Phil Hellmuth

Phillip J. Hellmuth, Jr. (born July 16, 1964 in Madison, Wisconsin) is a professional poker player. He became the youngest World Champion of Poker by defeating the two-time defending champion, Johnny Chan, in the World Series of Poker main event.

Hellmuth attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison for three years before dropping out to play poker full time (much to the chagrin of his father, a professor at the school who holds a MBA, a J.D. and a Ph.D.). He earned the nickname of "poker brat" because of his perceived attitude and ego. Despite this reputation, his accomplishments are highly respected in the poker community. As of 2006, he has won ten WSOP bracelets, each one in Texas hold 'em events. Hellmuth is also the season three champion of Late Night Poker.

In 2005 Hellmuth won the inaugural National Heads-Up Poker Championship. He defeated Men Nguyen, Paul Phillips, Huck Seed, Lyle Berman and Antonio Esfandiari on the way to the final against Chris Ferguson whom he defeated in two out of three games. While trying to repeat in 2006, he lost in the first round to Chip Reese.

As of 2006, his total live tournament winnings exceed $8,800,000
He appeared in the first season of the GSN series High Stakes Poker.
In the spring of 2006, Hellmuth replaced Phil Gordon as commentator on Bravo's Celebrity Poker Showdown.

When Hellmuth did an interview on Sirius Satellite Radio recently, he said that he will be on the next season of VH1's The Surreal Life, along with professional wrestler Randy Savage, Playboy Playmate Tina Marie Jordan, and Type O Negative frontman Peter Steele. Savage has confirmed his involvement, though VH1 hasn't officially announced who will be on the cast.

At the 2006 World Series of Poker, after making it down to the last two in a prior event, he captured his record 10th World Series of Poker bracelet in the $1,000 No Limit Hold'em with rebuys event. This tied him with fellow poker legends Doyle Brunson and Johnny Chan. However, unlike Brunson and Chan, all of his bracelets are in Texas hold'em.

Hellmuth resides in Palo Alto, California with his wife Katherine Sanborn (a psychiatrist at Stanford University) and two sons, Phillip III and Nicholas.