Todd Brunson

It wasn’t until his third year as a student at Texas Tech University when Todd Brunson decided that rather than continue his pursuit of a law degree, poker may well be the way to go.

When the name “Brunson” is spoken in the poker world, ears perk up, though the first name synonymous with it is often “Doyle.” One could only assume that Todd has his own feelings on that matter, as many sons spend their whole lives either attempting to become successful in spite of their father’s legacy, or with the help of it. It’s hard to tell with Todd, but one thing is for sure, since dropping out of college after winning the $5,000 buy-in No Limit Hold ‘em Championship during Diamond Jim Brady week at the Bicycle Casino in Los Angeles for $198,000 in 1993, Brunson has been creating his own legacy.

While he enjoyed multiple six figure cashes on the tournament circuit, Todd’s real income came in the high stakes side games. Considering himself one of the best heads up Limit Hold ‘em players in the world, his skill famously reaches beyond the grasp on just one game. As a mixed games player, well versed in every variation from Ace to Five draw through Chinese Poker, Brunson could practice all the game selection desired and still enjoy an hourly wage most poker players only dream of. Not content to play against only the weakest, Todd jumped at the chance to join the “Corporation” (a conglomerate of high stakes players that pooled their money together) and the opportunity to play Heads Up Limit Hold ‘em at limits as high as $100,000/$200,000 against Texas billionaire Andy Beal. In a marathon session lasting two days in the famous Bobby’s Room, the younger Brunson outplayed the amateur winning roughly $13,500,000 for the team.

Along with the poker boom came a refreshed interest in tournament play which Todd embraced wholeheartedly. In 2005, he won his first World Series of Poker Bracelet in the $2,500 buy-in Omaha Hi-Lo event, taking home $255,945. With money being the driving force on his poker path, not fame, Brunson has diversified his income with real estate and business investments allowing him to play less and less poker. With over $3,100,000 in lifetime tournament winnings and a stake in his father’s online poker room Doylesroom.com, Todd’s face and infamous ponytail will still be found around the poker world whether his father is there or not.