Stephen Chidwick, Britain’s high-stakes tournament specialist, sits just shy of poker’s all-time money list with $76,035,909 in recorded live tournament earnings. Yet, as the thoughtful and methodical player himself reminded fans in a recent Reddit AMA hosted via Octopi Poker, those headline numbers don’t tell the whole story.
The True Profit Behind the Big Numbers
Chidwick revealed that, of his $76 million in lifetime earnings, his actual profit is likely only in the $5–10 million range—roughly 6–13% of total winnings. Spread over an 18-year career, this works out to an average annual profit of $277K–$555K. While impressive, it’s a reminder that even the best tournament pros face steep buy-ins, high variance, and shared action stakes that chip away at gross earnings.
It’s also worth noting that The Hendon Mob and other tracking sites report prize money but don’t factor in buy-ins or backing arrangements, meaning headline figures can be misleading. Chidwick himself regularly invests in 2–3 other players’ action when entering high-stakes events, further complicating the picture.
Putting It in Perspective
Looking at other poker luminaries:
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Phil Ivey: $54M in winnings, estimated $3.5–7M profit over 30 years
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Daniel Negreanu: $57M in winnings, estimated $3.7–7.5M over 30 years
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Phil Hellmuth: $31M in winnings, estimated $2–4M over 40 years
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Darren Elias: $15M in winnings, roughly $1–2M over 18 years
These back-of-the-envelope calculations show that even the elite of the elite often earn less from tournament poker than high-paid professionals like corporate lawyers or surgeons—though they enjoy flexibility, autonomy, and a life centered on the game they love.
Chidwick’s Memorable “Rounders” Moment
The AMA also offered fans a glimpse into Chidwick’s personal poker highlights. Asked for his most memorable hand, he recounted a WSOP single-draw game 16 years ago against Doyle Brunson:
“I 3-bet out of the BB vs his late position open and stood pat with a jack low. He bet big, I check-raised all-in as a bluff, and he folded. He muttered, ‘you’ve got my number kid.’ I thought I was hot sh*t.”
A true “Rounders” moment for the young pro, showing the kind of nerve and calculated aggression that would define his career.
While $76 million in recorded winnings sounds astronomical, Chidwick’s insight reminds us that tournament poker is high-risk, high-variance, and the gap between total earnings and net profit is wider than most casual fans imagine.
