Poker records: biggest prizes, fields and most WSOP bracelets
Poker has grown into a game of huge numbers. Here are the records every player should know (as of late 2026).
Biggest prizes
Section titled “Biggest prizes”| Record | Holder | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Biggest single tournament prize | Antonio Esfandiari, Big One for One Drop (2012) | $18,346,673 |
| Second biggest WSOP prize | Daniel Colman, Big One for One Drop (2014) | $15,306,668 |
| Biggest WSOP Main Event prize | Daniel Weinman (2023) | $12,100,000 |
| Previous Main Event record | Jamie Gold (2006) | $12,000,000 |
The Big One for One Drop had a $1,000,000 buy-in, with part of each entry going to charity.
Biggest Main Event fields
Section titled “Biggest Main Event fields”| Year | Entries |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 10,112 (the record) |
| 2023 | 10,043 (the first field over 10,000) |
| 2025 | 9,735 |
| 2026 | 9,208 |
| 2006 | 8,773 (the record for 17 years) |
Most WSOP bracelets
Section titled “Most WSOP bracelets”| Player | Bracelets |
|---|---|
| Phil Hellmuth | 17 |
| Phil Ivey | 11 |
| Doyle Brunson, Johnny Chan, Erik Seidel | 10 each |
2026 WSOP numbers
Section titled “2026 WSOP numbers”- A record 251,899 entries across the series.
- Almost $470 million in prize money.
- The $1,000 Mystery Millions drew 22,811 entries, the largest field of the summer.
- A record 431 women entered the Main Event.
- Daniel Negreanu became the first player to pass $25 million in WSOP earnings.
Why records matter to beginners
Section titled “Why records matter to beginners”They show how big poker has become, and that anyone can enter the same events through satellites and low buy-in flights. Read what is the WSOP?, famous players who started from zero and poker history.
What is the biggest poker tournament prize ever?
Section titled “What is the biggest poker tournament prize ever?”Antonio Esfandiari won $18,346,673 in the $1 million Big One for One Drop at the 2012 WSOP.
What is the biggest WSOP Main Event field?
Section titled “What is the biggest WSOP Main Event field?”10,112 entries in 2024. The 2023 Main Event, with 10,043, was the first to pass 10,000.
Who has the most WSOP bracelets?
Section titled “Who has the most WSOP bracelets?”Phil Hellmuth, with 17 bracelets as of late 2026.
What is the biggest WSOP Main Event prize?
Section titled “What is the biggest WSOP Main Event prize?”Daniel Weinman’s $12,100,000 in 2023, just ahead of Jamie Gold’s $12,000,000 in 2006.