Doyle F. Brunson, also known as Texas Dodlly, Big Papa or The Godfather of Poker, was born on 10 August 1933, in Longworth, Texas USA, and as his various names suggest, is a professional poker player, but also a writer. Doyle is known for winning the World Series of Poker bracelet 10 times, and has also been inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame. Doyle is considered to be one of the most influential people in poker, a reputation earned from a career which now stretches to well over 40 years
If you wonder how rich Doyle Brunson is, his net worth is estimated by authoritative sources at $80 million as of mid-2017, and as Brunson still continues playing poker successfully, there is every chance that his net worth will become even higher.
Doyle Brunson Net Worth $80 Million
When Doyle was young he played in the All-State Texas basketball team, and also won the high school Texas mile championship at 17, which brought him several scholarship offers, but unfortunately Brunson experienced a knee injury and was not able to play basketball anymore. However, he enrolled at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas, and graduated with a BA in 1954 and then an MA in 1955, both in administrative education. His first job was a business machines salesman, but allegedly on his first day he was invited to play a game of poker, and won the equivalent of a month’s salary. He soon left the company and became a professional poker player, as he quickly understood that his talent allowed him to earn more money in a few hours than he would earn in most regular jobs.
Together with his friend Dwayne Hamilton, Doyle began playing poker in illegal games, travelling around southern states and doing well for a number of years, but also betting “on almost anything”, as Doyle later admitted, but then landed in Las Vegas and lost it all. However, Doyle regained enough to participate in the World Series of Poker when it started up in 1970, and has continued to play in the Main Event up until now. From that time Doyle net worth began to grow. He won two championships in 1976 and 1977, and Doyle’s other Main Event cashes over the years have been 3rd in 1972, runner-up in 1980 (to three-time champion Stu Ungar), 4th in 1982, 3rd in 1983, 16th in 1993, and 53rd in 2004. In addition, Brunson plays in other tournaments, for example, Bobby’s Room, Legend of Poker World Poker Tour event, and No Limit Texas hold’em Championship event – 1976 prize $230,000, 1977 $340,000 and 1991 $208,000. His biggest prize was $368,000 in the 2005 No Limit Shorthanded Texas Hold’em tournament – but all have added consistently to Doyle’s net worth. Although Brunson is 84 years old, he still plays poker, and shows that he still has the ability to win important tournaments.
Doyle Brunson has also published several books; some of them include “Doyle Brunson’s Super System: A Course in Power Poker”, “The Godfather of Poker: The Doyle Brunson Story”, and “Poker Wisdom of a Champion”. The success and popularity of these books have made Brunson’s net worth even higher, and are highly regarded in the professional card-playing industry.
In his personal life, Doyle has been married to Louise since 1962, and they had two daughters, but Doyla died from a faulty heart at 18. Daughter Pamela and son Todd also play poker, and have won tournaments and awards too; father and son being a unique combination to win poker bracelets.
World Series of Poker (WSOP), Main Event bracelets (1976, 1977),
Nominations
Poker Hall of Fame inductee
Movies
The Grand
TV Shows
High Stakes Poker, National Heads-Up Poker Championship (2005-2011), Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament (2004), Intercontinental Poker Championship(2006)
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Quote
1
In a big no-limit game against tough opponents, you should never show a quality lay-down unless you intend to call in the future. When you are floundering around in the ocean, it's stupid to drop bait for the sharks.
2
I'm a gambler. I'll always be one. I couldn't be anything else. So, my life will always be full of wins and losses. I wouldn't have it any other way. It's exciting. There's never been a dull moment in my life.
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Fact
1
Inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 1988.
2
Won bracelets at World Series of Poker in Deuce to Seven Draw (1977), Seven-Card Stud Split (1977), Seven-Card Stud (1978), Mixed Doubles (with Starla Brodie) (1979), No Limit Hold'em (1991), Razz (1998), H.O.R.S.E. (2003) and No Limit Shorthanded Texas Hold'em (2005).
He joins Joe Hachem, Scotty Nguyen, Carlos Mortensen and "Action" Dan Harrington, as being the only five people to have won both the World Series of Poker Main Event and a World Poker Tour (2003) title. Doyle won both the 1976 and 1977 WSOP main events and the 2004 Bicycle Casino Legends of Poker WPT event.
5
His nickname "Texas Dolly" came from Jimmy "The Greek" Snyder, who incorrectly read his name on a sheet of paper. Snyder was supposed to announce Brunson as "Texas Doyle" (since he was from the state of Texas), but instead he said "Texas Dolly" and the name stuck.
6
He refuses to play the starting hand of Ace-Queen, despite it being considered a premium starting hand. He mentions this fact on page 519 of his famous book "Super System".
7
When he won his record tenth World Series of Poker bracelet in 2005, he won it somewhat by mistake on his part. The starting hand that he held was 10-3, and he mistook it for his trademark hand, 10-2. When he re-raised and pushed all in and was called by his opponent, he saw that he was holding a 10-3 and admitted at the table "I thought it was the 10-2." The hand however turned out to be a winner, as a 3 came out on the flop and nothing for his opponent, even on the Turn or River. Doyle had won the game with a pair of threes, and thus his tenth World Series of Poker bracelet.
8
The reason that 10-2 is his favorite hand to play, is because he won the 1976 and 1977 World Series of Poker Main Events back to back in subsequent years with it. Both times his winning hand turned out to be a full house, tens full of deuces.
9
His favorite hand to play is 10-2. Hence, this hand is known amongst poker players as the "Doyle Brunson" or "Texas Dolly".
10
Finished 53rd out 2,576 players at the 2004 World Series of Poker Main Event, earning him about $60,000.
11
Won the Bicycle Casino's 2004 Legends of Poker tournament, earning him $1,000,000.
12
Won the 1976 and 1977 World Championship bracelet in the World Series of Poker (No Limit Texas Hold'em).
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Grand
2007
Poker Pro
Rounders: Inside Professional Poker
1998
Video short
World Series of Poker Champion
Miscellaneous
Title
Year
Status
Character
Lucky You
2007
poker consultant
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
Rounders
1998
the producers wish to thank
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
KidPoker
2015
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Post Oak Bluff
2015
Documentary
Himself
Post Oak Bluff: The Politics of Poker
2015
Documentary
Himself
2010 World Series of Poker
2010
TV Series
Himself
National Heads-Up Poker Championship
2010
TV Series
Himself (2010)
2009 World Series of Poker
2009
TV Series
Himself
30 for 30
2009
TV Series documentary
Himself
Poker After Dark
2007-2009
TV Series
Himself
National Heads-Up Poker Championship
2009
TV Series
Himself (2009)
National Heads-Up Poker Championship
2008
TV Mini-Series
Himself
High Stakes Poker
2006-2007
TV Series
Himself
National Heads-Up Poker Championship
2007
TV Series
Himself (2007)
Lucky You
2007
Himself
£50 Says You'll Watch This
2007
TV Series documentary 2007
The Players at the Table
2007
Video documentary short
Himself
No Limit: A Search for the American Dream on the Poker Tournament Trail
2006
Documentary
Himself
Intercontinental Poker Championship
2006
TV Series
Himself
National Heads-Up Poker Championship
2006
TV Series
Himself
Anything to Win
2006
TV Series documentary
Himself
Poker Superstars III
2006
TV Series
Himself
National Heads-Up Poker Championship
2005
TV Series
Himself
Beyond the Glory
2005
TV Series documentary
Himself
World Poker Tour
2005
TV Series
Himself
Beyond the Felt
2005
TV Series documentary
Himself
Poker Superstars II
2005
TV Series
Himself
Known for movies
Poker After Dark (2007-2009) as Himself
No Limit: A Search for the American Dream on the Poker Tournament Trail (2006) as Himself