Updated: 2026.02.10

Daniel “Jungleman” Cates is an American professional poker player widely considered one of the greatest heads-up No Limit Hold’em specialists in history. Known for his legendary online dominance and eccentric “Jungleman” persona, he is a two-time back-to-back WSOP Poker Players Championship winner.

Career Earnings & Biggest Results

With total live tournament earnings of $18,896,741 (according to The Hendon Mob), Cates ranks 38th on the United States All Time Money List. His career-best live score of $3,528,000 came from a runner-up finish in the 2024 Triton Jeju $100,000 Main Event. A historic competitor at the WSOP, he won the $50,000 Poker Players Championship in both 2021 ($954,020) and 2022 ($1,449,103), becoming the first player to win the event in consecutive years. Beyond live events, his online cash game winnings exceed $11,000,000, contributing to an estimated poker net worth of $15 million to $20 million.

Dan Cates "Jungleman" Wins $15 Million in 1 Night — Dan Cates “Jungleman” Wins $15 Million in 1 Night

Biography & Poker Background

Born in Bowie, Maryland, Cates began playing poker at 17, famously working at McDonald’s to rebuild his bankroll after early losses. He rose through the online ranks under the handle “jungleman12,” eventually crushing the highest stakes on Full Tilt Poker and PokerStars. Cates gained massive fame for his “Durrrr Challenge” against Tom Dwan, where he remains up over $1.2 million. Diagnosed with Asperger syndrome, Cates often credits his technical obsession and unique cognitive focus for his success in solving complex game dynamics.

Play Style & Strategy

Cates is renowned for a hyper-aggressive, technical play style rooted in game theory and deep analytical intuition. Originally a heads-up specialist, he successfully transitioned to full-ring high-stakes cash games in Macau and Manila, where he is known for “probing for weakness” and attacking every possible pot. His strategy emphasizes range variation and unpredictable 3-betting patterns to prevent opponents from finding easy folds. Cates is also famous for his psychological “meta-game,” often dressing in character—such as a Dragon Ball Z warrior or a 1920s detective—to tilt opponents and maintain an intimidating presence at the table.

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