How Much Did the Last 10 WSOP Main Event Winners Really Win?

The last decade has seen huge winners at the World Series of Poker, none more so than in the WSOP Main Event. Each year, thousands of players flock to Las Vegas to put down the $10,000 entry fee or satellite into the action for a fraction of the cost. Winning the Main Event over the past decade could have netted you as much as $10 million in the case for Michael Mizrachi. But how much of their winnings did each player get to keep?

A Decade of Disparity

Over the past ten years, the World Series of Poker has witnessed some of its most memorable moments in the WSOP Main Event. The Holy Grail of poker tournaments, it is the subject of the main character Mike McDermott’s ambitions in the 1998 movie Rounders. It is the industry behemoth that drives all other poker tournaments. And for the players themselves, it is the biggest return on investment available.

There’s no other tournament like the WSOP Main Event. Over the past 10 years, the top prize in the Main Event has varied greatly, form just over $2.5 million in the ‘COVID’ World Championship of 2020, where technically, Damian Salas won $1m of his winnings on the second day of 2021, to last year’s epic $12.1m prize for first place.

What a player wins at the felt in the form of dollar ‘bricks’ is not, however, what they take home. The taxman is the only opponent even world champions can’t outrun, with Daniel Weinman (2023) actually only taking home $6.84 million after playing national and local taxes on his winnings.

That amounts to a vast difference from his top prize when you compare it to German player Hossein Ensan (2019), who won $10m only to see it reduced to $7.3m after paying his taxes. Having won $2.1m less than Weinman at the felt, Ensan took home more than the Atlanta man, banking $460,000 more than the American after processing his tax return.

Here are all the winners from the past decade and what they actually took home.

WSOP Main Event Winners & Payouts (2016–2025)

* due to COVID-19 restrictions, played as online-live ‘Hybrid’ event.

2025 WSOP Champion – Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi

Poker history was made in July 2025 as Michael Mizrachi – already a seven-time bracelet winner – added to his legacy by winning the WSOP Main Event and taking home $10 million. The tournament drew a massive field of 9,735 entrants, and Mizrachi emerged as the last man standing after a blistering final table performance.

The final hand saw Mizrachi turn a flush to defeat John Wasnock’s two pair, sealing the victory in emphatic fashion. With the win, Mizrachi claimed his eighth WSOP bracelet and added yet another title to his résumé – one that already included four Poker Players Championship wins. His performance earned him an immediate induction into the WSOP Hall of Fame, bypassing the usual voting process in recognition of his extraordinary career.

Mizrachi’s run at the final table was among the most dominant in modern WSOP history. He eliminated the last two players in back-to-back hands and closed it out in just 79 total hands – the shortest final table since the poker boom. Remarkably, he had started Day 8 with just two big blinds, only to finish Day 10 with the championship, the money, and his banner permanently enshrined in the Horseshoe Event Center.

Do WSOP Winners Pay Taxes?

Yes, absolutely — and it can take a serious bite out of those big wins. U.S. players are required to report all poker earnings as taxable income, and top earners like 2025 WSOP Main Event winner Michael Mizrachi could face up to a 37% federal tax rate on their winnings.

State taxes add another layer of complexity. Mizrachi, fortunately, resides in Florida – a state with no income tax, allowing him to keep a larger portion of his payout. In contrast, players from states like California or New York could owe an additional 10–12% in state taxes on top of federal obligations.

International players often face a flat 30% withholding on U.S. gambling winnings unless their country has a tax treaty with the United States. Countries like the United Kingdom, France and Germany, for example, offer exemptions for their citizens.

Considering federal taxes alone, the estimated net payout for the 2025 Main Event champion comes to roughly $6.3 million – still a staggering amount, but a reminder that even poker’s biggest prizes come with a significant tax bill.

Prize Trends – Why Was 2023 So High?

Daniel Weinman’s $12.1 million win in 2023 set the record for the largest WSOP Main Event prize ever, but not everyone was impressed.

Despite the 10,043-player turnout and a record-breaking $93.4 million prize pool, many in the poker community criticized the payout structure. The issue? A top-heavy distribution that seemed designed more for headlines than fairness.

Critics on social media – including former champs like Chris Moneymaker — argued that awarding second place just $6.5 million (53.7% of first) and ninth place under $1 million was a disservice to the final table. In previous years, the runner-up often received 60% or more of the first-place prize, and ninth place typically crossed the $1 million mark.

Some called the $12.1M figure a “marketing ploy”, noting it edged out Jamie Gold’s longstanding record by exactly $100,000. And while the 12.9% of the prize pool going to first place wasn’t mathematically out of line, the sharp drop-off for the rest of the table led many to call for a more transparent and consistent formula.

In response, the WSOP adjusted the structure in 2024 and 2025 – both years awarded $10 million to first, but distributed the remaining prize pool more evenly. This flatter payout model may become the new standard, offering more balanced rewards for final tablists while still delivering an eye-catching top prize.

Final Thoughts & Looking Ahead to WSOP 2026

With back-to-back Main Events now won by established stars, the World Series of Poker feels like it’s entering a new era, where legacy, spectacle, and growth are all colliding at the felt.

Expect the 2026 WSOP to continue building on this momentum. The record-breaking fields of recent years show no signs of slowing down, and with expanded international satellites and growing media coverage, the Main Event is more global – and accessible – than ever.

There’s also buzz around potential format tweaks, increased broadcast reach, and new bracelet events aimed at both elite pros and first-time players. As the WSOP evolves, one thing remains constant: the dream of a life-changing payday is very much alive. From first-timers taking their shot to legends chasing immortality, the 2026 Main Event promises to deliver more unforgettable moments, and maybe another chapter in poker history.