Although American poker pro Joe McKeehen won this year's WSOP Main Event for $7.6 million, the biggest winner of all was the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)! According to a report by taxabletalk.com' s Russ Fox, 34.13 percent of the final table's $24,806,976 prize money will go to the IRS. That's $8,467,091!
Fox on McKeehen's winnings, "As a professional poker player, he'll owe self-employment tax along with his federal income tax ($3,073,240), Pennsylvania state income tax ($235,879), and the local township (North Wales Boro) Earned Income Tax ($76,833), a total of $3,385,952 (44.07%). He'll get to keep an estimated $4,297,394 of his winnings."
Pierre Neuville, who finished in 7th place, is the only player that will get to keep all his winnings thanks to an agreement between his home country Belgium and the United States. Neuville, 72, won't have to pay tax in Belgium either as he's not a full-time poker player.
Here's what this year's November Nine players will get after paying the taxman.
| Winner |
Before Tax |
After Tax |
| Joe McKeehen |
$7,683,346 |
$4,297,394 |
| Josh Beckley |
$4,470,896 |
$2,389,177 |
| Neil Blumenfield |
$3,398,298 |
$1,805,764 |
| Max Steinberg |
$2,615,361 |
$1,543,306 |
| Ofer Zvi Stern |
$1,911,423 |
$1,011,317 |
| Tom Cannuli |
$1,426,283 |
$785,996 |
| Pierre Neuville |
$1,203,293 |
$1,203,293 |
| Federico Butteroni |
$1,097,056 |
$571,566 |
| Patrick Chan |
$1,001,020 |
$545,614 |
| Totals |
$24,806,976 |
$14,153,427 |
source: www.taxabletalk.com
