Stewart Ungar
Childhood
Born to Jewish parents in Manhattan’s Lower East Side, Ungar was exposed to gambling early—his father ran an illegal gambling den. A gifted student, he skipped a grade but dropped out at 15 to play gin rummy full-time. After his father died in 1967, Ungar became a fixture in New York’s underground gambling scene, mentored by mob-connected card sharp Victor Romano.
Career
The Greatest Card Player of All Time.
- Gin Rummy Dominance
By age 10, Ungar was winning gin tournaments. By his teens, he was unbeatable, even crushing legendary player Harry "Yonkie" Stein 86-0 in a high-stakes match. His reputation grew so intense that casinos barred him from tournaments—no one wanted to play against him.
- Poker Success
Ungar transitioned to poker when gin dried up. In 1980, he won the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event—his first-ever Texas Hold’em tournament—becoming the youngest champion at the time. He defended his title in 1981, making him one of only four players to win back-to-back WSOP Main Events.
- Blackjack Genius
Ungar’s photographic memory made him a feared card counter. He once won a $100,000 bet by correctly predicting the last three decks of a six-deck shoe. Casinos eventually banned him from blackjack tables.
Personal life
Ungar married Madeline Wheeler in 1982, adopting her son Richie and having a daughter, Stefanie. But his life spiraled due to cocaine addiction, leading to divorce in 1986. Richie died by suicide in 1989, devastating Ungar.
Despite his demons, he staged a miraculous comeback in 1997, winning his third WSOP Main Event—earning the nickname "The Comeback Kid." But his addiction and reckless sports betting drained his fortune.
Revenue
Ungar won over 30 million dollars in his career but died broken.
- 1980 WSOP Main Event: $365,000
- 1981 WSOP Main Event: $375,000
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1997 WSOP Main Event: $1,000,000
Interesting facts
- Ungar never had a bank account—he kept cash in hotel safe deposit boxes.
- He tipped extravagantly, once giving a stranger $100 just for asking.
- He rarely drove, preferring cabs—even for short distances.
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Ungar ate like "a wild animal," rushing meals to return to gambling.
Legacy
- The only player to win the WSOP Main Event and Amarillo Slim’s Super Bowl of Poker three times.
- Inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame (2001).
- The subject of the 2003 film High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story.
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ESPN documentary One of a Kind (2006) chronicled his life.
Frequently asked Questions
Five: three Main Events (1980, 1981, 1997), one Deuce-to-Seven Draw (1981), and one Seven Card Stud (1983).
No one would play him in gin—he was too dominant. Poker offered bigger stakes and more opponents.
A heart attack caused by years of drug abuse. He was found dead in a Las Vegas motel at 45.
Yes—his card-counting skills were so sharp that casinos refused to let him play.
Yes—a daughter, Stefanie, and an adopted son, Richie (who died in 1989).
