Net Worth Ranker
What Is Johnny Chan’s Net Worth?
Johnny Chan, a celebrated American professional poker player, has an estimated net worth of $10 million as of March 2025. This wealth is primarily attributed to his successful poker career, marked by numerous tournament wins and appearances in high-stakes cash games. While the exact breakdown of his assets isn’t publicly available, it’s safe to assume that the majority stems from his poker winnings.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Born in Guangzhou, China, in 1957, Johnny Chan’s family moved to Hong Kong in 1962 before immigrating to the United States in 1968. They initially settled in Phoenix, Arizona, and later moved to Houston, Texas, where his family operated several restaurants. Chan briefly attended the University of Houston, pursuing a degree in hotel and restaurant management. However, his passion for poker led him to drop out at the age of 21 and move to Las Vegas to pursue a professional gambling career. An early Las Vegas visit at age 16 saw Chan allegedly turn $500 into $20,000, only to lose it the following day, highlighting the volatile nature of the game.
Poker Tournament Successes and World Series of Poker (WSOP) Achievements
Chan’s rise to fame began in the late 1980s with his consecutive victories in the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event in 1987 and 1988. In 1987, he outlasted 152 other players, including Frank Henderson in the final round, to win $625,000 and his first WSOP bracelet. The final hand saw Chan holding an Ace of Spades and a Nine of Clubs, while Henderson had a pair of Fours. Chan bet $60,000, Henderson went all in, and Chan won with a pair of Nines on the river. In 1988, he secured his second consecutive title, defeating Erik Seidel. The videotape of his 1988 WSOP final heads-up match was even featured in the 1998 movie “Rounders,” where Chan made a cameo appearance. These wins solidified his reputation as a top poker player. He nearly achieved a third consecutive victory in 1989, finishing as the runner-up to Phil Hellmuth. Overall, Johnny Chan has won 10 WSOP bracelets, tying him for second place with Doyle Brunson, Erik Seidel, and Phil Ivey, behind Phil Hellmuth’s 17. His other WSOP bracelet wins came in 1985 ($1,000 Limit Hold’em), 1994, 1997, 2000, and 2002. In 2005, Chan became the first player to win ten WSOP bracelets when he defeated Phil Laak in a $2,500 Pot Limit Texas hold ’em event.
Other Tournament Wins and Earnings
Beyond the WSOP, Chan has had success in other poker tournaments. He won Bob Stupak’s 1981 American Cup poker tournament, defeating all 9 other players at the final table in less than an hour, which earned him the nickname “The Orient Express”. He also won the $10,000 No Limit Hold’em tournament at the America’s Cup of Poker in consecutive years in 1982 and 1983. His largest single cash prize came in February 2005 when he finished second in the Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament, earning $750,000. Another significant win was in another Poker Superstars Sit & Go event later in 2005, where he took home $400,000. Johnny Chan’s total live tournament earnings exceed $8.7 million, stemming from 111 cashes across 37 years.
Poker After Dark and Other Media Appearances
Johnny Chan also gained recognition through his appearances on the NBC late-night show “Poker After Dark,” a six-person, $20,000 buy-in, winner-takes-all tournament. He holds the record for the most victories on the show, with four wins in six appearances. His heads-up victories include wins against Chris Moneymaker and Phil Hellmuth. In addition to “Poker After Dark,” Chan’s image and gameplay have been immortalized in the 1998 film “Rounders”, where he made a cameo appearance. The film used footage of Chan winning the WSOP. Chan has also authored two books on poker strategy: “Play Poker Like Johnny Chan” and “Million Dollar Hold’em: Winning Big in Limit Cash Games”.
Poker Hall of Fame and Business Ventures
Johnny Chan’s contributions to poker have been widely recognized, leading to his induction into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2002. Beyond poker, Chan has ventured into business, owning several fast-food franchises in Las Vegas and opening his own restaurant, “Johnny Chan’s Asian Bistro,” at the Stratosphere Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. In 2021, Chan opened a poker room in Texas called Johnny Chan’s 88 Social, which closed later that year. He has also served as a consultant for various casinos, further diversifying his income streams.
Recent Activity
Chan continues to be active in the poker world. In July 2024, he participated in the $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em Mystery Bounty Eight Max event at the World Series of Poker, demonstrating his ongoing commitment to the game.
