Recent Poker Hall of Fame inductee; has11 WSOP bracelets
Controversial poker personality and 11-time WSOP bracelet winner Phil "Poker Brat" Hellmuth Jr. has already cemented his reputation as one of the greatest No-Limit Hold 'em players in the game. But for Phil, that's just the beginning. His stated career goal is to become the best poker player of all time.
Phil got his start in poker while attending the University of Wisconsin at a $20 buy-in game hosted by friends. He regularly beat this game and, eventually, moved to higher stakes.
His laundry list of achievements began started piling up quickly when, at the tender age of 24, he beat Johnny Chan in a legendary upset to take his first World Series of Poker Main Event title. To this day, he is the youngest person to accomplish such a feat. He has since amassed dozens of major tournament victories internationally with nearly $10 million in career winnings.
Besides his amazing success, Phil is probably best known for his caustic table behavior. Often referred to as "Hell Mouth", a play on his surname, Phil is notorious for being unable to gracefully handle adversity or defeat.
Love him or hate him at the table, you have to respect his talent and desire to win. Away from the game, however, Phil regularly gives back to the community, donating his time to a number of charities. Coupled with the devotion he shows to his family, Phil's behavior doesn't look so bratty.
