Amarillo Slim – The High-Stakes Trailblazers Who Changed Poker Forever
Amarillo Slim didn’t just play poker—he made it legendary. With his signature cowboy hat, quick wit, and even quicker hands, Slim helped transform poker from a backroom hustle into a nationally recognized sport. His bold bets, sharp wit, and fearless play positioned him as a gambling hall of famer.
- In this article
- Highlights
- Beginnings
- Career
- Amarillo Slim Net Worth
- Where Is He Today?
- FAQ
Before poker hit the mainstream, Slim roamed the country with Doyle Brunson and Sailor Roberts, chasing high-stakes action. But Slim played for more than cash—he spread the game. Alongside his fellow road gamblers, he helped introduce Texas Hold’em to Las Vegas, laying the groundwork for the poker boom that followed.
In 1972, he won the Main Event of the World Series of Poker, securing his poker legacy. Slim knew the power of publicity. He made regular appearances on national talk shows, bringing poker into the mainstream and even landing a cameo in Hollywood.
Full Name
Net Worth
Source of Wealth
Famous for
BornFans speculate about the Amarillo Slim net worth, but his real legacy shaped poker’s future. He made the game mainstream, inspired a new generation of players, and never backed down from a challenge—whether from a professional gambler or a Hollywood star. Even past his prime, his fearless play and larger-than-life persona kept him a poker pioneer.
Amarillo Slim Highlights
- Won four World Series of Poker gold bracelets
- Beat Willie Nelson in a dominoes game for $300,000
- Won $2 million off Hustler founder Larry Flynt at poker
- Appeared in the 1974 movie California Split, which starred Robert Altman
- Inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 1992
- Playing poker with U.S. presidents Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon
Amarillo Slim Childhood and Early Years
Before poker made Amarillo Slim a legend, he was a sharp-minded kid who loved action. Born Thomas Austin Preston Jr. in Johnson, Arkansas, he didn’t stay in one place for long. When he was an infant, his family moved to Turkey, Texas, but after his parents divorced, his mother returned to Arkansas while his father settled in Amarillo.
Slim later joked that fate had done him a favor—because "Amarillo Slim" had a much better ring to it than Turkey Tom or Arkansas Austin.
As a kid, Slim had a gift for numbers and a gambler’s instinct. While most kids focused on school, he skipped class to hustle pool and play cards. By 16, he was already traveling with seasoned gamblers, leveraging their money to back his bets in exchange for a cut of the winnings. His confidence paid off early—on one of his first trips, he pocketed $800, a small fortune for a teenager at the time.
That first big win fueled his hunger for bigger games and a career that changed poker forever.
How Amarillo Slim and His Crew Revolutionized Poker
Before fame, Amarillo Slim roamed the country, chasing the biggest poker games and recording impressive wins.
But he wasn’t alone—he joined forces with fellow Texas legends Doyle Brunson and Sailor Roberts, forming a trio that would change poker forever. They weren’t just high-stakes players—they pioneered Texas Hold’em in 1960s Las Vegas. Their fearless style and strategic play laid the foundation for the game’s future.
Poker back then was dark rooms, back tables, and no cameras. It was gritty and high-risk. Winning was only half the battle—leaving with your money was the other. Slim, Brunson, and Roberts navigated a world of backrooms, bars, and underground clubs, facing cheaters, thieves, and the ever-present risk of law enforcement raids.
Their journey led them to the Las Vegas Horseshoe Casino, where, in 1967, they convinced its owner Benny Binion to spread Texas Hold’em. Unlike draw poker, this game gave skilled players an edge and created more action—elements that would later define professional poker. This move set the stage for the WSOP.
By 1972, the WSOP was still young, with just eight players entering the $10,000 Main Event. Slim, Doyle Brunson, and Puggy Pearson were already poker legends in the making. But Slim’s victory carried an unexpected twist. Brunson and Pearson didn’t want the spotlight. Brunson, deeply religious, refused to be the face of poker. Pearson allegedly preferred to stay off the IRS’s radar. A deal was struck—Slim took the title, and they split the money.
Whether fact or legend, the outcome was undeniable—Slim’s victory put poker in the public eye. He wasn’t just a champion. He was a showman. His natural flair for entertaining the media made him the perfect poker ambassador, setting the stage for the game’s rise in mainstream popularity.
Amarillo Slim's Journey to a Poker Icon
Amarillo Slim wasn’t just a typical poker player. He became the face of poker in the 1970s and 1980s, transforming the game from a backroom gamble to a mainstream spectacle.
Fresh off his 1972 WSOP win, Slim became poker’s first celebrity. He made ten appearances on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, captivating audiences with his sharp wit and wild gambling tales. He also appeared in the film California Split and on I’ve Got a Secret, casually revealing he had lost $190,000 in a single night of poker. As the WSOP grew, Slim helped fuel its rise.
In 1979, he launched Amarillo Slim’s Super Bowl of Poker (SBOP), quickly establishing it as the second-biggest tournament after the WSOP. Some of the greatest players, including Stu Ungar, claimed SBOP titles before the event ended in 1991. Cowboy hat. Big personality. Fearless play. Slim made poker mainstream. But more than that, he redefined the game.
Playing Poker with Pablo Escobar
Amarillo Slim is a poker legend that bet on anything, with anyone. From presidents to criminals, Slim built his name on outrageous bets that seemed impossible—until he won them. He beat table tennis champion Bobby Riggs with an iron skillet, then a Taiwanese champion with Coca-Cola bottles. He played golf against daredevil Evel Knievel but only allowed hammers as clubs. He even took country music star Willie Nelson for $300,000 in a game of dominoes.
His wildest story? A poker game with Pablo Escobar. According to legend, Slim was in Colombia for a casino opening when Escobar’s men kidnapped him. Escobar’s men mistook him for a government agent, tied him up, and threw him into a helicopter. Just as his luck ran out, one of the men recognized him. Instead of facing execution, Slim found himself at a high-stakes Texas Hold’em table—with Escobar himself. To smooth things over, Escobar sent Slim a gift—emerald shirt buttons.
"I like to bet on anything as long as the odds are in my favor."
Amarillo Slim Net Worth and WSOP Winnings
Amarillo Slim’s poker career wasn’t just built on stories. He had the trophies to prove his skill. He won four WSOP bracelets, mastering multiple formats. In 1972, he won the WSOP Main Event, took home $60,000, and secured his poker legacy. He won three more bracelets, including two in Pot-Limit Omaha—$85,000 in 1985 and $142,000 in 1990. In 2000, he finished runner-up to Phil Ivey in the $2,500 Pot-Limit Omaha event, earning $97,500—one of his biggest cashes.
He cashed 13 times at the WSOP, winning $437,958. Estimates put Amarillo Slim's net worth at $1 million, but the real money came from high-stakes bets, underground games, and poker as entertainment. His winnings faded. His legend grew.
Later Life, Movie and Pleading Guilty
The later years of Amarillo Slim’s life were marked by both professional milestones and personal controversy.
In 2003, he published his autobiography, Amarillo Slim in a World Full of Fat People, a memoir filled with gambling tales, high-stakes poker games, and stories of his legendary proposition bets. Around the same time, a Hollywood film adaptation was in the works, with Nicolas Cage rumored to star as Slim. He also authored Amarillo Slim’s Play Poker to Win, a strategy guide for aspiring poker players.
However, Slim’s life took a drastic turn in 2003 when he was accused of indecency toward a minor. He pleaded no contest to a reduced charge of misdemeanor assault, insisting he took the plea deal to spare his family the hardship of a trial. The case had a lasting impact on his reputation. Once a beloved poker icon, Slim found himself shunned by many in the poker community. The planned movie was scrapped, and he faced multiple robberies and attacks in the years that followed.
Where Is Amarillo Slim Today?
Amarillo Slim’s larger-than-life presence in poker came to an end on April 29, 2012, when he passed away at the age of 83 in Amarillo, Texas, after a battle with colon cancer.
While he is no longer with us, his legacy as poker’s first true celebrity remains. Inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 1992, Slim helped shape the modern poker scene with his bold personality and unforgettable stories. He is survived by his ex-wife, Helen, his children, and a large extended family. Though gone, his influence on the game will never be forgotten.
FAQ
What Is Amarillo Slim’s Real Name?
Amarillo Slim’s real name was Thomas Austin Preston Jr. He adopted the nickname from his childhood in Texas, famously stating that "Amarillo Slim sounds a heck of a lot better than Turkey Tom or Arkansas Austin."
How Many WSOP Bracelets Did Amarillo Slim Win?
Amarillo Slim won four WSOP bracelets in his career. His victories came in 1972, 1974, 1985, and 1990, with two of his wins in Pot-Limit Omaha. He also finished runner-up to Phil Ivey in a 2000 WSOP event.
What Is the Most Famous Amarillo Slim Quote?
“Look around the table. If you don't see a sucker, get up because you're the sucker.” and “You can shear a sheep a hundred times, but you can skin it only once”
Did Amarillo Really Play Poker with Pablo Escobar?
According to Slim’s own account, he was kidnapped by Escobar’s men in Colombia but was released after being recognized. The story claims Escobar later invited him to play Texas Hold’em, though whether it truly happened remains a subject of debate.
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