The end of the year is the best opportunity to take stock. A ranking of the richest poker players of 2025 has been compiled, based on tournament winnings.
In poker, this exercise in memory and analysis becomes even more fascinating: the numbers tell stories of rises, triumphs, and downturns, while earnings rankings capture the true impact of a season on the international circuit better than any other statistic.
The year 2025 will go down in history as one of the most dynamic, competitive, and profitable years in live poker.
Major competitions generated record-breaking prize pools, high-roller tournaments continued to grow in importance and visibility, and—above all—a new generation of superstars emerged forcefully, capable of consistently performing in the toughest environments and rapidly climbing the global rankings.
Alongside them, several elite veterans proved that experience and talent remain crucial weapons even in the era of hyper-technical poker.
The overview below presents the ten players who earned the most in 2025, analyzing not only the figures but also the paths that led them to the top.
1. Jesse Lonis (United States) – $13,334,563
Jesse Lonis dominated the season beyond dispute. With a series of victories and consistent cashes, Lonis accumulated an impressive number of wins and final-table appearances in the world’s most prestigious high-roller tournaments, including events on the PokerGO Tour and the Triton Series. His ability to navigate elite fields made him the highest-earning player of 2025, with steady performances that pushed him into the spotlight of the tournament scene.
2. Kayhan Mokri Roshanfekr (Norway) – $13,255,542
The Norwegian enjoyed a simply formidable season, with a high conversion rate in high-stakes tournaments. While he did not cash frequently, he maximized his deep runs, including top performances in super high-stakes events and on the Triton circuit. Mokri often battled established champions and demonstrated exceptional skill in consistently closing out final tables.
3. Stephen Chidwick (England) – $12,627,025
A British veteran and one of the most respected players in the world, Chidwick added further high-profile results to an already exceptional career in 2025. His year was marked by numerous deep runs in super high rollers and a victory in the NAPT $50K Super High Roller in Las Vegas, securing him a podium finish in the global earnings rankings.
4. Seth Davies (United States) – $12,363,447
Seth Davies enjoyed a breakout year in 2025. The turning point came at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, where he won Event #46: the $250,000 Super High Roller, defeating one of the toughest fields of the season and taking home $4.7 million, along with the first WSOP bracelet of his career. This triumph was followed by multiple notable finishes at Triton events and other elite high-roller tournaments, confirming his steady rise.
5. Benjamin Tollerene (United States) – $12,010,551
He established himself as one of the absolute benchmarks of high-stakes poker in 2025, particularly in Omaha variants. A renowned Pot-Limit Omaha specialist, Tollerene recorded one of the year’s most impressive results by winning a prestigious Triton Poker Series event in Rozvadov, overcoming an elite field and earning $2.4 million. This victory capped a season played at the highest level, marked by numerous deep runs in the most prestigious tournaments on the international circuit.
6. Aleksejs Ponakovs (Latvia) – $11,868,760
The Latvian’s season was memorable in terms of performance. After years without a major title, he finally claimed victory in the Triton Main Event at WSOP Paradise 2025, a result worth over $4.7 million and one of the defining moments of his career. The win came after a fierce battle against a formidable field and earned Ponakovs his first Triton Main Event title and third WSOP bracelet.
7. Michael Mizrachi (United States) – $11,467,933
Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi capped off 2025 with a spectacular result: he won the World Series of Poker Main Event, taking home the $10 million top prize, while also capturing the Poker Players Championship and securing his induction into the Poker Hall of Fame. The combination of experience, fearlessness, and skill made him one of the standout figures of the season.
8. William Alex Foxen (United States) – $11,266,396
In 2025, Alex Foxen further solidified his reputation as one of the most reliable and competitive players on the international high-roller scene, delivering a season filled with iconic and historic results. The standout moment was an extraordinary comeback that led to victory in the $10,100 No-Limit Hold’em Poker Masters, earning him $272,000. This triumph was complemented by his win in the PLO Quattro Bounty, which pushed him past 10,000 PokerGO Tour points and to 100 career cashes, making him the first player in Tour history to reach both milestones.
9. Jason Koon (United States) – $11,126,678
Jason Koon’s domain has always been high-stakes tournaments, and it came as no surprise that he claimed one of the biggest prizes of the 2025 WSOP. Koon won Event #32: the $50,000 High Roller, earning $1,968,927 and his second WSOP bracelet. His consistent presence in the final stages of the most prestigious tournaments confirmed his status as one of modern poker’s elite stars.
10. Artur Martirosyan (Russia) – $11,034,164
Artur Martirosyan earned his place in the top 10 through consistency and versatility. A key figure on the Triton Poker Series, where he recorded multiple in-the-money finishes and titles, he once again demonstrated his ability to compete with the very best players on the international stage.
