Top Ranking of the Richest Gamblers in 2024
Counting cards, a mathematics background, or a pinch of good luck could be among the reasons why some people win incredible amounts of money in casinos. Today, we will tell you about the richest gamblers in the world. In this piece, we will explore their backgrounds, professional careers, and side activities. Let us see what it takes to become a mega-successful professional gambler.
The Richest Gamblers in the World
- Bill Benter (Net Worth: Close to $1 Billion)
- Edward Thorp (Net Worth: $800 Million)
- Alan Woods (Net Worth: AU$670 million)
- Zeljko Ranogajec (Net Worth: AU$600 Million)
- Andrew Black (Net Worth: $500 Million)
- Billy Walters (Net Worth: $200 Million)
- Phil Ivey (Net Worth: 100 Million)
Bill Benter – The Richest Gambler in the World
Often referred to as the most successful gambler worldwide, Bill Benter was born and raised in 1957 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. His natural talent for mathematics as well as his physics diploma helped him capitalise on his gifts and turn a profit. In the 1970s, there were not many casinos in the urban city, so Benter went to the Las Vegas Strip to count cards on blackjack. It is rumoured that the mathematician improved his skills after reading Beat the Dealer by Edward Thorp.
| Name | Bill Benter |
| Born | 1957, Pittsburgh, PA, USA |
| Net Worth | Close to $1 Billion |
| Games | Blackjack, Horse Racing |
By the mid-80s, Mr. Benter was banned from all brick-and-mortar casinos on the Strip. This led him to move to Hong Kong for the horse races. There, the richest gambler in the world met his soon-to-be partner, Alan Woods. They combined their gambling expertise and mathematical knowledge to develop software to predict the outcome of horse races. Even though the partnership did not last long, Benter still managed to create a very successful analysis computer software programme for horse racing.
There is more to Bill Benter than gambling and mathematical talents. He is known for often donating to charity organisations and being the founder of the Benter Foundation. Moreover, he is a visiting lecturer for subjects like statistics and mathematical probability. However, things could have been much different if any of the top PA online casinos existed when Bill Benter started gambling.
Edward Thorp – The Inventor of Card Counting
Moving next in our rich gamblers list, we have Edward Thorp. He was born in 1932 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Thorp’s academic background is in mathematics and physics, following the completion of his Ph.D. he was a lecturer for nearly two decades. Moreover, Edward Thorp researched the probabilities at winning blackjack using mathematics. He developed his own theory, which he then tested at casinos in Reno, Lake Tahoe, and, of course, Las Vegas.
| Name | Edward Thorp |
| Born | 1932, Chicago, IL, USA |
| Net Worth | $800 Million |
| Games | Blackjack, Baccarat, Backgammon |
Fortunately, Thorp’s blackjack theory was correct, and he wrote his bestselling book Beat the Dealer. This piece proves that players can overcome the house advantage in blackjack by counting cards. Naturally, Thorp’s work is still popular among amateur and professional players to this day. Moreover, the mathematician was welcomed to the Blackjack Hall of Fame for developing the so-called Thorp-count method. He also founded a baccarat syndicate.
Edward Thorp’s brilliant and innovative ideas are not limited to gambling. During the 60s, he worked with Claude Shannon and together, they developed the first wearable computer. Just as you would expect, they used the device at casinos before it was banned in the 80s. Also, during the 60s, Thorp entered the world of Wall Street, where his mathematical skills gave him a great advantage. Allegedly, the brilliant mathematician has an estimated net worth of $800 million.
Alan Woods – Pioneer in Horse Racing Betting
Alan Woods was born in 1945 in Murwillumbah, New South Wales, Australia, where he enjoyed casual games of solo whilst with his family. As a university student, he picked up the habit of playing poker machines and horse racing betting. However, he did not complete his mathematics studies and relocated to Sydney, where poker machines were banned. While Woods started casually gambling in his 20s, it was not until his divorce that he focused on playing professionally.
| Name | Alan Woods |
| Born | 1945, Murwillumbah, NSW, Australia |
| Net Worth | A$670 Million |
| Games | Blackjack, Horse Racing |
However, Alan Woods’ professional gambling career was not long. According to records, he started in 1979 and retired shortly after in 1982. Interestingly, Woods was also able to successfully count cards which must have helped him win in Las Vegas and Hobart. In the 80s, he moved to Hong Kong because the horse racing pool was smaller. There, he met the richest gambler in the world, Bill Benter, and professional player, Bob Moore.
Bill Benter and Alan Woods formed a short-lived partnership that aimed to develop a horse racing prediction software. The pair also established a very successful horse racing syndicate. After that, Woods moved once more, this time to Manila, where he teamed up with Zelko Ranogajec. The Australian gambler was known for his generous donations to the Filipino community, mental health research, and Australian bridge.
Zeljko Ranogajec – Nagotiator of Fabourable Discounts
Zeljko Ranogajec is the fourth person in our richest gamblers ranking with an estimated net worth of A$600 million. Son of Croatian immigrants, he was born in Hobart in 1961. After high school, Ranogajec enrolled in the University of Tasmania to study Commerce and Law. In his spare time, he counted cards in the Wrest Point Casino, where he met his future wife and business associate, Shelly Wilson. They moved to Sydney, and Ranogajec transferred to the University of NSW, but he did not complete his degree.
| Name | Zeljko Ranogajec |
| Born | 1961, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia |
| Net Worth | A$600 Million |
| Games | Blackjack, Horse Racing |
Zeljko’s blackjack gambling skills are described as innovative and prolific for his time by other professional players. Allegedly, the Australian would bet a few hundred, which he would then turn into millions. You might also recall that during the 80s, Alan Woods partnered with Zeljko Ranogajec in Australia; the world is truly a small place! It was not long before Zeljko was banned from most Australian casinos, and he moved across the globe to test his luck at some of the top-rated casinos in the USA.
The professional gambler is known to have won millions of dollars from gambling. However, some would suggest that Zeljko’s major success is due to his ability to negotiate favourable discounts and rebates with betting pool operators. Besides, he was the head of the Punters Club syndicate. Furthermore, Zeljko Ranogajec indirectly employs more than 300 individuals, among which many spotters, analysts, bettors, and administrators.
Andrew Black – The Father of Bet Exchange Platforms
Born in 1963, Andrew Black was the son of a property developer and grandson of Sir Cyril Black, Tory MP. After attending King’s College School, he enrolled in the University of Exeter, but he was asked to leave in his second year due to low attendance. It is rumoured that Black spent most of his time at the bookies during his university days. After that, he took low skilled jobs for a while, but then his brother got sick.
| Name | Andrew Black |
| Born | 1963, London, England, UK |
| Net Worth | £500 Million |
| Games | Horse Racing, Bridge |
Andrew Black left work and took care of his sibling for the next couple of years until his brother’s passing. Then, he worked at a derivatives firm, and during that time, he excelled his gambling skills and even earned enough to turn it into a full-time job. Keep in mind that by accessing the best online roulette casino in the UK, you can also improve your skills, especially if you are a fan of this type of online casino game. Shortly after, Black decided to set up his own software business, which would allow him to be financially independent. Luckily, his idea secured him a paid contract at GCHQ, which meant he had a steady 9 to 5 job.
Working for a government body allowed Black to spend his evenings brainstorming ideas for his future bet exchange business. At a game of bridge, Andrew Black met his soon-to-be partn er Wray and showed him his software prototype. In 2000, together, they launched Betfair, which is the first and most successful bet exchange platform. In 2010, the company was listed at the London Stock Exchange and valued at £1.4bn. In 2016, Betfair was delisted after its merge with Paddy Power.
Billy Walters – Bookies’ Worst Nightmare
The next person in our ranking of the richest gamblers had a humble beginning in Munfordville, Kentucky, USA. We are talking about no other than the notoriously known Billy Walters. He and his sisters were raised by his hardworking grandmother until her demise. Then, 13-year-old Billy had to move and live with his mother. Without a doubt, Billy Walters was a hustler. It is said that he has had 80-hour workweeks as a car salesperson.
| Name | Andrew Black |
| Born | 1946, Munfordville, KY, USA |
| Net Worth | $200 Million |
| Games | Horse Racing |
However, he has always had an entrepreneurial mind; Walter started his first business at the age of 7 as a grass-cutter. Two years later, he started a paper route. Aside from that, he had a passion for gambling and placed his first bet at the age of 9. Walter was a losing player until his mid-30s until his luck turned. Then, followed a 30-year winning streak, which helped him accumulate an estimated net worth close to $200m.
Because of his reputation, Billy Walter is banned from many casinos on the Strip, and many bookies will not take his bets. This led the sports bettor to resort to using runners to place bets on his behalf. In 2017, Mr. Walter was found guilty of insider trading and profiting more than £30m from the illegal activity. Despite his wrongdoings, Billy Walter is a philanthropist and has donated large sums to organisations like the Opportunity Village in Las Vegas.
Phil Ivey – The World’s Best Poker Player
Last but not least, we have Phil Ivey, born in 1997 in Riverside, California, USA. His grandfather taught him five-card stud poker at the age of 8. Phil’s passion only grew stronger throughout the years. Teenage Phil even got a fake ID, so he can play in Atlantic City casinos. Also, he enjoyed a casual game with his work buddies. Mr. Ivey became a professional poker player by the age of 20.
| Name | Phil Ivey |
| Born | 1977, Riverside, CA, USA |
| Net Worth | $100 Million |
| Games | Poker |
With an estimated net worth of $100 million, Phil Ivey is not the world’s richest gambler. However, professional gamblers often describe him as the best all-around poker player in the world – a title he has well deserved. Phil Ivey has won 10 World Series of Poker bracelets and 1 World Poker Tour. Also, the professional player has reached the final table of the World Poker Tour on nine occasions. Moreover, Ivey has accumulated a considerable portion of his wealth, playing online poker.
In 2012, the world-renowned poker player was caught in an edge-sorting casino scandal. The UK court found him guilty of using cheating methods to win. However, he managed to recover his reputation after that and continued gambling. On the other side, Phil Ivey is known for creating the Budding Ivey Foundation, donating to Empowered 2 Excel, and partnering up with the Make-A-Foundation. Also, he has launched a free to play poker app, Ivey Poker, and poker training site, Ivey League.
Common Questions
We hope that this piece has offered you enough information about the richest gamblers worldwide. However, we understand that some of you might have queries that are left unaddressed. Thus, we decided to put together answers to the frequently asked questions on the topic.
