Johnny Chan

Name: Johnny Chan

Winnings to Date: $8,515,500

Like most poker players, Johnny Chan had to work his way up the poker ladder to be the great player he is today. Growing up in Canton, China, Chan moved with his family to America when he was four years old. The family settled in Houston where they started a restaurant. In his spare time, Chan took up bowling while trying to learn the English language. It was at the bowling alley he discovered poker, which ended up being his passion. Starting out in nickel and dime games, he quickly multiplied his winnings and joined in an underground game at his family’s restaurant.

At 16, Chan decided to visit Vegas and try his luck. He took $500 and came out with $20,000 in one night. In what became a repetitive trait throughout his early poker days, Chan lost the entire bankroll the following night.

Rather than going straight into the professional poker playing world, Johnny Chan went to college in Houston and studied hotel and restaurant management. However, at 21 he quit school and moved to Vegas, pursuing poker full time.

In the beginning, it wasn’t as easy as he’d hoped. He went through highs and lows like any other player and sometimes had to pick up a temporary job to get by. But, he was determined. In 1982, he decided to improve not just his game, but his life. He stopped smoking, started exercising and slowly improved his game. That year he entered the America’s Cup of Poker in Las Vegas and earned the nickname “The Orient Express,” after knocking out 13 of the 16 players in a little over 30 minutes. He went on to win the tournament and since then won 10 WSOP bracelets, two of which were from back-to-back Main Events in 1987 and 1988.

As for fame, he had a brief cameo in the film Rounders. He was also inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2002. To this day, Chan still brings his signature orange to the table as a good luck charm. He’s one of the most well-known players, as well as the most-rounded, excelling in Texas Hold’em, Omaha and Draw poker. He has made more than $5 million in tournament winnings in addition to the money he makes in cash games.

Books by Johnny Chan

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