Poker is known for its big egos, huge pots and relentless pursuit of advantages. Yet many of the game’s biggest names dedicate as much energy to giving as they do to grinding. This feature spotlights ten players who have turned chips into change by raising millions for educational, health and social welfare projects through events, pledges and smart matching drives.
The criteria were simple and strict. Each person on this list has a verifiable charitable impact, demonstrates leadership and/or has founded organisations, and continues to engage with charitable causes after their initial high-profile donation.
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Setting the Scene: How Poker Players Give Back
High stakes for high impact. Charity tournaments have become a regular feature in the poker calendar. From the WSOP’s charity events to the One Drop initiative and community projects such as All In for Kids, the poker community is channeling its competitive energy into achieving real-world outcomes.
Effective altruism and pledges. Groups such as Raising for Effective Giving and initiatives like Double Up Drive promote a data-first approach. Players pledge a percentage of their winnings and publish their results, directing funds towards high-impact charities in areas such as global health, animal welfare, climate, and disaster relief.
Below, we recognize the standout givers, acknowledging their poker skills while focusing more on their philanthropic endeavours.
1. Phil Hellmuth: “Poker Brat” turned charity champion
Not only is he the most decorated WSOP tournament crusher, he is also a record-setting fundraiser. Hellmuth has helped to raise tens of millions of dollars through celebrity events and live galas, ranging from All In for Kids for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia to Tiger’s Poker Night, which supports youth programmes. He is a master of the room, using his star power, live auctions and personal requests to push totals over the top. His persona may be fiery, but his long-term charitable output is undeniable.
His signature angle is relentless emcee energy, VIP networks and repeat results across many causes.
2. Barry Greenstein: the Robin Hood of poker
Early in his career, Greenstein made a simple promise and kept it. He donates his tournament earnings to charity, focusing primarily on child sponsorship and educational programmes around the world.
He has also encouraged other professionals to make percentage pledges, and has supported medical missions and youth initiatives alongside fellow players.
His signature angle is consistency. Every donation helps children, not just the headline wins.
3. Jamie Gold: host of hundreds of charity nights
The 2006 Main Event champion embarked on a second career as a charity fundraiser. He has hosted or co-produced hundreds of charity poker events, raising impressive sums for ALS research, children’s hospitals and education. After losing his father to ALS, he transformed his grief into action, setting a personal target to push totals towards the billion mark.
His signature angle is scale. He treats every celebrity poker night like a start-up launch, complete with sponsors, media coverage, and star-studded line-ups.
4. Dan Smith: the matching drive innovator
Smith popularised matched giving in poker with his Double Up Drive. He rallies donors, vets charities and publishes transparent impact reports. The model is simple and effective. Make a donation, encourage the community to contribute, and direct funds to areas where a dollar has the greatest impact.
The signature angle is effective altruism in action, with transparency and leverage doing the heavy lifting.
5. Liv Boeree and Igor Kurganov: champions of effective giving
This dynamic duo has played a key role in bringing effective altruism into the world of poker. Through their organisation, Raising for Effective Giving, they encourage players to pledge a percentage of their winnings to charities that have the greatest impact. They lead by example with public pledges, bracelet donations and substantial personal gifts. With their scientific backgrounds and knack for clear communication, they make rigorous giving feel accessible.
Their signature approach involves data-backed donations, public pledges and educational initiatives that multiply impact.
6. Daniel Negreanu: the generous ambassador
Negreanu is involved in all the important charity events. From co-hosting St. Jude’s flagship poker gala to writing cheques for animal rescue and international relief efforts, he supports both high-profile events and smaller, local initiatives. While his public persona may be bold, his charity work is steady and wide-ranging.
His signature approach is broad-based giving. Children, animals, disaster relief and community projects all receive support.
7. Jennifer Harman: organ donation and animal welfare champion
Harman turned personal health battles into a platform. With two kidney transplants behind her, she founded an organ donation awareness initiative and became a cornerstone of the Nevada SPCA’s annual poker fundraiser. Her events draw industry friends, media, and recreational players, turning a night at the tables into adoptions and vet bills covered.
Signature angle: advocacy rooted in lived experience, plus a long running animal rescue fundraiser that saves lives.
8. Scott Wellenbach: the Buddhist translator who gives it all
Wellenbach is a recreational player with a serious heart: he donates his tournament profits to charity. Following a high-profile podium finish, he divided the proceeds between global health initiatives, humanitarian aid and local community projects. There’s no PR team or big sponsor splash; it’s just a simple philosophy. If poker yields extra money, give it to those in need.
His signature angle is pure pledge. Win money, move money, repeat.
9. Gershon Distenfeld: poker as a vehicle for giving
Distenfeld, a finance executive and accomplished recreational poker player, pledged his winnings to charity, including after winning a WSOP bracelet. He and his family direct funds to organisations that support vulnerable groups, using poker as a storytelling tool to inspire others to donate.
His signature approach is to pledge first with a family-guided cause selection process.
10. David Einhorn: big ticket checks for big impact
Einhorn rarely appears at poker events, but when he does, he makes a memorable impression. He famously diverted a multimillion-dollar podium finish from a high-roller charity event straight to educational programmes, and previously donated a six-figure sum from the Main Event to Parkinson’s research. He also serves on non-profit boards, contributing governance expertise alongside financial donations.
His signature approach is to pair high-leverage giving with long-term board service.