Eli Elezra biography
Eli Elezra was born on November 24, 1960, in Jerusalem, Israel, and served in the Israeli Defense Force's Golani Brigade, a period that included time in military prison for disobeying orders before a leg injury sustained during the 1982 Lebanon War led to his discharge. He rebuilt his life first by working in Alaska's fishing industry, then by founding a successful film-developing business in Las Vegas in 1988, a venture that gave him the financial stability to pursue professional poker seriously.
Elezra went on to win five WSOP gold bracelets across multiple game variants, starting with a 2007 World Championship Seven-Card Stud Hi-Low title in which he defeated Scotty Nguyen heads-up, and capped by a 2022 $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo Championship win worth $611,362, along with a 2004 WPT Mirage Poker Showdown title worth over $1 million. Known widely by the nickname "Mr.
Vegas," he became one of the most recognizable faces in poker television history through prominent appearances across the first six seasons of "High Stakes Poker" and as a Full Tilt Poker Pro on "Poker After Dark." He published a memoir, "Pulling the Trigger," in January 2019, and was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2021 in recognition of his decades-long contributions both at the table and on camera.
Career summary
A five-time WSOP bracelet winner nicknamed "Mr. Vegas," inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2021, whose decades of televised appearances on "High Stakes Poker" and "Poker After Dark" made him one of the most recognizable cash-game faces in the sport's history.
Eli Elezra poker winnings
| Year | Event | Place | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | WSOP $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo Championship | 1st | $611,362 |
| 2007 | WSOP World Championship Seven-Card Stud Hi-Lowdefeated Scotty Nguyen heads-up | 1st | $198,984 |
| 2004 | WPT Mirage Poker Showdown | 1st | $1,024,574 |
Verified live tournament earnings: $5,800,000+ from 75 cashes, plus 5 WSOP bracelets.
75 career WSOP money finishes and 21 final tables across five bracelet wins
Eli Elezra playing style
A seasoned, instinctive mixed-games and cash-game specialist whose combat-honed composure and decades of experience at the highest-stakes tables made him a fixture of poker's biggest televised games.
Cash games
A long-running fixture of the biggest televised cash games in poker history, appearing prominently across seasons 1-6 of "High Stakes Poker" and on "Poker After Dark" as a Full Tilt Poker Pro.
Business & sponsorships
Built a successful film-developing business in Las Vegas in 1988 after working in Alaska's fishing industry, which provided the financial foundation for his entry into professional poker; published a memoir, "Pulling the Trigger," in January 2019.
Eli Elezra Net Worth
As of November 2026, Eli Elezra net worth estimates range from $5 million to $10 million.
Verified live tournament earnings account for $5.8M of prize money across 75 cashes. Sponsorships, business ventures and cash games, covered above, make up the rest of the picture. Tournament prize money is not the same as profit: buy-ins, staking deals and taxes are not deducted, so all net worth figures are estimates based on public reporting.
Why Eli matters
A Golani Brigade combat veteran discharged after a Lebanon War injury, Elezra rebuilt his life through Alaska's fishing industry and a Las Vegas film-developing business before becoming "Mr. Vegas," a five-time WSOP bracelet winner and one of the most recognizable faces of televised high-stakes cash games.
FAQ about Eli Elezra
Why is Eli Elezra nicknamed "Mr. Vegas"?
The nickname reflects his decades-long status as one of Las Vegas's most recognizable poker fixtures, built through his prominent television appearances on shows like "High Stakes Poker" and "Poker After Dark" alongside his five WSOP bracelet wins.
What was Eli Elezra's life like before he became a professional poker player?
He served in the Israeli Defense Force's Golani Brigade before a Lebanon War injury ended his military service, then worked in Alaska's fishing industry before founding a successful Las Vegas film-developing business that funded his transition into professional poker.
How much has Eli Elezra won playing poker?
Eli Elezra has won $5,800,000+ in live tournament earnings. Total cashes: 75 (WSOP money finishes).
How many WSOP bracelets does Eli Elezra have?
Eli Elezra has won 5 WSOP bracelets.