Celebrities at the Poker Table in 2025: Who Played and Who Paid

Why Celebrity Poker Blew Up in 2025

Celebrity poker matters in 2025 because it shows where poker now sits in global culture. Poker is no longer treated as just a niche card game, but a crossover format where:

• You see how celebrities think under pressure.
• The media gets ready-made storylines and highlight clips.
• Stars connect directly with fans and in front of the cameras in a more unscripted environment.

For celebrities, poker can offer a combination you would rarely get from any other activity: real money decisions combined with deep strategy and controlled risk. All within a setting where reputation is on the line with every shove and every fold. It matters because it strips away the PR filter. 

You can’t script a river card. When a superstar is facing a massive overbet, you aren't watching a performance; you are watching their actual character under fire.

That is the hook. We get to see how confident, famous people react when they lose control. The media gets ready-made viral clips, and the fans get to see their idols sweat. It’s a rare environment where reputation is on the line with every chip that crosses the betting line.
For you as a viewer, it’s a chance to watch famous people in situations they can’t fully script or edit.

The Celebrity Poker Players Who Defined 2025

Neymar Jr. – The Football Star Chasing Poker Titles

Neymar stopped being a "celebrity guest" a long time ago.

In 2025, Neymar once again proved he’s more than just a casual poker fan when he made the final table of a major $10,300 online high-roller event in a world championship series, competing for a six-figure top prize against seasoned professionals.

He didn't win the title, but he booked a runner-up finish elsewhere and kept posting results that would make a mid-stakes grinder jealous. He isn't just splashing around anymore; he’s putting in the volume.

Neymar has established himself as a serious poker player.

Drake – High Stakes, High Risk, High Attention

Drake kept his foot on the gas in 2025. His relationship with gambling is well-documented, but this year saw him pushing the variance even harder. 

His streaming activity and public comments drew huge interest (remember that publicity stunt he did while in Australia for Stake?) from the public as he continued to promote online gambling to a global audience.
From a poker perspective, Drake’s involvement underscored both sides of celebrity gambling: the entertainment value of watching a superstar sweat those big decisions, and the real financial swings that often come with repeated high-stakes action.

Jake Paul – Bringing Influencer Energy to the Felt

Love him or hate him, Jake Paul knows how to hold a room.

While Jake Paul’s 2025 schedule has been dominated by combat sports and promotional projects, he remains closely tied to the gambling and gaming world through his business ventures and crossover content.

For you as a viewer, his presence at or around poker lineups fits a familiar pattern: influencer-driven events where table talk, side bets, and social media reactions are as important as the final chip count.

Michael Phelps – Olympic Great, Viral Poker Clip Star

Michael Phelps has been around poker for years, but 2025 gave him one of his most visible table moments yet.

One of the most talked-about celebrity poker sequences of the year came from a charity celebrity poker event where the Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps shared the table with model and influencer India Love. 

Short clips of their interaction after a high-tension hand quickly went viral across all socials, with fans replaying the footage frame by frame.

This year marks his presence at celebrity tournaments, becoming content in its own right with a blend of Olympic legacy, table charisma, and genuine decision-making under pressure.

Olympic legend Michael Phelps is no stranger to the felt. 

Peyton Barber and the Celebrity Poker Tour Crowd

It wasn't just the mega-stars. The Celebrity Poker Tour (CPT) created a structured battleground for athletes and actors who actually want to play.

Beyond the biggest global names, there is a consistent stream of actors and former athletes, as well as creators, filling out the rest of the celebrity poker ecosystem. 

One standout milestone came when former NFL running back Peyton Barber won a 2025 celebrity poker tour championship after beating a field of well-known personalities and media figures.

And he wasn’t alone. Across many charity events, there were dozens of celebrity tournaments. 2025 was absolutely full of familiar faces sitting down to play serious poker for good causes, and, of course, content.

Biggest Celebrity Poker Moments of 2025

If you only remember a few headlines from celebrity poker 2025, they would probably be these:

• Neymar going deep in major online high-roller events and even coming close to six-figure scores.
• Drake streaming high-stakes gambling content and making headlines for massive 
• Olympic legend Michael Phelps turning a charity poker night into one of the year’s most replayed social clips.
• Women reigning supreme in the Celebrity Poker Tour’s First Season

With big names mixing with seasoned poker regulars and playing for real money and bragging rights, poker now has an audience that extends far beyond traditional poker fans.

Why You Love Watching Celebrities Mix With Pros

When famous people sit down, the game stops being about math and starts being about ego. 

The dynamic changes immediately, because these people are confident, they are used to controlling the room. Poker strips that control away. They can't reshoot a scene, and they certainly can't rework a press release. 

The cameras catch the misread, the overbet, and the genuine shake of the hand.

Every chip movement is live, and the tension is real, as they show you a reality you have never seen before:

• They show you how confident, famous people react when they’re out of their comfort zone.
• You can compare celebrity decision-making to that of experienced pros within the game.
• It creates highlight moments where personality and pressure collide, leading to very unpredictable poker dynamics.

In 2025, some of the most-watched poker clips online came directly from these crossovers. Whether that be comedians trying to out-talk the rest of the table, musicians sweating those river cards, or athletes bringing their competitive intensity to pots that then escalate very quickly.

The Bigger Picture: How Celebrity Poker Is Reshaping the Game

The rise of celebrity poker in 2025 just shows us how much the game has grown beyond its traditional coverage. When major stars consistently show up to play at the felt, poker stops being just a card game and becomes part of the broader entertainment ecosystem.

Every celebrity appearance pulls more and more viewers toward the game, some of whom might later explore deeper strategy content and even join qualifiers of their own. That cycle pushes poker toward a future where it’s not just a specialist interest, but a platform for stories featuring people you already follow.

For ongoing coverage of poker’s biggest personalities and global events, join WPT Global and WPT.com for verified updates and deeper analysis.

FAQs

Which celebrities were most active in poker in 2025?

Neymar Jr., Drake, Jake Paul, Michael Phelps, and Peyton Barber were among the most visible celebrity poker figures in 2025, all appearing in online events or charity tournaments or streamed lineups.

Did any celebrities win notable poker events in 2025?

Yes. Neymar recorded major deep runs in high-stakes online events, and Peyton Barber won a 2025 celebrity poker championship event, headlining a field of well-known celebrity personalities. 

Why are celebrities so interested in poker right now?

Poker offers a mix of strategy, competition, and narrative that fits perfectly with modern celebrity culture. It lets stars test themselves in a new terrain and show a more unfiltered version of themselves.

Is celebrity poker good for the game?

In general, yes. Celebrity participation introduces poker to new audiences and generates mainstream media coverage. It also creates viral moments that keep the game visible and growing.

Do celebrities actually study poker, or is it just for show?

It depends on the individual. Some celebrities are widely reported to study the game and play regularly, while others treat poker more as a social and content-driven activity.

Where can I follow more celebrity poker stories?

You can track celebrity poker highlights across social media platforms, and for structured coverage, features, and analysis alongside major poker events, WPT Global and WPT.com are great starting points.