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Phil Hellmuth

Phil Hellmuth is an American professional poker player best known for winning a record 17 World Series of Poker bracelets.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Phil Hellmuth is an American professional poker player best known for winning a record 17 World Series of Poker bracelets. He won the 1989 WSOP Main Event and the 2012 WSOP Europe Main Event, and was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2007.

Early life

Phil Hellmuth was born on July 16, 1964, in Madison, Wisconsin. Sources identify him as Phillip Jerome Hellmuth Jr.

Poker career

Hellmuth became one of the most successful tournament players in poker history, with a record 17 WSOP bracelets and victories spanning multiple decades.

Major titles and records

He is the only player noted in the supplied sources to have won both the WSOP Main Event and the WSOP Europe Main Event. He is also described as the only player to win bracelets in five different decades.

Public image

Hellmuth is often portrayed as one of poker’s most polarizing figures because of his emotional table presence and the nickname “The Poker Brat.”

Key facts

  • Hellmuth holds the record for the most World Series of Poker bracelets, with 17.
  • He won the 1989 World Series of Poker Main Event.
  • He also won the 2012 World Series of Poker Europe Main Event.
  • He was inducted into the WSOP Poker Hall of Fame in 2007.
  • He is widely known by the nickname “The Poker Brat.”
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Canadian context

Phil Hellmuth has played in major international poker events that attract Canadian competitors and audiences, but the supplied sources do not indicate a specific Canadian connection beyond his relevance to the broader poker scene.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Phil Hellmuth?
Phil Hellmuth is an American professional poker player known for his record 17 WSOP bracelets and major tournament success.
What is Phil Hellmuth famous for?
He is famous for winning the most World Series of Poker bracelets in history and for his 1989 WSOP Main Event victory.
How many WSOP bracelets does Phil Hellmuth have?
The supplied sources consistently state that he has 17 WSOP bracelets.
What is Phil Hellmuth’s nickname?
He is widely known as “The Poker Brat.”
Has Phil Hellmuth been inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame?
Yes. He was inducted in 2007.
What are Phil Hellmuth’s most notable tournament wins?
His best-known wins are the 1989 WSOP Main Event and the 2012 WSOP Europe Main Event.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Hellmuth
    Supports: Birth name, birth date, 17 WSOP bracelets, 1989 WSOP Main Event, 2012 WSOPE Main Event, Poker Hall of Fame induction
  2. WSOP.com — https://www.wsop.com/players/690290266/phil-hellmuth/
    Supports: Birth date, birthplace, residence, Poker Hall of Fame induction, live earnings
  3. PokerNews — https://www.pokernews.com/poker-players/phil-hellmuth/
    Supports: 17 WSOP bracelets, nickname 'The Poker Brat', 1989 Main Event, 2023 bracelet record
  4. Poker.org — https://www.poker.org/poker-players/phil-hellmuth/
    Supports: 17 WSOP bracelets, birth date, decades-spanning bracelet wins