Poker

WSOP Main Event Player Loses Over Half of Winnings to Taxes

The nine finalists of the 2026 WSOP Main Event earned $30.25 million, but $12.2 million goes to taxes.

By Sofía CarrascoPublished Aug 15, 20262 min read

Final table of the WSOP Main Event 2026 with cards and chips

In the final of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2026 Main Event, the nine players secured at least $1 million each. Lucas Jumalon dominated from start to finish, defeating Lauri Saaskilahti and taking home the $10 million prize. However, tax burdens significantly reduced their winnings.

Winnings Before Taxes

All WSOP finalists achieved impressive sums. Here are their prizes before taxes:

Lucas Jumalon: $10,000,000
Lauri Saaskilahti: $6,000,000
Greg Mueller: $3,750,000
Michael Gagliano: $2,750,000
Han Feng: $2,250,000
Rami Hammoud: $1,750,000
Jamie Shaevel: $1,500,000
Mario Boos: $1,250,000
Evagoras Evagorou: $1,000,000

Impact of Taxes

Russell Fox, a tax professional, has calculated that over $12.2 million of the winnings will go to tax authorities. Lucas Jumalon, a resident of Spokane, Washington, faces an estimated tax of $3,990,826 (39.91%). Lauri Saaskilahti, a resident of Barcelona, owes $2,773,000.

Greg Mueller, semi-retired, will need to pay $1,122,000 of his $3,750,000. Michael Gagliano will send $1,058,348 to the IRS and $272,335 to New Jersey. Han Feng will owe $889,753, which represents 39.54% of his winnings.

Individual Tax Situations

Rami Hammoud, from Montreal, will face a 30% withholding ($522,000). Jamie Shaevel in California will see his prize reduced by 50.37%, paying $598,373 to the IRS and $157,127 to the state. Mario Boos will pay $543,701 to the General Directorate of Public Finances in France.

Evagoras Evagorou, eliminated in ninth place, will lose $346,500 to taxes. This brings the total after taxes to $17,976,037, a reduction of 40.58% from the total prize.

Winnings After Taxes

Here are the estimated winnings after taxes:

Lucas Jumalon: $6,009,174
Lauri Saaskilahti: $3,227,000
Greg Mueller: $2,628,000
Michael Gagliano: $1,419,317
Han Feng: $1,360,247
Rami Hammoud: $1,228,000
Jamie Shaevel: $744,500
Mario Boos: $706,299
Evagoras Evagorou: $653,500

Check out the full report from the last day of the WSOP Main Event 2026.

Source: Poker.org

About the author

Sofía Carrasco

Poker Correspondent

Sofía Carrasco covers live and online poker — tournament series from the WSOP and EPT to the daily room grind, promotions, and the industry moves behind them. The reports keep every score, pot, and player name exactly as the record shows, and follow the story past the final hand: who qualified, what the structure rewarded, and how the field is shifting. For player moves, software, and regulation across the poker economy, Sofía Carrasco is the first read.