Dan Bilzerian, the self-proclaimed ‘King of Instagram’ was born in 1980 in Tampa, Florida. His net worth is estimated to be around $200 million as of 2025.
However, whether from poker or other more nefarious endeavours, the source of his wealth is surrounded by controversy.
H2: Secret High Stakes vs Billionaires
Dan Bilzerian claims that all his wealth comes from high-stakes poker games. This claim is unusual and possibly his wildest poker bluff.
His only recorded live tournament cash is a 180th-place finish in the 2009 WSOP Main event for around $36,000.
Dan claims he made hundreds of millions in private high-stakes games against billionaires, which is conveniently impossible to verify.
In his best year, he made $50 million in profit from private cash games—an amount larger than even the best players have ever made.
If Dan’s stories are to be believed he is the most profitable poker player of all time, and it's not even close.
Dan’s Poker Ability
Dan's poker ability became the focus of attention, especially after streaming online heads-up cash on ACR in 2017. The quality of play didn't match Dan Bilzerian's claims of essentially being the best poker player of all time.
According to Doug Polk's analysis, there was some 'serious button clicking' involved, and Dan was clearly a 'fish in the water'.
Bilzerian later dismissed Doug's comments, saying that he is a much better player than Doug since he has made more money.
This is what a day in the life of Dan Bilzerian looks like:
— Tim Carden (@timjcarden) August 2, 2024
• Waking up in a $65M mansion
• Breakfast with 10 models
• Afternoon: shooting machine guns
• Evening: high-stakes poker
Let's be honest: We've all wanted his lifestyle at some point.
But how does he do it? pic.twitter.com/rFXLHd32g9
Throughout the streamed event Bilzerian could be seen constantly asking Bill Perkins what he thought was the best play. The poker term for this is ghosting and it is against the terms and conditions of online poker sites since it is a form of collusion.
Dan's comments on the game throughout were non-technical and did not indicate a player who understood the game at a high level.
Dan ended the session down around $30,000 (15 buy-ins), not including the $5,000 side wager he made with Bill Perkins during the session. Perkins made an even-money wager with Dan that Villain was not bluffing in a specific river scenario.
Good players know that calling rivers can be correct even if Villain is bluffing less than half the time due to pot odds. Making an even-money wager that Villain is bluffing is not a smart choice without precise information.
It’s just another indication that Dan was not thinking about poker in an advanced way.
The Self-Made Man
Dan describes himself as a “self-made” millionaire who made his millions from poker. The reality is that Dan was raised in an extremely wealthy family.
His father, Paul Bilzerian, was extravagantly wealthy and eventually became known for shady stock market dealings. He was indicted for tax and security fraud in the late 1980s.
In 1993, Paul was required to pay the SEC a massive $63 million judgment but found ways to avoid paying. Part of his evasion strategy involved a comparative poker cheat sheet manoeuvre. Daddy Bilzerian supposedly placed close to $100 million in a trust fund for Dan and his brother Adam.
Many have claimed that Bilzerian's wealth is derived from the trust fund, not his poker prowess.
Instagram Rise to Fame
Dan opened his Instagram in 2010, and his followers skyrocketed in 2012, eventually reaching tens of millions. His Instagram depicts a larger-than-life lifestyle featuring skimpily clad models, private jets, yachts, expensive cars, mansions, luxury vacations and gratuitous use of military equipment.
Although Dan cites poker as the source of his funds, his Instagram took off around the same time that a big part of his trust fund would have been made available. However, Dan initially claimed that he never touched the trust fund.
This is Dan Bilzerian.
— Cleopatra | Seduce Her 💋 (@SeduceCleopatra) June 29, 2024
Trained for 500 days before dropping out of the Navy SEALS. Made MILLIONS in high stakes Poker.
One of the most controversial guys in the past 10 years.
But there’s more to his crazy story than he lets on… pic.twitter.com/xYMZ6BynSm
Dan received criticisms and accusations that his Instagram account portrayed a fake lifestyle. For example, he claimed that the many women featured on his Instagram followed him out of choice, whereas sources later revealed that they were all on a payroll.
Another example is his luxurious Bel-Air mansion, which is valued at approximately $65 million. The property, located in Los Angeles, features 12 bedrooms, 24 bathrooms, a 40-seat home theatre, and a rooftop infinity pool.
| Later, we discovered Dan did not own this mansion. He rented it for $200,000 per month and did not even pick up the tab himself. Instead, he claimed the rental fees as a business expense through his company, Ignite. |
Ignite – The CBD Company
In 2017, Dan founded Ignite International Brands, which markets CBD products, beverages, and apparel.
Ignite received investor funds and large amounts from his dad, Paul Bilzerian, which Dan arguably squandered on Ignite's "business expenses.”
These expenses included his luxury Bel-Air mansion, the payroll for models, and many lifestyle expenses such as private jets, yachts, and luxury vacations. It appeared that anything with an Ignite logo could be written off as a business expense, regardless of whether it related to the business.
Ignite now faces criminal and civil investigations of accounting fraud in the United States, and is under regulatory investigation in Canada, a court filing has revealed.https://t.co/OY7OR5ocJh pic.twitter.com/si7gUvm19c
— The Globe and Mail (@globeandmail) August 30, 2022
- In 2019, the SEC filed charges against Ignite due to an alleged scheme to falsify financial records.
- In 2021, Dan’s holding company, Blitz NV, filed for bankruptcy, contradicting the wealthy and successful image he had been projecting on Instagram.
The bankruptcy proceedings revealed high expenses, extensive financial support from his family, and legal battles with other businesses.
H2: Navy Seal and Active Shooter Controversies
Many controversies surround Dan’s persona, perhaps providing a witness to his general character.
In October 2017, Dan was on the scene of an active shooter during the Las Vegas music festival. Video footage shows him trying to borrow a gun from a police officer. Ultimately, Dan ended up creating a distraction, preventing the police officer from giving full focus to a life-or-death situation.
Dan felt qualified to ask for a weapon due to his training. Dan claims to have undergone 510 days of Navy SEAL training. While the fact that he has undergone some SEAL training is verified, his accounts are potentially overly dramatized.
Dan Bilzerian;
— SID-INT (@I_N_TS_I_D) July 9, 2022
Bilzerian entered the Navy SEAL training program in 2000; however, after several attempts, he did not graduate. He was reportedly dropped from the program for a « safety violation on the shooting range » pic.twitter.com/ka9DqiCmJe
For example, Dan claimed to have made it through Navy SEAL hell week with two broken legs. Dan’s claims have naturally met with scepticism. Navy SEAL training is rigorous and physically demanding. Medical disqualifications are taken seriously to ensure the safety of trainees.
It's unlikely that someone with such severe injuries would be allowed to continue training. This physical injury could lead to permanent damage or compromise the integrity of the program.
Although Dan underwent training, he did not ultimately qualify as a Navy SEAL for disciplinary reasons – apparently due to a safety violation on the shooting range. In a similar incident earlier in his life, Dan was expelled from the University of Florida for bringing both a machine gun and shotgun onto the campus.
Vanessa Castano – Military Boot to the Face
In 2014, Dan Bilzerian was accused of kicking a woman, Vanessa Castano, in the face at a Miami nightclub. Castano claimed that Bilzerian while wearing what resembled military boots, kicked her during an altercation on stage.
Bilzerian argued that he was trying to help another woman and that Castano was blocking him. The incident led to a lawsuit and a criminal investigation.
Bilzerian denied the allegations, stating that surveillance footage showed he didn't kick anyone. The criminal investigation was eventually closed without charges, although the civil case remained unresolved at the time.
Bilzerian from 2020 Onwards
In December 2020, online poker site GGPoker signed Dan as an influencer. This move generated an immediate negative response due to the controversy surrounding Bilzerian. Dan ultimately created zero promotional materials for the site, with the deal ending in 2022.
In the years leading up to 2025, Dan has taken a step back from both poker and social media. In recent interviews, he laments how his extravagant lifestyle did not buy him happiness.
He has concluded that a simple lifestyle, including a monogamous relationship, brings him more happiness than his previous rock and roll approach.
It's impossible to say conclusively how truthful Dan's claims about poker are. However, no one can question his influence on both poker players and his millions of Instagram followers.
