Phil Ivey Biography: Age, Wiki, Family, Relationship and More
Phil Ivey is one of the most successful and feared poker players in history, often called the “Tiger Woods of Poker” for his dominance across cash games and tournaments. Known for his unreadable expression and precise decision-making, he has built both a legendary reputation at the table and a massive fortune from high‑stakes poker.
Who is Phil Ivey?
Phil Ivey is an American professional poker player widely considered among the greatest of all time. He has won 11 World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelets, placing him just behind Phil Hellmuth on the all‑time list, and he has also captured a World Poker Tour (WPT) title.
His peers often refer to him as the “poker pro’s poker pro” because he has beaten top competition in almost every format—cash games, tournaments, live events, and nose‑bleed stakes in places like Las Vegas and Macau. In 2017, he was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame, confirming his status as a modern poker legend.
Phil Ivey Age – How Old is He?
As of 2026, Phil Ivey is 49 years old.
(There is some minor disagreement in public sources about his birth year—1976 vs. 1977—but most mainstream bios list him as being in his late 40s.)
Phil Ivey Biography / Wiki
| Field | Details |
| Full Name | Phillip Dennis Ivey Jr. |
| Known As | Phil Ivey; “Tiger Woods of Poker”; “No Home Jerome” |
| Date of Birth | February 1, mid‑1970s (commonly listed as 1976/1977) |
| Age (2026) | 49 Years (approx.) |
| Birthplace | Riverside, California, USA (moved to New Jersey as a baby) |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Professional Poker Player, Investor |
| Major Achievements | 11 WSOP bracelets, 1 WPT title, Poker Hall of Fame (2017) |
| Nicknames | The Tiger Woods of Poker; The Phenom; No Home Jerome |
| Marital Status | Divorced (ex‑wife: Luciaetta Ivey) |
| Residence | Primarily Las Vegas; plays worldwide in US, Europe, Asia |
Early Life
Phil Ivey was born in Riverside, California and moved with his family to Roselle, New Jersey when he was a baby. His grandfather introduced him to five‑card stud when he was around eight years old, which sparked a lifelong love for card games.
As a teenager, he began playing low‑stakes home games and matches with co‑workers while working at a telemarketing firm in New Brunswick, New Jersey. He became obsessed with poker, using every opportunity to practice and refine his skills. Locals later nicknamed him “No Home Jerome” because he spent so many hours at the poker tables in Atlantic City.
Phil Ivey Education
There is no public record of Phil Ivey completing a traditional college degree. Most profiles focus on his practical “education” in poker rooms rather than formal academics.
He essentially treated the Atlantic City casinos and home games as his training grounds. Using a fake ID under the name “Jerome,” he entered casinos before he was 21 and played countless hours against regulars, studying patterns, body language, and strategy. This real‑world experience formed the foundation of his professional career.
Phil Ivey Career Journey
Rise in Poker
Ivey’s serious poker journey began in the late 1990s, when he shifted from casual games to professional play in Atlantic City. His breakthrough came at the World Series of Poker in the early 2000s, where he rapidly collected bracelets and built a reputation for fearless, balanced play.
Key highlights include:
- 11 WSOP bracelets, across multiple poker variants, demonstrating versatility instead of specialization in just one game type.
- 1 WPT title and numerous final tables on the World Poker Tour.
- Regular appearances in High Stakes Poker, Poker After Dark, and other televised cash‑game shows, where he battled against top pros and wealthy amateurs at very high stakes.
His opponents often describe him as extremely hard to read, with quick, sharp eye movements and minimal emotional reaction at the table.
High‑Stakes Cash Games & Macau
Beyond tournaments, Ivey is famous for playing some of the biggest cash games in the world, including private games in Las Vegas and Macau. Reports suggest that much of his wealth comes not from public tournament winnings but from these private, nose‑bleed stakes where millions can move in a single night.
After the “Black Friday” crackdown on online poker in the US, he spent several years playing mostly in Asia and high‑stakes private rooms, away from the spotlight.
Edge‑Sorting Controversies
A major chapter in his career involves edge‑sorting, a technique used in high‑stakes baccarat and punto banco.
- In London’s Crockfords Casino, Ivey and associate Cheng Yin Sun won about £7.7 million by requesting specific card brands and orientations, later accused of exploiting tiny printing flaws.
- In Atlantic City’s Borgata Casino, they won about $9.6–10.1 million in a similar manner.
It is worth noting that multiple courts in the UK and US ruled that, although Ivey did not consider himself a cheater, the use of edge sorting gave him an unfair advantage under casino rules, and he was ordered to return the winnings (roughly $10 million to Borgata and denied payment from Crockfords).
These legal battles affected his public image and finances but also highlighted his deep understanding of game edges and casino procedures.
Phil Ivey Family
| Family Member | Relationship | Details |
| Phillip Dennis Ivey Sr. | Father | Little public information; part of working‑class family background in New Jersey. |
| Pamela Ivey (reported) | Mother | Limited public details; supported his early years. |
| Luciaetta Ivey | Ex‑Wife | Married in 2002 in Las Vegas; divorced in 2009 with multi‑million‑dollar settlement. |
| Children | Not publicly disclosed | Ivey keeps details about any children private; media reports do not consistently confirm kids. |
| Current Partner | Not publicly confirmed | He has been linked with girlfriends after divorce, but no official public long‑term partner is consistently documented. |
During divorce proceedings, court filings showed that Luciaetta received millions of dollars in property and alimony, while Ivey assumed large personal debts tied to gambling and credit cards.
Phil Ivey Net Worth
Phil Ivey net worth in 2025–2026 is widely estimated at around $110–125 million USD, placing him among the top five richest poker players in the world.
Main Income Sources
- Live Poker Tournaments – He has over $38 million in recorded tournament winnings, though this is only a fraction of his total earnings.
- High‑Stakes Cash Games – Major cash‑game results, especially in Las Vegas and Macau, are believed to account for a large portion of his fortune.
- Online Poker & Sponsorships – He was previously part of Full Tilt Poker, receiving substantial monthly payments before legal and market changes.
- Business & Investments – He has invested in poker‑related training platforms and other ventures, though detailed figures are not public.
Even after the edge‑sorting losses and divorce‑related settlements, most net‑worth lists still rank him around $100+ million, thanks to decades of consistent high‑stakes success
