Jamie Gold
15.12.2009 -Jamie Gold, a professional poker player who hails from Malibu, California, is one of the biggest stars in the world of poker. His winnings after his WSOP championship totaled over twelve million, bringing him national acclaim as the biggest winner in poker history. He is famous for his cool attitude toward betting loads of money, with this aggressive playing style and a calm countenance.
Like many other great poker players, Jamie Gold began his life as something entirely different - a talent agent. Through his work, he brought some of today’s big stars into the spotlight; big names such as Lucy Liu, Jimmy Fallon, and Kristin Davis once worked closely with the now-famous Gold. He is the founder of talent agency JMG Management through which Gold became acquainted with renowned poker star Johnny Chan.
Gold began his foray into the 2006 World Series of Poker as a celebrity player, but quickly outstripped his competition and calmly moved up the ladder. After seven days of playhe won his first WSOP title and was offered a contract to join the world of professional poker. His skills were honed by constant play at a Los Angeles casino near his home. He learned strategy by reading a myriad of poker books, and he apparently “caught the bug” for poker from his mother, who was an avid player during Jamie’s youth. His grandfather was a gambler as well - an actual champion of gin rummy. Support from his mother and grandfather was incredibly important as Jamie began his first movement into the professional poker world, and family affirmation kept him going even at points when he believed he couldn’t. Gold is a classic example of family ties holding him up and bringing victory closer to his grasp.
Part of his fame in the sport comes from the incredibly small percentage of players who started the way he did; at the final table of the tournament, he single-handedly knocked out seven of the eight professional-grade players he was up against, and won the game with a brilliant bluff. As video cameras took in every move, Jamie Gold finished at the winners’ table and then, after his first ecstatic reaction had worn off, flipped open his cell phone. “Hi Dad,” he said, as cameras picked up every word, “It’s Jamie. Are you there? I just won!”
Fact Sheet:
Total Winnings: $12,187,054
First Place Finishes: 2
WSOP Bracelets: 1
ProRank 1 Position: 1972
ProRank 2 Position: 8869
Favorite Poker Game: Texas Hold'em
Video: Jamie Gold vs Phralad Friedman WSOP 2006
Poker Rooms
