Scotty Nguyen - Five-Time WSOP Champion and Poker Hall of Famer

Author: Tadas Peckaitis

Scotty Nguyen, also known as the "Prince of Poker," can be counted among the more mysterious figures of the poker world, having had a career that spans over three decades.

Born in Vietnam and raised under difficult circumstances, Nguyen's road to fame was an indicator of his will to continue and his undeniable talents. His legendary personality and skill in many varieties of poker have given him a place among the best gamblers in the world.

The Scotty Nguyen net worth today is over $12.7 million, reflecting his inspiring story of rising from a very humble beginning to a poker champion.

Over the years, Scotty has won five WSOP bracelets and pulled off stunning wins in the World Poker Tour, one of his best being when he took down the title at the 2006 WPT Gold Strike World Poker Open.

Full Name

Thuận B. Nguyễn

Net Worth

$10 million

Source of Wealth

Professional poker player

Famous for

Winning the 1998 WSOP Main Event

Born

28 October, 1962, Nha Trang, Vietnam

From the famous "You call, it's gonna be all over baby!" in the 1998 WSOP Main Event to his induction into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2013, Nguyen has made his mark on the game, as charismatic as he is controversial.

This blog will discuss the highs and lows of Scotty's poker career and legacy, giving a well-rounded view of this gambler's journey.

Highlights

Highlights

• Won five World Series of Poker bracelets across five different poker variations
• Won the $10,000 No Limit Hold’em World Series of Poker Main Event in 1998
• His live tournament earnings exceed $12.7 million
• Won a WPT title in 2006, becoming one of only a few players to win both the WSOP Main Event and a WPT event.
• He was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2013

Scotty Nguyen Early Life and Moving to America

Born Thuận Nguyen in October 1962, Scotty grew up as the oldest of 13 children in Nha Trang, Vietnam. His childhood was relatively poor as he and his family escaped the war-torn country, and they lived for three years in a refugee camp.

When he was 14, Nguyen arrived in the United States after his mother sent him out of Vietnam. He stopped for a while in Taiwan, then finally settled in Orange County, California.

At first, he struggled to settle into the American life. He got thrown out of school for playing too much underground poker.

Mr. Nguyen’s love for poker snowballed as he started to hone his skills in shady card rooms and pool halls around California. But Nguyen's path was never really even.

His bankroll would seesaw, and by age 21, he had a job dealing cards in Las Vegas. Even though he brought in about $150 a night at Harrah's poker room, much of it vanished fast in low-stakes games.

Scotty Nguyen’s Poker Career and Ascent

Scotty Nguyen's poker career began in 1985 when he was invited to deal in a no-limit Hold'em tournament in Lake Tahoe.

During the night, Scotty played cash games and built up his bankroll to $7,000, which set him up to rise in Las Vegas. His skills earned him the chance to play against poker legends such as Johnny Chan and Puggy Pearson.

Scotty's bankroll reached as high as $1 million, which he spent on luxury purchases such as cars and a condo. But bad habits and expensive losing streaks wiped him out.

Scotty Nguyen’s Path to WSOP History

Having lost his one million dollar bankroll, Scotty Nguyen had to start from scratch. His first big comeback occurred in the World Series of Poker that took place in 1997, when he won the $2,000 Omaha 8 or Better event, earning over $150,000.

But Nguyen continued his pattern of wild spending. Just before the 1998 WSOP, he got himself bankrupt again. Desperate to play the Main Event, he didn't have enough to buy into a small satellite tournament.

Thankfully, poker professional Mike Matusow showed faith in Scotty and bankrolled a third of his buy-in. Nguyen paid that faith back in style, winning the 1998 WSOP Main Event for $1 million, splitting $333,333 with Matusow.

Nguyen's 1998 WSOP win is the stuff of legend due to his quote when the final hand was played.

The board had been dealt in a full house, with the 8♣ 9♦ 9♥ 8♥ 8♠ and Nguyen went all-in, saying to his opponent Kevin McBride:

"You call, it's gonna be all over baby!"

Scotty Nguyen

McBride called, and Nguyen showed his 9♣ J♦ to take home the better full house. And that was all Nguyen needed to seal his well-deserved reputation as one of the best.

That euphoria did not last very long, though, as Scotty lost his brother in a car accident the very next day. For this reason, he has never worn his 1998 WSOP bracelet.

Nguyen's poker career would go on to flourish, adding two more bracelets in 2001 before finally capturing the prestigious $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. World Championship in 2008 for nearly $2 million.

It is a perfect illustration of Scotty Nguyen's astonishing journey to net worth; he is still the only player to have won the WSOP Main Event and the H.O.R.S.E. World Championship.

Scotty Nguyen Enters the Poker Hall of Fame

Throughout his thus-far moderately illustrious career, Scotty Nguyen has taken down several big ones and racked up quite an impressive collection of accolades, which have firmly established him as one of the game's all-time greats.

After making several WPT final tables, Nguyen finally won his first WPT title in 2006 by besting Michael Mizrachi heads-up at the Gold Strike World Poker Open.

His winning hand was a flush made with A♠ Q♠, making him historic since he was only the sixth player to have ever won both a WSOP Main Event and a WPT title.

In 2007, Nguyen came close to repeating another WSOP win when he finished second in the Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo Split and came close to making the final table of the Main Event, eventually finishing 11th of 6,358 players and taking home $476,926.

In 2009, he added another title to his name with the LA Poker Classic $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. World Championship for $260,485, showing that he truly is the master of fixed-limit poker.

In 2013, Nguyen's phenomenal career was topped by his induction into the Poker Hall of Fame, which placed him among the very best of his craft.

Scotty Nguyen's most recent big victory came in July 2021 at the WPT Venetian during the DeepStack Championship Poker Series in Las Vegas.

The “Prince of Poker” participated in the $4,625 + $375 No Limit Hold'em event and finished in 11th place, earning an extra $72,410 toward his now impressive career earnings total.

2008 World Series of Poker Controversy

Not all wins come without controversy for Scotty Nguyen, a good example being the 2008 $50,000 WSOP H.O.R.S.E. event. A charismatic character, his performance at the final table raised many eyebrows.

During the event, he was seen drinking heavily, swearing, and generally berating players, staff, and even waiters. He was also seen to have a questionable "soft-play" moment with Erick Lindgren, which some people considered to be against the rules.

Despite winning, that behavior in the tournament was widely criticized by followers and poker commentators alike. To his credit, Scotty has publicly apologized for his behavior, stating that he was exhausted and frustrated. He has since sworn off drinking during any televised games.

Scotty Nguyen Net Worth and Winnings

Scotty Nguyen net worth speaks volumes about the phenomenon that his poker career has been since his total winnings in live tournaments stand at over $12.7 million.

His biggest-ever payday was for the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. event during the 2008 World Series of Poker. He came first and banked $1,989,120 while capturing another WSOP gold bracelet.

Over 70 recorded cashes, along with five WSOP bracelets, have accounted for more than $5 million in Nguyen's winning purse from the WSOP itself.

With the 88th position in the All Money List and 5th on Nevada's All-Time Money List, Nguyen isn't only successfully confined to No-Limit Hold'em. That includes several different games that he has won in like Pot Limit Omaha, Omaha Hi-Lo, H.O.R.S.E., and Seven Card Stud.

Scotty Nguyen's net worth mirrors over twenty years of poker brilliance, placing him as one of the most accomplished and respected figures within the game.

Where Is Scotty Nguyen Today?

Scotty Nguyen is still active in the poker world as a player and a mentor. His most recent appearance was at the 2024 WSOP in the $1,500 No Limit Hold'em—The Closer event.

Since then, Nguyen has been very active with his fans, frequently playing in smaller stakes tournaments and discussing his strategies with his Facebook group.

He had to miss half of the 2023 WSOP to have surgery on a broken rib. Scotty Nguyen's net worth represents his continued success and impact on the game, as he is still truly loved within the poker community.