(Featured image: courtesy of WPT)
From grinding small games as a broke college student recovering from an injury to becoming one of the most respected and successful high-stakes poker players in the world, Jason Koon’s rise has been anything but ordinary.
Known for his disciplined, math-driven style and remarkable consistency, the legendary poker player has earned over $64 million in live tournament winnings.
He’s a force of nature in the Triton Super High Roller Series, where he’s captured 12 titles and built a reputation as one of the best short-deck players on the planet.
More than just his results, he is admired for his professionalism, calm under pressure, and commitment to a healthy, balanced life. So, let’s talk about Jason Koon net worth, his biggest wins, poker journey, and where he stands today.
| Full Name: Jason Koon |
| DOB: August 14, 1985 |
| Birthplace: West Virginia, USA |
| Profession: Professional poker player |
| Spouse: Bianca Armstrong Koon |
| WSOP Bracelets: 2 |
| Net Worth and Career Earnings: $20+ Million |
Disclaimer: This is a question that no one can answer with 100% certainty except for Jason Koon himself. We can only assume his approximate net worth based on various sources that we’ve read/heard about and the usual stakes he plays.
Early Life and Background
Let’s get to know the man behind one of poker’s most consistent careers. Jason Koon was born on August 15, 1985, in West Virginia, USA, which is far from the high-stakes poker rooms where he would later build his name.
He went to West Virginia Wesleyan College, where he studied Business Administration and Finance. The poker legend grew up in a simple family that faced financial struggles.
Unlike many poker pros, he didn’t grow up around gambling. his family didn’t play cards, and he had little interest in poker until college. That changed when a sports injury sidelined him.
During his recovery, his roommate introduced him to Texas Hold’em, which set him on a new path.
Today, he is married to Bianca Armstrong, who comes from a martial arts background. He credits her with helping him develop better emotional control and a more balanced mindset. They welcomed their first son in 2021 and now have 2 kids.
The Injury That Changed Everything
His breakthrough poker moment didn’t happen at a tournament table. It happened in a college dorm room.
He once dreamed of becoming a professional baseball player.
But after suffering an injury during university that crushed that dream and left him unable to join his usual activities, he found himself with time on his hands, and a roommate who was eager to teach him poker.
In fact, you can check out this video where he shares the full story and how it changed the course of his life.
In an interview, Koon once said, “I never gambled before. I wasn’t a card player.”
His roommate invited him to play Texas Hold’em with other guys on campus, and that’s how his journey started.
What makes his story impressive is how quickly he realized poker’s potential. He saw early on that it was a game of skill and that with hard work, it could be a serious way to make money, something he badly needed at the time.
This moment sparked the dedication that would shape his entire career.
For the next four years, the poker star worked his way through low- to medium-stakes online tournaments and Heads-Up Sit-n-Go’s, learning the game and slowly building his bankroll.
His persistence paid off, eventually leading to dozens of final tables, millions in live tournament earnings, and multiple Triton Super High Roller titles, where he became one of the most respected players on the circuit.
If you want to see Koon in action, you can watch him battle it out at the Super High Roller Poker Final Table with Kevin Martin. It’s a great look at how he plays at the highest level.
Poker Career Highlights
While Koon is renowned for his Triton Series dominance, his career involves plenty notable achievements across poker’s biggest stages.
- Captured 12 Triton Super High Roller Series titles, establishing himself as the series’ most successful player
- Won his first and only WSOP bracelet in the 2021 $25,000 Heads-Up No-Limit Hold’em Championship
- Served as a PartyPoker Team Pro ambassador starting in 2018, representing the brand at high-profile events
- Accumulated over $64 million in live tournament earnings, ranking among poker’s all-time money leaders
- Became a popular coach and content creator on RunItOnce, sharing his mathematical approach with aspiring players
- Dominated short-deck poker during its peak popularity, proving his adaptability across poker variants
- Won his second WSOP bracelet in 2025, capturing the Event #32: $50,000 High Roller and earning $1.9 million after defeating Andrew Litchenberger in heads-up play.
Following his breakthrough in high-stakes tournaments, he became one of the most respected figures in modern poker, known for his disciplined approach and advocacy for healthy living within the poker community.
Top 5 Poker Tournament Winnings
His tournament resume reads like a who’s who of poker’s biggest buy-in events, with his success heavily concentrated in the ultra-high-stakes arena where the world’s best players compete.
Now let’s take a look at his top 5 cashes in tournaments.
1st 2018 Place Triton Super High Roller Series Montenegro – $3,653,260
This career-defining victory came after a marathon 15-hour final table where he outlasted 103 entries in the HK$1,000,000 buy-in event.
The win required mastering short-deck poker, a variant where deuces through fives are removed and flushes beat full houses.
He entered heads-up play with a nearly 4-to-1 chip advantage after eliminating poker Hall of Famer Phil Ivey in third place, ultimately defeating Chinese high-stakes regular Xuan Tan for the title.
Other Notable Tournament Cashes:
- 1st Place 2019 Triton Poker Super High Roller Series – $2,899,000
- 1st Place 2023 Triton Super High Roller Series Cyprus – $2,451,082
- 3rd Place 2018 Super High Roller Bowl – $2,100,000
- 1st Place 2025 WSOP Event #32 – $1,900,000
These five tournaments alone account for over $12.9 million of his total recorded tournament winnings, which have surpassed $64 million throughout his career.
If you want to see Koon in action, you can watch him battle it out at the Super High Roller Poker Final Table with Kevin Martin. It’s a great look at how he plays at the highest level.
Lifestyle, Sponsorships & Side Ventures
Outside poker, he has built a reputation as one of the game’s most health-conscious professionals, actively promoting fitness and wellness within the poker community.
His commitment to physical fitness isn’t just personal. He credits his conditioning with adding “a ton of earnings” to his career through improved mental stamina and decision-making.
Below are various ventures he took on beyond poker:
Fitness and Wellness Advocacy
He regularly trains and encourages other poker players to adopt healthier lifestyles, believing it directly improves performance at the table.
This commitment to wellness has made him a respected voice in promoting physical fitness within the poker community.
Content Creation
His mathematical expertise extends beyond the felt through his instructional content for Phil Galfond’s RunItOnce training site, where he shares his analytical approach with aspiring players.
He has committed to producing 12 videos per year for the platform, combining advanced strategy with practical, real-world applications.
Brand Partnerships and Collaborations
As a Team Pro member for PartyPoker, he represented the brand at major tournaments and promotional events.
He also collaborates closely with players like Seth Davies, working together to refine game theory and develop advanced strategies that push the boundaries of modern poker thinking.
And even though at some point Koon left PokerStars, as of this year he’s team PokerStars. He also is a Triton Poker ambassador.
Throughout his career, he has maintained a disciplined and low-key lifestyle that focuses on family and personal growth rather than flashy spending, though the specifics of his wealth and investments remain largely private.
Fun Facts About Jason Koon
Here are some fascinating tidbits about one of poker’s most successful high-stakes specialists:
- Started playing poker only after a college injury forced him to find new activities.
- Fell asleep listening to Phil Galfond training videos, crediting them as crucial to his development.
- Has never played many small buy-in WSOP events, preferring to focus energy on high-stakes cash games.
- Considers Ben Tollerene his most influential mentor, living together during his crucial development period.
- Believes material possessions and trying to impress others led him down the wrong path early in his career.
- Plans to play only the $1 million One Drop and Main Event at future WSOP series to preserve energy for cash games.
- Credits his wife Bianca Armstrong as the biggest influence on his improved mindset and emotional control.
- Became a father in 2021 and now has two children, with family life driving his motivation to succeed.
- Studied Master’s in Business Administration and Finance at West Virginia Wesleyan College.
- Worked 60-70 hours per week for approximately six years to reach elite status.
Estimated Jason Koon Net Worth
Now let’s talk about the Jason Koon net worth.
While only Koon himself could provide the exact figure, we can make educated estimates based on publicly available tournament earnings and known revenue streams.
With his recent $1.9 million WSOP victory adding to his already impressive tournament resume, his total live earnings now hace exceeded $65 million, making him one of the highest-earning tournament players in poker history
With over $66 million in live tournament earnings alone, his wealth extends beyond just prize money. Koon’s coaching business sponsorship deals, and likely high-stakes cash game winnings contribute significantly to his overall net worth.
However, the high-stakes poker lifestyle also comes with substantial expenses including travel, backing arrangements, and the inherent variance of tournament poker.
Conservative estimates place his net worth between $20-25 million, accounting for taxes, expenses, and the typical financial management approaches of successful tournament professionals.
His disciplined lifestyle and business-minded approach to poker suggest he’s likely retained a substantial portion of his earnings, unlike some high-stakes players known for lavish spending.
Jason Koon Net Worth: My Final Thoughts
This American poker player has made a strong impact on the poker world beyond just his tournament wins.
He helped popularize short-deck poker in Western markets and showed that a disciplined, math-based style can consistently beat instinctive play.
Also proves that staying physically and mentally healthy is a key advantage in high-stakes poker. He’s still active today, regularly competing in some of the biggest tournaments against the best players in the world.
Outside of tournaments, Jason balances his time with high-stakes cash games and poker coaching.
With over $64 million in live tournament earnings, he is firmly established as one of the top earners in poker history, next to Daniel Negreanu, Stephen Chidwick, Phil Ivey, Alex Foxen, Chance Kornuth, and others.
His steady focus, work ethic, and practical approach have made him one of the most respected players in the game.
From a broke college student to a poker powerhouse, this star’s story continues to inspire players worldwide.
Now, I’d love to hear from YOU:
What’s your favorite Jason Koon moment at the poker table? Do you think his approach to fitness gives him an edge over other players?
Let me know in the comments below!
