Doyle F. Brunson, also known as Texas Dodlly, Big Papa or The Godfather of Poker, was born on 10 August 1933, in Longworth, Texas USA, and as his various names suggest, is a professional poker player, but also a writer. Doyle is known for winning the World Series of Poker bracelet 10 times, and has also been inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame. Doyle is considered to be one of the most influential people in poker, a reputation earned from a career which now stretches to well over 40 years
If you wonder how rich Doyle Brunson is, his net worth is estimated by authoritative sources at $80 million as of mid-2017, and as Brunson still continues playing poker successfully, there is every chance that his net worth will become even higher.
Doyle Brunson Net Worth $80 Million
When Doyle was young he played in the All-State Texas basketball team, and also won the high school Texas mile championship at 17, which brought him several scholarship offers, but unfortunately Brunson experienced a knee injury and was not able to play basketball anymore. However, he enrolled at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas, and graduated with a BA in 1954 and then an MA in 1955, both in administrative education. His first job was a business machines salesman, but allegedly on his first day he was invited to play a game of poker, and won the equivalent of a month’s salary. He soon left the company and became a professional poker player, as he quickly understood that his talent allowed him to earn more money in a few hours than he would earn in most regular jobs.
Together with his friend Dwayne Hamilton, Doyle began playing poker in illegal games, travelling around southern states and doing well for a number of years, but also betting “on almost anything”, as Doyle later admitted, but then landed in Las Vegas and lost it all. However, Doyle regained enough to participate in the World Series of Poker when it started up in 1970, and has continued to play in the Main Event up until now. From that time Doyle net worth began to grow. He won two championships in 1976 and 1977, and Doyle’s other Main Event cashes over the years have been 3rd in 1972, runner-up in 1980 (to three-time champion Stu Ungar), 4th in 1982, 3rd in 1983, 16th in 1993, and 53rd in 2004. In addition, Brunson plays in other tournaments, for example, Bobby’s Room, Legend of Poker World Poker Tour event, and No Limit Texas hold’em Championship event – 1976 prize $230,000, 1977 $340,000 and 1991 $208,000. His biggest prize was $368,000 in the 2005 No Limit Shorthanded Texas Hold’em tournament – but all have added consistently to Doyle’s net worth. Although Brunson is 84 years old, he still plays poker, and shows that he still has the ability to win important tournaments.
Doyle Brunson has also published several books; some of them include “Doyle Brunson’s Super System: A Course in Power Poker”, “The Godfather of Poker: The Doyle Brunson Story”, and “Poker Wisdom of a Champion”. The success and popularity of these books have made Brunson’s net worth even higher, and are highly regarded in the professional card-playing industry.
In his personal life, Doyle has been married to Louise since 1962, and they had two daughters, but Doyla died from a faulty heart at 18. Daughter Pamela and son Todd also play poker, and have won tournaments and awards too; father and son being a unique combination to win poker bracelets.
