TJ Cloutier biography
T.J. Cloutier was born on October 13, 1939, in Albany, California, and earned an athletic scholarship to UC Berkeley, where he played in the 1959 Rose Bowl. Following military service, he briefly pursued a professional football career in the Canadian Football League, playing as an end for the Montreal Alouettes in 1962 and the Toronto Argonauts in 1963, before an injury cut his football career short and redirected him toward professional poker.
Cloutier went on to build one of the most decorated tournament résumés in the game's history, winning six WSOP gold bracelets and recording 69 career money finishes, with live tournament earnings exceeding $10.5 million as of 2024. He remains one of the most heartbreaking near-misses in WSOP Main Event history, finishing runner-up twice, in 1985 to Bill Smith and again in 2000 to Chris Ferguson, in addition to a third-place finish in 1998 and a fifth-place finish in 1988.
He holds the unique distinction of being the only player in WSOP history to win bracelet events in three different types of Omaha: Pot-Limit High, Limit High, and Limit Omaha Eight-or-Better.
Cloutier was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2006, and beyond his own play he became one of the game's most respected instructors, co-authoring four poker strategy books with Tom McEvoy and writing "How To Win The Championship: Hold'em Strategies For The Final Table," cementing his legacy as both a champion and a teacher of the game.
Career summary
A former CFL football player turned Poker Hall of Famer, Cloutier won six WSOP bracelets and finished runner-up in the Main Event twice, while co-authoring some of the game's most respected strategy books.
TJ Cloutier poker winnings
| Year | Event | Place | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | WSOP Main Event | 2nd | Lost to Chris Ferguson |
| 1998 | WSOP Main Event | 3rd | Cash |
| 1988 | WSOP Main Event | 5th | Cash |
| 1985 | WSOP Main Event | 2nd | Lost to Bill Smith |
Verified live tournament earnings: $10,500,000+, plus 6 WSOP bracelets.
Career - WSOP bracelet events - 1st Place (x6 total) - Career bracelet total, including titles in three types of Omaha
TJ Cloutier playing style
Cloutier was renowned for a powerful, aggressive no-limit hold'em tournament style and unmatched versatility across game variants, uniquely mastering three different types of Omaha at the WSOP.
Cash games
A longtime high-stakes cash-game specialist and tournament grinder over a career spanning several decades.
Business & sponsorships
Co-authored four poker strategy books with Tom McEvoy; authored "How To Win The Championship: Hold'em Strategies For The Final Table."
TJ Cloutier Net Worth
As of November 2026, TJ Cloutier net worth estimates range from $3 million to $6 million.
Verified live tournament earnings account for $10.5M of prize money. 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 TJ matters
Thomas James Cloutier was born on October 13, 1939, in Albany, California, and played in the 1959 Rose Bowl at UC Berkeley before a brief Canadian Football League career with the Toronto Argonauts and Montreal Alouettes ended with an injury, redirecting him toward a legendary six-decade poker career.
FAQ about TJ Cloutier
How many times did TJ Cloutier finish runner-up in the WSOP Main Event?
He finished runner-up twice, in 1985 to Bill Smith and in 2000 to Chris Ferguson.
What unique WSOP distinction does TJ Cloutier hold?
He is the only player in WSOP history to win bracelet events in three different types of Omaha: Pot-Limit High, Limit High, and Limit Eight-or-Better.
How much has TJ Cloutier won playing poker?
TJ Cloutier has won $10,500,000+ in live tournament earnings.
How many WSOP bracelets does TJ Cloutier have?
TJ Cloutier has won 6 WSOP bracelets.