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James Calderaro
James Calderaro is an American professional poker player and real estate investor who has become a beloved figure in the high-stakes world. Known for his big personality and even bigger “feel” for the game, the Florida resident has built a career that many pros dream of, including winning both a World Poker Tour title and a World Series of Poker bracelet. With over $6.4 million in live winnings, he is a regular at the biggest final tables in the United States and remains one of the most entertaining players to watch on any broadcast.
Career Earnings & Biggest Results
With total live tournament earnings of over $6.4 million (according to The Hendon Mob), Calderaro has spent years competing at the highest levels. His absolute biggest score came in 2017 at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas. He took down the $25,000 Pot Limit Omaha High Roller event, outlasting a field of experts to win a massive $1,289,074 and his first gold bracelet.
Calderaro is also a member of the exclusive WPT Champions Club. In 2014, he won the WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open in Florida for $271,103, famously defeating top pro Shannon Shorr in an intense heads-up battle. He also holds a deep 13th-place finish in the 2009 WSOP Main Event, which earned him $633,022 and solidified his spot as a top-tier tournament threat.
Biography & Poker Background
Originally from Long Island, New York, James Calderaro spent much of his early life in the hospitality and nightclub industries. Before turning into a poker pro, he owned successful restaurants and dance clubs in Florida. He learned to play cards at a young age during family reunions, but it wasn’t until he sold his business interests that he began taking the game seriously. He started by grinding in private home games because Florida’s laws at the time limited the size of pots in public card rooms. Since then, he has become a fixture on the professional circuit, often traveling to major events with his girlfriend, fellow poker player Lily Kiletto.
Play Style & Strategy
Calderaro is famously known by his nickname, “The Big Show,” because of his talkative and loud personality at the table. Unlike younger players who rely entirely on computer simulations and math, James describes himself as a “feel player.” He uses his years of experience to read his opponents’ emotions and timing, often making unconventional moves to throw them off balance. He is particularly dangerous in Pot Limit Omaha (PLO), a game where his willingness to gamble and “mix it up” can lead to massive pots. He believes poker should be fun and social, often cracking jokes and chatting with his opponents to keep the game lively.
Social Media & Online Presence
Want to follow “The Big Show” James Calderaro as he looks for his next major title in Florida or Las Vegas? You can track his latest results and stats here:
Video Highlights:
My relationship with cards started thanks to my father. I was still in elementary school when he first taught me how to play Rummy, and I still remember the long evenings spent playing cards with my family. During the poker boom, I was still underage, but the televised tournaments immediately captured my attention. I became fascinated with the game and started learning different poker formats whenever I had the chance. Later in life, as an adult, I was fortunate enough to spend four years playing poker professionally. During that time, I mainly focused on Heads-Up Sit and Go games, where I found the format that suited me best. Even though my professional career was relatively short, poker remains something I’m grateful to have experienced as a major part of my life. Today, I play mostly as a hobby, while writing has become my main focus. That said, my enthusiasm for writing about poker is just as strong as my passion for playing the game once was.
