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    Famous Poker Players Who Died

    Remembering the legends. This list covers the famous poker players in our database who have passed away, from Stu Ungar and Chip Reese to Doyle Brunson.

    7 players29 WSOP bracelets combinedUpdated November 2026

    Famous Poker Players Who Died: the ranking

    Ranking: Players in our database who have passed away, ranked by live tournament earnings.

    1. Doyle Brunson

      United StatesDeceased

      "Texas Dolly" - The Godfather of Poker and Two-Time WSOP Main Event Champion

      Also in:United States playersTexasHall of Fame
      Earnings
      $6.1M
      Bracelets
      10
      Age
      89

    2. Mike Sexton

      United StatesDeceased

      The "Ambassador of Poker" Who Made the World Poker Tour a Global Phenomenon

      Also in:United States players1980sCommentators
      Earnings
      $5.7M
      Bracelets
      1
      Age
      72

    3. Layne Flack

      United StatesDeceased

      "Back to Back Flack," the Six-Time WSOP Bracelet Winner Inducted Posthumously Into the Poker Hall of Fame

      Also in:United States players1990sHall of Fame
      Earnings
      $5M
      Bracelets
      6
      Age
      52

    4. David "Chip" Reese

      United StatesDeceased

      Widely Regarded as the Greatest Cash Game Player of His Era, 1991 Poker Hall of Fame Inductee

      Also in:United States players1980sHall of Fame
      Earnings
      $3.9M
      Bracelets
      3
      Age
      56

    5. Stu Ungar

      United StatesDeceased

      "The Kid" — Three-Time WSOP Main Event Champion Widely Considered the Greatest Card Player Ever

      Also in:United States playersWent broke1980s
      Earnings
      $3.6M
      Bracelets
      5
      Age
      45

    1. Archie Karas

      United StatesDeceased

      "The Greek" — Legend of the Greatest Winning Streak in Casino History

      Also in:United States playersIn jailCheating scandals
      Earnings
      $10K
      Bracelets
      0
      Age
      73

    2. Amarillo Slim

      United StatesDeceased

      Thomas "Amarillo Slim" Preston — 1972 WSOP Main Event Champion and Poker's Great Showman

      Also in:United States playersTexasHall of Fame
      Earnings
      —
      Bracelets
      4
      Age
      83

    About this list

    Doyle Brunson leads this list with $6.1M in live earnings, 10 WSOP bracelets. Mike Sexton and Layne Flack complete the top three. Together, the 7 players on this list have won 29 WSOP bracelets and $24.3M in live tournament earnings.

    Poker has lost some of its greatest players far too early. Stu Ungar died at 45, Chip Reese at 56 and Layne Flack at 52. Others, like Doyle Brunson and Amarillo Slim, lived long lives and saw the game they helped build grow into a global industry.

    How this list is built

    Players in our database who have passed away, ranked by live tournament earnings. Each player can appear on several lists at once; the chips under each name link to the other lists they belong to. Data is updated November 2026.

    Related lists

    Famous Poker Players Who Went Broke 5Famous Poker Players Who Cheated 4Famous Poker Players in Jail 2Famous Poker Players Who Quit 8Highest Earning Poker Players of All Time 50Poker Players With Most Bracelets 30Best Poker Players of All Time 30

    FAQ about famous poker players who died

    Who is number one on our list of famous poker players who died?

    Doyle Brunson ranks first by live earnings, with $6.1M in live earnings, 10 WSOP bracelets. "Texas Dolly" - The Godfather of Poker and Two-Time WSOP Main Event Champion.

    How many players are on this list?

    The list includes 7 players from our database of 412 profiles. It updates automatically when a player who matches the criteria is added.

    Who has won the most WSOP bracelets on this list?

    Doyle Brunson, with 10 WSOP bracelets.