Although arguably not among the very elite of Toronto's famous sons, the Bayview Village-born and raised Daniel Negreanu is absolutely one of the most successful Torontonians in any individual field. DNegs, as he is known in the poker community, is one of the greatest poker players of all time.
The Poker Hall of Famer has $56 million in career earnings under his belt, as well as seven World Series of Poker tournament winners' bracelets, two World Player of the Year nominations and two World Poker Tour titles. This, is the life and career of one of the most successful Toronto-born people you might not have heard of.
Romanian Roots to Toronto Card Rooms
Born to Romanian immigrants Annie and Constantin Negreanu in July 1974, Daniel Negreanu's early life was not exactly difficult, but a little troubled. According to one biography, at the age of four Negreanu repeatedly told his mother that he was going to move to America and be rich.
If you fancy a gamble, but you're no Daniel Negreanu on the poker table, you might enjoy a mobile-friendly online casino in Canada with slots. Top casinos not only have the greatest games in the business, but also excellent promotions and rewards to get you into the game with a bang.
Negreanu never got on with high school, dropping out weeks before graduation. But he was, already, a talented card shark. First entering the Toronto gambling scene playing pool, he quickly discovered he could crush adults twice his age at poker and by 18 he was making serious money.
The Las Vegas Dream Failed at Round One
Then, at age 21, Negreanu, like so many hopeful gamblers the world over, decided to take his talents to Las Vegas.
According to his own website bio, Negreanu found the poker competition at the giant Nevada casino poker rooms was a different beast to the Toronto cardrooms. Within months he lost his bankroll in Sin City and came back to Canada with his tail between his legs. But that would not be the last the poker world heard of him. Not by any means.
Around this time, in the mid 90s, Negreanu's father suddenly passed away - while Daniel was at a poker room. Negreanu took the loss hard for a few months, before deciding he was going to go all in on making poker a success.
For the next two years, Negreanu spent 50-plus hours a week, studying, watching, playing, living and breathing poker - until it was time go back to Las Vegas.
"Kid Poker" Hits World Player of The Year
In 1998, aged 23, Negreanu entered his first World Series of Poker tournament in Las Vegas. And won it. This victory earned him the nickname "Kid Poker" which has stuck throughout his career.
Between 1999 and 2014, Negreanu absolutely crushed the poker world. Some of his achievements on this legendary run included:
- Two World Series of Poker player of the year awards, in 2004 and 2013
- Six more WSOP tournament victory bracelets
- The biggest cash of his career, finishing second in The Big One for One Drop tournament earning $8.2 million
- Two World Poker Tour Main Event wins
- PokerStars sponsorship
In 2004 alone he made nearly $4.9 million in tournament earnings, which is not to mention cash games and other income.
Poker Hall of Fame and YouTube Takeover
Once hitting his first bit of recognition in the poker world, Negreanu didn't take long to show his business acumen by diversifying into other revenue streams.
In 2007 and 2008 Negreanu released two poker books. He also got sponsored by PokerStars, and as one of the most famous and charismatic faces in poker he was somewhat of a true brand ambassador.
Today, Daniel works with GGPoker - and he actually has his own range of emotes on the site that use a cartoon of his face. If you know, you know.
He has also appeared on various well-known poker TV shows and, in recent years, streams. In the past decade he has taken that love of media onto YouTube, where he now has 500,000 followers for his poker tournament vlogs and educational content.
In 2014, the first year he became old enough to be eligible, Negreanu was voted into the Poker Hall of Fame. This was a capstone achievement on an incredible poker career that few can equal. And one that was almost swallowed by Las Vegas before it began.
But luckily, Negreanu didn't give up. He now has an estimated net worth of some $200 million, and lives in a large swanky house in suburban Las Vegas with his wife Amanda Leatherman.
A far cry from when his father arrived in Toronto in the 1980s with just $5 to his name, Negreanu's dogged persistence to make it from humble roots in Toronto's card rooms to the very top of his game, has got to be one of the city's biggest and most inspiring success stories.
