Phil Hellmuth, Jr. aspires to be the greatest poker player ever. Some (myself included) already consider Phil the greatest Texas Hold 'Em player ever, backed up by a record 9 WSOP bracelets in the Hold 'Em category.

Others consider Phil Hellmuth a petulant man-child when it comes to the game of poker. Dubbed the "Poker Brat" by a gambling community that loves to hate Phil, this one time poker prodigy might be the most controversial star of the mass poker movement.

The Poker Brat as a Young Man

Phil Hellmuth, Jr. was born in Madison, Wisconsin in 1964. Because his father was a college dean, Phil went away to college like nice boys in the Midwest do. Phil took up cards once in college, learning early on that he had a gambler's talent none of his college buddies had.

His family was bitterly disappointed when Phil left college to take up a career as a professional poker player. But he proved all his critics wrong when he won the ultimate poker prize just two years later.

When he won the 1989 World Series of Poker main event, Phil became the youngest ever champion at the age of 24. It was only the beginning of a brilliant career.

Becoming a Poker Brat

Phil's poker resume is incredible, but it's largely Texas hold'em focused. Some have criticized Hellmuth for focusing solely on Texas Hold 'Em events. Yet Phil's has chosen poker's reigning super event as his chosen specialty, perhaps a sign of his poker instincts, and more likely a sign of his business savvy.

Few have more respect among the poker elite than Hellmuth, who is only 1 WSOP bracelet behind older competitors Doyle Brunson and Johnny Chan.

Phil berate players, especially when they beat him on a flop. It is not uncommon to see Phil accost an opponent for going in against 3-to-1 odds, or for him to wonder aloud why they are playing a hand at all.

Phil Hellmuth was in rare form in the 2004 World Series of Poker on ESPN. After losing, Phil told the cameras, "I guess if luck wasn't involved, I'd win every one".

Such lack of grace has turned many poker fans against Phil Hellmuth, who has become the #1 black hat in the game.

Cashing in on Texas Hold'em

Phil Hellmuth has become one of poker's premier entrepreneurs, cashing in on the fame which the sport has brought him.

Hellmuth has written three books. Play Poker Like the Pros (his first book) was a New York Times Best Seller. The other two books are Bad Beats and Lucky Draws and the soon-to-be released The Greatest Poker Hands Ever Played.

Phil has produced a how-to video for poker, too. Phil Hellmuth's Million Dollar Poker Secrets was a solid seller, and has helped many aspiring poker players tighten up their games. Phil also has written advice articles in CardPlayer magazine.

Phil Hellmuth is also a spokesman for Ultimate Bet. He also does Travel Channel commercials for the World Poker Tour. He also has an ongoing relationship with Oakley sunglasses to market special Phil Hellmuth-styled sunglasses for players who want to look like Phil when bellying up to the felt.

Hellmuth has bragged once that he could cash in on his fame for several hundred million dollars. He seems determined to try, anyway.

Phil maintains his own website at Phil Hellmuth.com, so you can visit him there for the latest ramblings and accomplishments of this great player.

This page was last updated on January 28, 2008.