How much did Lucas Jumalon actually receive for his victory at the WSOP 2026?

Find out how much Lucas Jumalon actually took home after winning the WSOP 2026 Main Event, taking into account taxes and deductions.

In July 2026, the Main Event of the World Series of Poker (WSOP Main Event) with a $10,000 buy-in concluded, traditionally attracting the strongest players from around the globe. This year, the victory went to Lucas Jumalon from Washington State, who officially received $10,000,000 in prize money. However, as every year, the actual amount finalists take home after taxes is significantly different from the announced prizes. Let’s break down how much the final table participants really received, what taxes they had to pay, and why Canadian citizens ended up in the best position. WSOP 2026 Final Table: Who Won How Much and What Was Left After Taxes The WSOP Main Event is the largest annual event in the poker world, bringing together thousands of participants and awarding multi-million dollar prizes. In 2026, nine players split $30,250,000 among themselves. However, as noted by federal tax expert Russell Fox from Clayton Financial and Tax (Las Vegas), a significant portion of this money goes to the government in the form of various taxes. His annual analysis helps to understand how much players actually keep after all mandatory payments. The table below shows the official payouts and the amounts players will receive after taxes (according to Fox’s estimates). It should be noted that these amounts do not include possible payments to backers—investors who may have financed the players’ participation. WSOP Main Event 2026 Final Table Payouts After Taxes 1st place: Lucas Jumalon (USA, Washington) — $10,000,000 (taxes: $3,990,826, take-home: $6,009,174) 2nd place: Lauri Saaskilahti (Finland, residing in Spain) — $6,000,000 (taxes: ~$2,773,000 in Spain, take-home: ~$3,227,000) 3rd place: Greg "FBT" Mueller (Canada) — $3,750,000 (taxes: ~$1,122,000 in Canada, take-home: $2,628,000) 4th place: Michael Gagliano (USA, New Jersey) — $2,750,000 (taxes: $1,330,683, take-home: $1,419,317) 5th place: Not specified in the original 6th place: Rami Hammoud (Canada) — $1,750,000 (taxes: $522,000 in the USA, take-home: $1,228,000) 7th place: Jamie Shaevel (USA, California) — $1,500,000 (taxes: $157,127 to California, $598,373 federal, take-home: $744,500) 8th-9th places: Not specified in the original Out of the $30,250,000 paid out at the final table, approximately $12,273,963 will go to various government agencies in the form of taxes. Why the Canadians Came Out Ahead Special attention should be paid to the two Canadian representatives—Greg "FBT" Mueller and Rami Hammoud. Their tax situation turned out to be more favorable than that of most other finalists. Greg "FBT" Mueller — finished third and received $3,750,000. Since he is considered a semi-professional player, a tax rate of about 30% applies to him in Canada. After taxes, he takes home $2,628,000. Rami Hammoud — sixth place, $1,750,000. He works as an analyst in Montreal and is considered an amateur, so he does not pay Canadian taxes on his winnings. However, under US law, as a foreigner, he is required to pay 30% to the IRS, which is $522,000, and takes home $1,228,000. Thus, the Canadians’ tax burden was noticeably lower than that of the American finalists, especially compared to residents of high-tax states. Finnish Runner-Up: Spanish Taxes vs. US Taxes Second place went to Lauri Saaskilahti—a Finnish player residing in Spain. His prize was $6,000,000. Thanks to a treaty between the US and Spain to avoid double taxation, he does not have to pay taxes in the US. However, the Spanish tax authority Egencia Tributaria charges him about $2,773,000, so Saaskilahti takes home around $3,227,000. The difference between his payout and Mueller’s (third place) after taxes is only about $600,000, even though the nominal prize difference was $2,250,000. American Players: Taxes Eat Up Half the Winnings For US residents, the tax burden turned out to be the highest, especially for those living in states with high income tax rates. Lucas Jumalon — winner, 22 years old, Washington State. In total, federal and self-employment taxes amounted to $3,990,826, which is a rate of 39.91%. He took home $6,009,174. Michael Gagliano — fourth place, New Jersey. Paid $1,330,683 (48.39% of his winnings), leaving $1,419,317. Jamie Shaevel — seventh place, California. He owes $157,127 to the state of California (just over 10% of $1,500,000), and federal taxes amounted to another $598,373. As a result, his total tax burden was 50.37%, the highest among the finalists. He took home $744,500. Thus, American players, especially those from California and New Jersey, lose almost half of their prize money to taxes. Who Is Lucas Jumalon and Why His Victory Matters Lucas Jumalon is a 22-year-old player from Washington who became the second youngest WSOP Main Event champion in history and the first from his state to win this title. He has stated his intention to become a poker ambassador, so this may not be his last major success. Despite having the largest win among the finalists, his tax rate was average for the table—39.91%. After all government payments, he took home $6,009,174, not counting possible obligations to backers. Overall Result: Tax Rules Determine the Real Winnings In total, out of the $30,250,000 awarded at the final table, more than $12,273,963 went to taxes—almost 41% of the entire amount. At the same time, the size of the tax burden depends on citizenship, place of residence, and even the player’s professional status. Canadians and Europeans living outside the US often find themselves in a more favorable position than American professionals, especially those from high-tax states. What This Means for PPPoker Club Players For PPPoker club members, this story is a clear example of how important it is to consider the tax consequences of large winnings. Even if you play online or in private clubs, significant sums can lead to tax obligations that seriously affect your final profit. If you plan to participate in live series or major online tournaments, study your country’s tax laws and any double taxation treaties in advance. For players from countries with low or no taxes on poker winnings, this can be a significant advantage. Additionally, many professionals work with backers or investors, which also affects the final payout amount. Transparency and proper documentation of financial relationships with backers, as well as consulting with tax specialists, are an important part of a professional approach to poker that allows you to keep more of your winnings and avoid unpleasant surprises.