(Feature image: courtesy of WPT)
William G. Klein, most popularly known as Bill Klein, is a former entrepreneur who is now enjoying his life as a poker player. He hails from Laguna Hills, California, and was born in 1948. His family ventures in the manufacturing industry.
Maybe because he is well-versed in business, he wasn’t afraid to enter high-stakes tournaments. He could be very much aware of the risks, but you don’t have anything to worry about if you have card gaming skills like Bill.
He has played several tournaments with legendary opponents like Antonio Esfandiari, Garrett Adelstein, Phil Galfond, and so many others. Despite not having as much presence as these poker icons, Klein surely made a name for himself in the industry.
In this blog, we’ll dive deeper into the legend’s poker career journey, milestones, and the estimated Bill Klein net worth.
| Full Name: William G. Klein | |
| Birthyear: 1948 | |
| Birthplace: Chicago, Ilinois | |
| Profession: Former businessman, pro poker player | |
| Bill Klein Wife: Jennifer Klein (formerly Jennifer Arnold) | |
| WSOP Bracelets: 0 | |
| Net Worth & Career Earnings: $1+ Billion |
Disclaimer: Only Bill knows his actual net worth. We can only estimate based on publicly available sources and the usual stakes he plays.
Who Is Bill Klein? (Poker Player)
First things first, who is Bill Klein?
Let’s talk about his early life and background.
Bill Klein, whose full name is Richard William Klein, was born around 1948 in Chicago and spent his early years there before building a solid business career.
Most folks just call him Bill because it is a common nickname for William, simple as that.
Although he is a well-known businessman, his private affairs and early life have always been kept private.
What we know for sure is that he currently lives in Laguna Hills, California. Also, his exact date of birth was not disclosed, but he was indeed born in the year 1948.
William’s family was doing well in terms of business. That company grew big enough to run several sites and employ about 1,400 people, giving Klein financial security before poker was even in the picture.
However, they had to sell it after he learned he had throat cancer. Fortunately, Klein is now cancer-free and is living his best life playing either golf or poker.
The thing about this former entrepreneur is that when he became a poker player, every time he wins, he donates most of his earnings to charities.
And when he loses? He also makes sure to donate the same amount of money (loss)/matches the buy-in to chosen foundations.
More than being a card player, he’s a philanthropist who has touched the lives of many people.
Bill Klein Net Worth 2025
Now…
Let’s talk about Bill Klein’s net worth, keeping in mind that only he himself could provide the exact figure.
As for our analysis, it is a reasonable estimate based on his tournament earnings of over $7 million, the sale of his successful manufacturing company, and his ability to donate millions to charity without blinking.
So, how much is Bill Klein worth?
I estimate his net worth to be somewhere in the $1 billion range.
This is a conservative number considering his business success, steady presence in high-stakes poker, and big charitable donations over the years.
The Generous High Roller
In 2015, Bill quietly made one of the most memorable runs in high-stakes poker.
He placed second in the $111,111 One Drop High Roller at the WSOP and won $2.4 million. The field was stacked with 135 players, including some of the biggest names in the game and a few deep-pocketed regulars.
Our guy held his own through all of it. The final table wasn’t exactly soft either.
He was up against guys like Duhamel, Colman, Hellmuth, and Zinno, which is not the kind of lineup you just coast through. But he held his own. There was even a spot where Colman shoved three-handed and Klein called him with pocket aces. It was clean. No hesitation.
He made it to heads-up with Duhamel, who was already ahead and ended up closing it out in like 20 hands. Klein didn’t win, but he earned people’s hearts and respect with how he played.
And then came the part that made the whole thing unforgettable: he gave all the money away. Every cent. He split the $2.4 million between Orangewood Children’s Foundation and The Shea Center, both causes close to him.
Since then, people see him a little differently. He’s not just the businessman who plays poker for fun.
He’s the guy who actually follows through when he says he plays for something bigger.
Poker Career Highlights
Though poker isn’t his main gig, the former entrepreneur has had some serious moments on the felt.
Here are a few of the standouts from his time in the high-stakes scene:
1) Appeared on Season 7 of High Stakes Poker competing against poker legends.
2) Won the $25,000 Aria High Roller in May 2021, securing a $324,000 first-place payout.
3) Ranked as high as #158 on the Global Poker Index and earned over $7.5 million in live tournaments.
4) Finished runner-up in the 2015 $111,111 One Drop High Roller, donating entire $2.46M prize to charity.
5) Retired from business after selling family-owned manufacturing company following throat cancer diagnosis.
6) Reached three World Series of Poker final tables and cashed 14 times, building respect as a high-stakes player.
Now, let’s look at his biggest tournament winnings.
Top 5 Tournament Cashes
William made a name for himself by playing some of the biggest poker tournaments out there, staying calm and sticking to his game.
His success in business gave him the freedom to play high buy-in events without worrying too much about the money.
Here are his top 5 tournament cashes to date:
2nd Place 2015 WSOP $111,111 One Drop High Roller – $2,465,522
Klein’s run in the 2015 One Drop High Roller is still his biggest result, both money-wise and for what he did with it.
The $111,111 event drew 135 top pros and wealthy businessmen, making it one of the toughest lineups that year.
Klein made it through a stacked final table with names like Phil Hellmuth, Daniel Colman, and Jonathan Duhamel, staying focused the whole way.
He called Colman’s all-in with pocket aces, which helped him stay in it.
He made it to heads-up against Duhamel but lost after 22 hands.
People respected how well he handled the pressure.
What really made it stand out was that he gave the entire $2.4 million prize to charity, splitting it between two causes close to his heart.
Other Notable Tournament Cashes
- 2nd Place 2023 World Series of Poker High Roller – $955,513
- 2nd Place 2016 Aria Super High Roller 11 – $349,920
- 1st Place 2021 ARIA May High Roller Series – $324,000
- 2nd Place 2016 Bellagio High Roller 7 – $317,520
Aside form tourneys, he has been invited as a guest in various televised poker games like High Stakes Poker.
He was cast in Season 7 where he played with well-known names like Phil Laak, Antonio Esfandiari, Doyle Brunson, Rick Salomon, and Phil Galfond. During one of the episodes, Galfond was leading at the start, but he got a hit chip-wise when Klein pulled a nice bluff on him.
Although he isn’t very active this year, his las tournament appearance was in the 2024 Legends of Poker $1,200 No-Limit Hold’em on August 19 and finished 31st for $3,835.
Personal Life
William Klein is one of the most low-key players in the industry, despite his thirst for high-stakes games. There is no information about his private life, especially about his family. But, what we know so far is that aside from poker, he spends most of his time as a retiree enjoying golf.
William Klein: Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Bill Klein now?
He currently resides in Laguna Hills, California, and continues to compete in selected events and maintains his philanthropic activities while enjoying retirement pursuits like golf.
How did Bill Klein make his money?
He built his wealth primarily through his ownership stake in Sadlak Manufacturing, a successful company that employed around 1,400 people.
He has since added over $7 million in tournament poker winnings to his net worth, though he famously donated his largest single prize to charity.
How many WSOP bracelets does Bill Klein have?
He has not won a WSOP bracelet, though he has achieved significant success in high-stakes WSOP events, most notably his runner-up finish in the 2015 $111,111 One Drop High Roller and his second-place finish in a 2023 high roller event.
Now to wrap up…
Bill Klein Poker Net Worth (Wrap Up)
William aka Bill Klein has built a steady, respected presence in poker.
With a background in business and a calm, calculated style, he’s quietly earned millions and the admiration of fellow players without chasing the spotlight.
Now in his seventies, he’s still competing and giving back, balancing tournament play with philanthropy. His career shows what staying power and discipline can look like in a game often driven by ego and impulse.
Now, what do YOU think:
- In your opinion, how much is Bill Klein worth in 2025?
- And, do you know any other interesting facts about Bill Klein?
Feel free to share them in the comments section below!
(Or keep scrolling to read other posts.)
↴↴↴↴↴↴↴
