If the saying “life imitates art” is true, then this is probably why many celebrities enjoy poker just as much as the entertainment industry likes to portray in its many fictional works, like Molly’s Game and Rounders.
Over the years, many high-profile celebs have been known to frequent big-money poker tables. For instance, just earlier this year, Oscar-nominated actor Timothee Chalamet threw his own exclusive Hollywood poker night party. Hosted along with the luxury brand Cartier, the evening was attended by many big names, including known card sharks Kevin Hart and Tobey Maguire.
However, the deep appreciation for the classic card game is not limited to A-list actors. In fact, though they may not be as widely associated with poker as their other performing peers, there are many musicians who’ve been known to frequent the felt.
Here are a few of them:
Justin Timberlake
Timberlake made a name for himself as a singer-songwriter, but the Grammy winner and now- actor is also a huge poker fan. In fact, these interests have even come together more than once onscreen. Notably, in 2013, he starred with actor and fellow poker fan Ben Affleck in the film Runner Runner. The movie sees the multi-hyphenate Timberlake engaged in gambling sites, luxury, and limitless cash within the context of the poker world.
In real life, Timberlake may not be embroiled in stakes quite as dire as his past characters, but he’s still known to associate with the card game’s elite. One of these is Chris Moneymaker, who is considered an icon in the US online poker sector.
Responsible for the 2000s online poker boom, Moneymaker remains highly influential in his capacity as an ambassador for ACR Poker. The leading online poker site in the country, it boasts some of the biggest tourneys. One of these events is the Moneymaker Tour, named after Chris himself. In the past, Moneymaker shared that Timberlake was one mainstream celebrity who had approached him to play. During one incident, Chris recalls being woken up by his lawyer in the middle of the night because Timberlake had requested he join them for a round of poker. Clearly, if Justin’s got legends like Chris in his circle, his poker aspirations run more than just casual.
Nelly
As one of the most successful rappers of all time, Nelly is well-known for lyrics that highlight the wealth, adrenaline, and decadence he surrounds himself with. Throughout the decades, this has helped him carve a strong following, which is how he continues to have successful US tours. Just recently, Nelly and his team announced that he would be touring multiple cities in the US, along with fellow musicians Eve and Ja Rule, on Where the Party At Tour. Following this, they’ll be taking the act out to the rest of North America, Australia, and Europe.
When he’s not onstage, Nelly is often in high-stakes poker rooms. He’s even participated in several prestigious poker tournaments, such as the World Series of Poker (WSOP) and the European Poker Tour (EPT). In some of these, he was sponsored by the gambling platform PokerStars, which is known to partner with celebrities often. Nelly has also said that in his spare time, he enjoys watching poker on TV and looking into other poker greats, such as Phil Ivey and Daniel Negreanu. Today, while most of the public won’t necessarily picture him in poker circles, his devoted fans know he has the experience to keep up with the best of them.
Jay-Z
Jay-Z is perhaps one of the most outspoken fans of gambling in Hollywood. As a matter of fact, in 2024, the mogul co-founded his own sportsbook called Fanatics Sportsbook. In true Jay-Z fashion, the grand opening of this included a lavish and star-studded blackjack event. Allegedly, the blackjack tournament included an impressive $250,000 as a grand prize.
Of course, blackjack isn’t the only casino card game that Jay-Z is fond of. Within his inner circle, he frequently hosts poker nights or visits high-roller tables. In 2019, this is precisely what he was even spotted doing with his good friend Kevin Hart. Evidently, Jay-Z’s poker pals extend well into professional poker circles as well. An example of this is poker professional Phil Hellmuth. A celebrated poker veteran who holds the record for the most WSOP tournament wins, Hellmuth continues to shape the American poker industry. Today, this includes being a content and brand partner for gaming provider BetRivers. Recognized as one of the most vibrant personalities in poker, Hellmuth once stated that he even rapped his own lyrics in front of Jay-Z. Per the poker player, the rapper “loved” his rapping and singing while MC’ing during an event where both were present.
