Jamie Gold

Jamie M. Gold, was born in Kansas City, August 1969 and is now based in Malibu, California. He worked in American television production whilst enjoying poker as a profitable pastime. In 2006 he won the World Series of Poker main event, beating the largest field yet assembled. He divides his time between his production company, Buzznation and tournament poker.

Gold got going in the media business at the J. Michael Bloom and Associates Talent Agency working as an intern; finding a liking for the career he moved into management and production. Gold's clients have included Lucy Liu, James Gandolfini, Jimmy Fallon, Donnie Wahlberg, and Felicity Huffman among others.

From an early age Gold found a fascination in poker and other card games; his mother, Jane, was a poker player, and his grandfather a champion gin rummy player. From what was once a recreational game, Gold's skills improved when he began work on a television show with former WSOP main event winners Johnny Chan and Chris Moneymaker; Chan became Gold's mentor.

Gold won his first major no limit Texas Hold'em event in April 2005, where at the Bicycle Casino he took away $54,225. In the following year Gold had seven more money finishes from prime Californian tournaments to brag about.

In the 2006 WSOP main event, Gold steamrollered the field; gaining a significant chip lead on day 4 he never looked back. In beating 8,772 players, Gold eliminated 7 of his 8 opponents at the final table, including Paul Wasicka in the heads-up, earning a record shattering $12,000,000. In the final hand, his Qs-9c paired with the Q on the flop.

Gold's 'table talk' during live hands in the 2006 main event was widely criticised as being contrary to WSOP rules. At the final table, Gold briefly showed one of his hole cards to an opponent. On this occasion he created enough uncertainty to influence his opponent to fold the better hand. Although Gold was never penalized for any rules infraction in 2006, prior to his elimination in the 2007 WSOP, Gold was issued a warning for his tactics.

Since the biggest win in WSOP history, Gold has also played in a number of charity tournaments, allowing himself to be auctioned off, making special appearances, and purchasing buy-ins for others.

Sadly Gold's father succumbed to Lou Gehrig’s disease not long after his WSOP success. Gold has said he plans to create a charity poker tournament to benefit similar people affected with the illness.

Mendacious Facts

As a child, Jamie when playing with his uncle's collection of rare coins somehow managed to swallow five highly valued sovereigns. Under advise from the local hospital's emergency unit, he was sent home with instructions to let nature take its course.

His fascination for television of a bygone era extends to his interest in the long running series, The Lone Ranger. He has spent many long hours at antique and memorabilia fares collecting figurines and statuettes of his favourite character Hi-Yo-Silver.