Would Elon Musk Make a Good Poker Player? Former Aide Igor Kurganov Gives Answer

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Dec 18, 2024 4 min read

Have you ever wondered if Elon Musk would be a skilled poker player? Igor Kurganov, one of his former aides, answered that question in an interview with PokerNews on Day 3 of the $10,400 WPT World Championship (WPTWC)...And told the story of when he almost played the world's richest person for one million DOGE coins.

Kurganov, who has over $18 million in live tournament cashes, may not be a regular on the poker circuit these days, but for the past three years, he has made a point to appear at the WPT World Championships at Wynn Las Vegas — a decision that has paid off.

On Tuesday, Russia's all-time money list leader achieved an impressive milestone, cashing in WPT's premier tournament for the third consecutive year. This feat places him in exclusive company alongside Michael Gathy, as the only other player to finish in-the-money in all three editions of the WPTWC. Kurganov secured a 31st-place finish in 2022 for $119,300, followed by a 48th-place finish in 2023, earning $111,300.

His run this time around ended more prematurely than he's used to, as he was eliminated on Day 3. Still, his $29,500 payout from a 144th-place finish shows Kurganov remains a force to be reckoned with despite his reduced poker schedule.

Since spending more time away from poker, Kurganov, who has been in a decade-long relationship with poker player Liv Boeree, has focused on philanthropy and artificial intelligence (AI). Notably, he briefly served as an advisor to Musk and was reportedly instrumental in managing $5.7 billion in Tesla shares allocated for philanthropic endeavors.

Ahead of his departure, PokerNews caught up with Kurganov, who shared his thoughts on Musk's growing influence in U.S. public affairs and whether the tech mogul might make a good poker player. He even recounted an anecdote about a near-miss poker game that would have featured himself, Musk, and Phil Hellmuth.

Kurganov Optimistic of Musk's Inclusion in Trump's America

Since the confirmation of the United States presidential election results, President-Elect Donald Trump has been actively shaping his administration, and one notable appointment includes a role for Musk, signalling a significant partnership with the 47th President of the United States.

"Having his mind involved with the government has to be massively beneficial to the U.S.”

Trump has announced the creation of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which he plans to be overseen by Musk and former political rival Vivek Ramaswamy. Kurganov expressed optimism about Musk playing a role in the US Government.

“I have very high hopes for the U.S.,” Kurganov said of the collaboration between Trump and Musk. “What better thing can you hope for than the most capable entrepreneur we’ve seen this century? Having his mind involved with the government has to be massively beneficial to the U.S.”

During Kurganov's time alongside Musk, the duo seldom spoke poker, but a game between the two and Phil Hellmuth nearly took place.

“I don’t think he would make a good player. What’s his incentive to play, right?”

"There was one situation once where Phil Hellmuth was around as well, and we nearly played. Hellmuth wanted to play, and I wanted to play Hellmuth heads up. Elon was around as well, and we suggested a heads up, but for 1 million DOGE coins," Kurganov recalled.

Unfortunately for poker fans, that match-up never materialized. "Hellmuth, in the end, didn't play but I hope that he comes back and we do play the one million DOGE heads-up game."

When asked if Musk would be a good poker player, Kurganov was quick to respond. “I don’t think he would make a good player. What’s his incentive to play, right?”

Supporting Boeree from More than 2,000 Miles Away

While Kurganov focused on preserving his chip stack, his girlfriend, Liv Boeree, was busy making waves in the WSOP Paradise Super Main Event. Boeree's in the midst of a remarkable run, and booked her spot on the final table after she eliminated 2023 WSOP Main Event champion Chris Moneymaker on the FT bubble.

"I hope not to receive any text messages because that's a good thing," Kurganov mentioned, referring to his communications with Boeree.

However, when Boeree found herself at the same table as high roller phenom Michael Addamo, she contacted Kurganov for advice.

“She just got to the table with Addamo and asked me if there are any tips,” Kurganov explained.

Kurganov wasn't sure what insight he could provide but asked the wider community if they could provide any pointers.

“I don’t know if anyone has any tips against Addamo, but please let us know. He’s just incredibly tough to play against. But at the same time, it’s really fun to watch.”

Calum has been a part of the PokerNews team since September 2021 after working in the UK energy sector. He played his first hand of poker in 2017 and immediately fell in love with the game. Calum has written for various poker outlets but found his home at PokerNews, where he has contributed to various articles and live updates, providing insights and reporting on major poker events, including the World Series of Poker (WSOP).

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