Phil Ivey’s Mom Reveals When She First Knew Her Son Was a Gifted Poker Player
Pamela Ivey Recognized Her Son Phil’s Poker Talents Early On
Long before Phil Ivey became renowned as one of the greatest poker players ever, his mother Pamela knew he was gifted at the game. This realization came 25 years ago in 2000 when the then 23-year-old Phil won $53,297 at the $500 buy-in First Annual Jack Binion World Poker Open in Mississippi – an amount exceeding Pamela’s yearly salary working in insurance at the time.
That April 2000 event was only Phil’s second recorded tournament cash on the Hendon Mob database. The final table included notables like 1983 WSOP Main Event runner-up Rod Peate and future 2021 WSOP Player of the Year Josh Arieh. Just a month later, Phil won his first WSOP bracelet, soon cementing his status as a poker icon.
Initially apprehensive about her son’s poker pursuits, Pamela changed her stance after witnessing his big score. “I didn’t think it was a good idea for him to play poker,” she told PokerNews. “But when he won fifty-something thousand dollars, and I was making close to 50 at the time, I thought, maybe it’s okay.”
The Ivey Poker Pedigree
In a 2019 Masterclass, Phil revealed learning poker from his grandfather who tried discouraging him by cheating. However, Pamela credits Phil’s uncle as the source of his talents. “My dad didn’t really play…My uncle was the gambler, my dad’s brother. Probably it was inherited from him.”
The competitive drive seems inherent in the Ivey family. Phil’s sister Cheyanne operates a successful consulting firm, while Pamela describes herself and her family as “very driven” who “go at it 100%” in their pursuits.
Different Stakes for Mom and Son
While Phil frequents high-stakes poker tournaments costing millions, Pamela plays $10 buy-in games locally in Las Vegas. “I’m very frugal. My kids call me cheap,” she said, acknowledging the vast difference from Phil’s game. For context, Pamela would need 100,000 buy-ins to match Phil’s $1 million entry into the 2024 WSOP Triton Million.
Despite his fame and high-roller lifestyle, Pamela insists Phil remains a caring son, even gifting her a $1 million condo. She played alongside Joey Ingram, one of few to interview the famously reclusive Phil, at a recent Charity Series of Poker event.
