- Doyle Brunson quit his salesman job to chase a career in poker after his college education in the 1950s
- He was an excellent basketball player during his high school and college days, but an injury ended his dream of a professional basketball career
- The father of two began playing illegal poker before traveling to Las Vegas, the home of poker games where his fortune changed
The net worth of Doyle Brunson is estimated to be around $75 million. He amassed a fortune from his professional career, having been one of the greatest poker players to the walk the earth for more than 5 decades. The 92 year-old Texas native made history by becoming the first player to win a million dollars in poker tournaments.
In addition, Brunson is a 2-time World Series of Poker (WSOP) champion, a Poker Hall farmer, and the author of several books including Super System (1978), Poker Wisdom of A Champion (2003), and Superstar Poker Strategy (2017).
Before he became a professional poker player, he tried his hands at different things. First, it was basketball, but a knee injury forced him to quit. Subsequently, he got a job as a machine salesman, but he left after winning more than a month’s salary in a poker game he was invited to. After earning millions and winning 10 WSOP bracelets, the legendary poker player retired in June 2018.
Early Background Of Doyle Brunson
Facial hair didn’t last long pic.twitter.com/3kKfPiU2RI
— Doyle Brunson (@TexDolly) March 2, 2022
He was one of 3 children born to his parents John and Mealia Brunson on 10th August 1933 in Longworth, Fisher County, Texas. While growing up, he had an interest in basketball and went on to be a member of the All-State Texas basketball team. At the age of 17, he won the 1950 Texas Interscholastic Track Meet’s one-mile event with a finishing time of 4:43.
This attracted the attention of many colleges who came with offers for him, instead, he opted for Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas. During this period, the Minneapolis Lakers of the NBA could have signed him. Unfortunately, his dream of becoming a professional basketball player was quashed by a knee injury.
Since he couldn’t play basketball, Brunson went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in 1954 and a master’s degree in administrative education in 1955. Subsequently, he worked as a school principal.
Interestingly, before he got injured, he was already playing poker, but not as often as after the injury.
From A Salesman To A Pro Poker Player With Millions Of Dollars To His Name
After his college education, the retired poker player took a salesman job. He quit the job on his first day after winning one month’s salary from a game. Consequently, he started his poker career on a negative note by playing illegal games alongside his friend, Dwayne Hamilton.
These illegal games were usually organized by criminals, and most times, the rules of the game were not followed. Brunson was robbed, beaten, and had a gun pulled on him at a certain time. Probably tired and after losing his money in Las Vegas, he parted ways with his friend and began a solo career.
That marked the beginning of his success as a professional poker player. He became a regular face at the WSOP since its genesis in 1970, having played at the main event every year.
Texas Dolly as he is fondly called won the WSOP champion in 1976 and 1977. Similarly, he won 10 WSOP bracelets.
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How He Made The Fortune
He played in the most significant poker games in the world such as the “Bobby’s Room” $4,000/$8,000 limit mixed poker game. And also played in major porker events around the world including the “No Limit Texas hold’em championship”, and the “Legends of Poker World Poker Tour”, in which he earned $1.1 million prize money in 2004.
In July 2005, he won the $5,000 No limit Shorthand Texas hold’em event after tying Johnny Chan, who won his 10th gold bracelet in June 2005. At Brunson’s retirement in 2018, the earnings from his 37 cashes at the WSOP totaled $3 million, while his live tournament winning was above $6.1 million.
5 Quick Facts About The 10-Time WSOP Bracelets Winner
- In 2004, an online poker room, Doyles Room was created and named after Brunson but disassociated himself with the room after it was taken over by the US Department of Justice in April 2011 after breaking online gambling laws.
- He married his wife Louise Brunson in August 1962 after meeting her in 1959, they shared 3 children; Todd, Doyla, and Pamela.
- His daughter, Doyla died in 1975 at the age of 18 due to a heart valve condition, prior, she was diagnosed with scoliosis.
- Todd and Pamela are poker players and have played at several WSOP main events.
- Both Brunson and his wife are cancer survivors, their tumors reportedly disappeared after going for surgeries.
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