Top Poker Players and Their Chosen Rides

The whole point of owning an expensive car is the exclusivity it brings. Nothing says success like cruising up to a red light in an open top Lamborghini or Porsche with some background tunes adding to the cool factor, and that is why they are associated with the rich and the famous.

Sports stars, movie celebrities, successful business people, all find that owning a supercar or six adds to their own mystique and aura – they are an extension of their lifestyle as much as the high-end watches, exclusive golf club, or the private jet waiting on the tarmac. And it is that exclusivity, as well as the price, which keeps them beyond the dreams and fantasies of us mere mortals.

When we consider the types of people we associate with these supercars, it is hardly surprising that successful poker players are attracted to them. The thrill of a new deal, the knowledge that the cards in your hand are enough to beat everyone else around the table, the rewards on offer – the thrill, excitement, and glamour offered around the table are matched only behind the wheel of one of the world's seriously luxury cars, an image of cool personified. Driving into the private parking lot of your favorite Las Vegas hotel with the flat top down, handing over the keys to your Lamborghini, one of the world's most recognizable luxury car brands, to the valet while being greeted by your own personal concierge who assures you your suite overlooking the strip is ready - it's what fantasies are made of!

The fantasies of the masses are the reality of the fortunate few, so let's have a look at a few poker players and the wheels they love to drive!

CREDIT Alexandre Prévot from Nancy, France, Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren (8615973055) (cropped), CC BY-SA 2.0

Phil Ivey

You’d expect one of the most recognizable poker players in the world to have a great ride, and you’d be right. Known as No Home Jerome, Phil Ivey has won 10 bracelets and one World Poker Tour title, and certainly has the image to go with the car. He lives in Vegas, is thought to be worth a cool $100 million, and boasts the cars on his driveway to go with it. Pick of the bunch for Phil, if that is even possible, is the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren which slides from 0-60 mph in an impressive 3.4 seconds and boasts a V8 engine and rear spoiler which the driver can operate with a button! And if Phil ever tires of his Mercedes, well, there are a couple of Rolls Royce Phantoms he could use!

CREDIT Bull-Doser, Bentley Continental Flying Spur, marked as public domain, more details on Wikimedia Commons

Vanessa Rousso

Nicknamed Lady Maverick, Vanessa Rousso is a legend among female poker players and she has the wheels to go with her status. She used to drive a lemon-yellow Lamborghini Gallardo but she upgraded to a Bentley Continental GT complete with a W-12 engine. This beautiful beast boasts a top speed of around 200-mph and comes with all the class and elegance you'd expect of a British branded luxury car. Vanessa may not be as active on the poker circuit – she more recently found fame on reality TV show Big Brother – as she once was, but she still has the style and image of a top drawer player, an image burnished by the car she drives around Las Vegas.

CREDIT Jakub "flyz1" Maciejewski, Aston Martin Vanquish S - prawy przód (MSP17), CC BY-SA 3.0

Patrick Antonious

Much of our mental imagery of the smooth, elegant card player driving a select set of wheels come from the James Bond series of movies and of course, the British spy loved his luxury cars with Aston Martin a personal favorite over his different big-screen incarnations. Patrick Antonious, who hails from Finland, has taken a leaf from Bond's book with his Aston Martin Vanquish. He certainly has all the qualities to be a Bond with his rugged good looks. He also used to be a model as well as a tennis player and coach, not to mention a member of the Circle of Outlaws. After a successful 2018, things have been pretty quiet in recent years for the Finn; Covid-19 hasn't helped, but he still has all the trappings of a successful poker player as he cruises the streets of Monte Carlo in his Aston Martin!

Daniel Negreanu

Last, but not least, we have Canadian vegan Daniel Negreanu who at 48 has been declared the best poker player of the decade and is the third biggest live tournament winner of all time. With six WSOP bracelets and two World Poker Tour Titles to his name, he is undoubtedly one of the finest players of his generation. Which makes his choice of ride interesting. Not for Negreanu the more traditional supercar mentioned earlier, he prefers a more contemporary set of wheels – a Tesla S. It packs all the luxury you'd expect as well as plenty of technological stuff to keep any tech fan happy and can go up to 1,000km between charges.

If a car says a lot about its owner then we can draw some conclusions about the great and the good we have listed here. He may have been last on our little list but we think it's safe to assume Negreanu is someone who feels he has a duty to the environment while looking good at the same time.

Online casinos play a significant role in the success of poker players by providing a platform for players to hone their skills, compete with a diverse range of opponents, and access a wide variety of online tournaments. Through online casinos, players can start from the comfort of their own homes and gradually develop the expertise needed to compete at the highest levels in poker. The availability of no-deposit bonuses in online casinos allows players to kickstart their poker journey without a significant financial commitment.

Moreover, online casinos offer opportunities for players to engage in tournaments that attract skilled opponents from around the world, enabling them to test and improve their abilities. By participating in such tournaments, players can build their reputation and establish themselves as formidable competitors in the poker community. Additionally, online casinos curate a selection of top-rated platforms, ensuring that players have access to reliable and secure gaming environments that facilitate their growth and success in poker.

Overall, online casinos serve as a dynamic and accessible space for poker players to develop their skills, engage in competitive gameplay, and progress towards achieving success in the poker world.

For factory travel tours, racetrack adventures, museum tours, stops at the most sumptuous restaurants, and a breathlessly complete, luxurious experience of the Italian countryside — all through the lens of fellow car enthusiasts — Motorsport Labs is your go-to guide to take in not only this work of art but also works of art made by Pagani, Lamborghini, Ducati, Porsche, Bentley, BMW, Mercedes and more.

Ray Chang