Phil Hellmuth isn’t just stacking chips—he’s making memories. Last week, the poker legend found himself in familiar territory at the PokerGO Studio in Las Vegas. But this time, the high-stakes action had a personal twist. His 34-year-old son, Phillip Hellmuth III, joined him for a series of tournaments, marking a special moment in their family history.
A New Face in High-Stakes Poker
While Phil Hellmuth has been a household name in poker for decades, his son has spent most of his career in banking. However, he’s been putting in serious hours at the tables lately—logging about 160 poker-playing days in the last 320, according to his father. That’s more than just a hobby.
Phillip III entered three separate $5,000 buy-in events against some of the world’s top high rollers at Aria. It was a trial by fire, facing legends like Erik Seidel, Alex Foxen, and Jesse Lonis. The results? No cashes, but plenty of experience.
“I staked Phillip for the three PokerGO studio tourneys,” Hellmuth Sr. shared. “I thought he would learn a lot, and he did.”
Father-Son Moments at the Tables
Poker has a way of bringing people together—or pitting them against each other. In one of the tournaments, the two Hellmuths found themselves seated at the same table.
Phil Sr. couldn’t help but admire his son’s game. At one point, he praised a well-timed fold. But poker can be brutal, and in a twist of fate, both Hellmuths ended up busting out to the same opponent, John Riordan.
That didn’t stop them from playing more. The duo later hit the Aria cash game tables for some $5-$10 no-limit hold’em action.
- Phil shared a video of their earlier casino adventures, joking that he hoped cash games would be “a lot more profitable than blackjack and Ultimate Texas Hold’em.”
- Later, he captured a heads-up hand where Phillip III took down a pot against his dad.
Is Poker in Phillip’s Future?
Phil Hellmuth’s career speaks for itself—17 WSOP bracelets and over $27.2 million in career earnings. But what about his son?
For now, Phillip III isn’t a pro. His father made that clear. “He has many avenues open to him outside of poker,” Phil Sr. said. “But maybe by the next WSOP, he will be a pro.”
It’s a familiar crossroads. When Phil was 34, he had already won six WSOP bracelets. He dropped out of the University of Wisconsin to chase his poker dreams, a move that ultimately made him one of the game’s most iconic figures.
Could history repeat itself? Time will tell. But for now, Phil Sr. seems content just watching his son take on the game he loves.
Hellmuth’s Own Poker Year Kicks Off
While all eyes were on his son, Phil Hellmuth had a solid start to his own year. He secured his first tournament cash of 2024 with a 10th-place finish at the PokerGO Tour Kickoff Series, earning $14,400.
He’s also been busy with business ventures, recently signing a poker ambassador deal with Rush Street Interactive. While he plays fewer tournaments these days, he remains a staple at the WSOP, where he still competes for bracelets every summer.
In December, at the WSOP Paradise in the Bahamas, he cashed twice—finishing eighth in the $10,000 GGMillion$ Championship for $130,830 and min-cashing for $107,130 in the $50,000 Pot-Limit Omaha High Roller.
Even after decades in poker, the fire still burns. And now, there’s another Hellmuth at the tables, learning the ropes.
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