Hollywood is teeming with incredible talent. That’s why actors and actresses are recognized yearly for their work during the awards season. Unbeknownst to many, some of the elite stars in Tinseltown are also big poker players. They may not be as big as the professional poker champs, but they do like to splurge whenever they get the chance to play. Below is a list of 7 Hollywood A-list actors who enjoy playing poker and their net worth.
Edward Norton
Actor and producer Edward Norton may have a bad rap due to reports claiming he’s difficult to work with on set, but it’s undeniable that he is super-talented. He has had a colorful career in Hollywood ever since he landed his breakthrough role in “Primal Fear” in 1996. After that, he starred in several critically acclaimed pictures, including “Fight Club,” “American History X,” “Rounders,” “Collateral Beauty,” and “The Score,” among others.
His talent has been recognized several times through nominations by award-giving bodies, including the Golden Globes and the Screen Actors Guild Awards. He has bagged three Academy Award nominations thus far, and he won one of them for Best Supporting Actor for his role in 2014’s “Birdman.”
Interestingly, it seems his role in the cult classic film “Rounders” left a huge impression on him. Norton starred in this project about the underground world of high-stakes poker. While doing the 1998 movie, he developed a competitive interest poker that he entered the World Series of Poker championship event that same year. Unfortunately, he exited early. Today, Norton isn’t as active in both Hollywood and the poker tournament scene. However, that does not mean he is struggling financially since Celebrity Net Worth has pegged him as worth $300 million.
Owen Wilson
Another Hollywood A-lister who remains relevant to this day after churning out many successful movies in the 2000s to 2010s is Owen Wilson. Ever since he starred alongside Jackie Chan in the very successful movie “Shanghai Noon,” Wilson has found his niche in Hollywood and has since released several hit comedies, including “Meet the Fockers,” “Little Fockers,” “Wedding Crashers,” “Shanghai Knights,” “Zoolander,” and many more.
Per Celebrity Net Worth, Owen’s films have earned over $2.5 billion collectively in the United States and Canada alone. He did several projects with Wes Anderson and his best pals in the showbiz industry, including Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, and his brother Luke Wilson.
Even before playing the character of Rick in the film “Hall Pass” in 2011, Owen, who has a net worth of $70 million, was already a big fan of poker. He likes playing the game and even joined high-stakes games in Los Angeles. In 2009, he joined the $100,000 buy-in tournament at the Bellagio Casino in Las Vegas. Unfortunately, Wilson is not as successful in poker as the other entries on this list.
Woody Harrelson
Award-winning Hollywood actor and playwright Woody Harrelson has long established his name in the entertainment industry. Since appearing on NBC’s “Cheers” as Woody Boyd, he has already become a household name. Add to that the Emmy recognition he received for the series after appearing in 196 out of the 275 total episodes of the show. This, of course, contributed to his net worth, which is now at $70 million.
Woody is well-recognized for his acting prowess, having starred in “The People vs. Larry Flynt,” “The Messenger,” and “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.” He also wowed audiences when he worked on the 8-episode HBO show “True Detective.” However, he went into semi-retirement in the 1990s to focus on his environmental activism. Additionally, he also developed a fondness for poker. Hence, even though he’s not the most successful celebrity poker player, he is well-known in the community, especially after he played in the 2009 World Series of Poker Main Event.
Dennis Quaid
Hollywood actor Dennis Quaid has graced the silver screen several times for four decades through blockbuster films, such as “The Rookie,” “The Parent Trap,” “The Day After Tomorrow,” and “The Hill.” Now 70, he has definitely earned his stripes in the showbiz industry and a whole lot more, considering he is now worth $30 million.
Amid his success in Hollywood, Quaid finds time to enjoy his favorite casino game, poker. Since starring in the poker-inspired film “Lucky You” in 2010, he has been seen spending time at the poker tables and having a good time. A year before the film’s release, he even participated in the WSOP Main Event and finished 594th out of 6,494 players, as per Burlington Gazette. He has also played in high-stakes games with other A-listers.
Tobey Maguire
Best known for his portrayal of the titular web-slinger in the three “Spider-Man” films directed by Sam Raimi, Tobey Maguire was once one of the most in-demand actors in Tinseltown. His “Spider-Man” movies alone grossed billions globally, leading to him getting upfront movie paychecks valued at least $15 million during his career’s peak. His reprisal of Peter Parker in “Spider-Man: No Way Home” alongside Tom Holland and Andrew Garfield in 2021 has renewed the public’s interest in him after years of staying away from the limelight. His net worth is currently at $75 million.
Interestingly, while his acting career became secondary, Maguire was busy living the life of a highly competitive celebrity poker player. His passion for the game earned him a reputation as the best poker player in Hollywood. He joined the 2007 WSOP Main Event and went on to play in several high-stakes games. Unfortunately, the latter got him involved into some sort of controversy that pushed him to settle a lawsuit over his poker winnings.
Matt Damon
“The Martian,” “Good Will Hunting,” and the “Bourne” film series — these are just a few of the very successful projects of this next Hollywood A-lister. Matt Damon was one of the most bankable stars in the late 2000s and even dubbed by Forbes as among the highest-grossing actors of all time in 2010. Hence, it does not come as a shock that his net worth is now at $170 million.
But beyond his big-screen success, with his films collectively grossing over $3.88 billion in the North American market, Damon is also an avid poker player. Just like Quaid and other actors on this list, his interest in the game started when he worked on the 1998 movie “Rounders,” which was about the underground world of high-stakes poker. He has joined the WSOP and participated in live tournaments as well as underground high—stakes events through the years.
Ben Affleck
Finally, perhaps the biggest A-lister and the most controversial actor on this list is Ben Affleck. The actor, who is currently plagued with divorce rumors with wife Jennifer Lopez, battled alcohol addiction at the peak of his career. He has also suffered a gambling problem. He first sought professional treatment for his addiction problems in 2001, but he’s been to rehab multiple times after that, with his most recent stays there being in 2017 and 2018.
Ben has made several critically acclaimed films and box-office hits. From his co-starring stint with his best friend Matt Damon in “Good Will Hunting” to his well-received portrayal of Batman for the DC Universe, it’s undeniable that Affleck has made such a huge impact in Hollywood and all over thew world. With a net worth of $150 million, Affleck has been a staple in poker events. He even won the California State Poker Championship in 2004, taking home $356,400 at the Commerce Casino in the City of Angels. Reports say Affleck learned the art of poker from top-caliber professional players, including Daniel Negreanu and Amir Vahedi.
