsop-main-event-winners-where-are-they-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pokerscout.com\/wsop-main-event-winners-where-are-they-now\/","title":{"rendered":"WSOP Main Event Winners: Where Are They Now?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The WSOP Main Event is the biggest live tournament in poker. Each year, thousands of poker players undergo the pilgrimage to Las Vegas, hoping to return with millions of dollars, the iconic WSOP Main Event bracelet, and permanent poker glory.<\/p>\n

Though many of these players are dedicated professionals, others are fulfilling a lifelong bucket list dream. In the end, only one person can come out on top in fields that have recently exceeded 10,000 players.<\/p>\n

But what do they do once it\u2019s all over?<\/p>\n

Here, we take a look at the current and former WSOP Main Event champions and find out what they did next.<\/p>\n

Jonathan Tamayo (2024) – $10 million<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"2024
Image: Instagram\/wsop<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Unbelievably, it wasn\u2019t Tamayo\u2019s first time making it to the final few tables of the WSOP Main Event, as he finished 21st in 2019. Five years later, up against a record-breaking field of 10,112 players, he went all the way – although not without controversy.<\/p>\n

The Texas poker pro was chastised online for a multitude of reasons, first and foremost for being overly passive folding pocket queens pre-flop on the final table bubble. While that talk went away after he binked the Main Event, he took some major heat for continuously consulting his rail, who were accessing poker solvers, which he wouldn’t be legally able to access himself on the poker room floor. A matter of poker etiquette<\/a>, or outright cheating<\/a>?<\/p>\n

While most people would completely change their lifestyle with $10 million, Tamayo had simpler plans. Speaking on the LOLz podcast<\/a>, the fantasy sports enthusiast stated he would continue to play at the same stakes, stick with his current house and car, and even keep refereeing local high school football games. It shouldn\u2019t come as a surprise – he does literally come from Humble, Texas.<\/p>\n

Daniel Weinman (2023) – $12.1 million<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"2023
Image: Instagram\/wsop<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

2024 may have had a bigger field, but Daniel Weinman took down the biggest first-place prize of any WSOP Main Event in history, locking up over $12 million. It was probably made all the sweeter after he hit a two-outer for his tournament life against two opponents on Day 8. Sometimes, you just run good.<\/p>\n

Since the big win, Weinman has been investing resources into his poker company, RF Labs, which tracks data in live games. He also bought a house and splashed out on a mega summer 2024 wedding (including an African safari honeymoon), while investing the majority into his portfolio. Oh, and he also squeezed in a round of golf with Donald Trump.<\/p>\n

Espen J\u00f8rstad (2022) – $10 million<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"2022
Image: Instagram\/uhlenpoker<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In 2022, J\u00f8rstad topped a field of 8,663 players to become the first Norwegian to win the WSOP Main Event. After calling his mum to share the news that he was now $10 million richer, the poker pro announced his intention to invest in crypto and hit the high roller scene by entering more $25,000 buy-in events.<\/p>\n

This is exactly what most of us would probably imagine a WSOP champ would do with the cash. And he\u2019s stuck to his word, racking up a number of fantastic scores, including:<\/p>\n