2017 WSOP Main Event Payouts AFTER Tax

The 2017 WSOP Main Event final table payouts were splashed across TV screens across the world for days. How much of this did the winners actually take home?

The below table breaks down how much each person at the 2017 WSOP Main Event final table actually took home (source):

It’s incredible to see that Ben Pollak, who finished in 3rd place, will take home $900,000 more than 2nd place finisher, Dan Ott.

This is due to the American tax system which taxes poker tournament winnings as income. Compare this to the UK who had 2 players at the final table, where they got to take home 100% of their winnings.

If Pollak finished 2nd instead of Ott, he would have taken home almost $400,000 more than the winner, Scott Blumstein.

The tax man was the biggest winner of this event, taking home $7,659,195. This is $3.3 million more than Blumstein will end up with.

2016 vs. 2017

The 2016 WSOP Main Event final table was taxed even more than 2017 despite less money being available at the final table.

2016
– $25,445,388 was payed out at the 2016 final table
– $10,109,760 will be taxed
– 39.7% of the payouts will be taxed

2017
– $26,250,000 was payed out at the 2017 final table
– $7,659,195 will be taxed
– 29.2% of the payouts will be taxed