You'll Never Guess Jonathan Tamayo's First Purchase with $10M Main Event Score

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Dec 20, 2024 5 min read

What would you do if you won $10 million? Would you splash out on a luxury car, upgrade your home, or take the ultimate vacation? For 2024 World Series of Poker Main Event champion Jonathan Tamayo, none of those indulgences topped his list.

During the World Poker Tour World Championships, Tamayo sat down with PokerNews and shared the scoop on some of his purchases thus far. He also reflected on his time as the reigning Poker World Champion, "solver-gate", and gave his opinion on the WSOP's new electronic device rules.

What Did Tamayo Splurge On?

With eight figures in the bank (okay, maybe not quite eight after taxes), what does a world champion of poker do with their newfound wealth? Back in poker’s early days, a large portion of that fortune might have gone towards some of life's vices, and Tamayo's experience was no exception—though perhaps not quite to the extremes of some of poker’s more legendary figures.

“The first thing I bought was a 10-pound box of Jelly Bellies. All lemon,” Tamayo confessed. “So, there’s diabetes for you.”

“I have a car that runs. It’s a 2019 Honda, and it runs fine."

That little splurge cost him less than $100, but he didn’t stop there. He also decided to upgrade his golfing kit with a new set of clubs, ringing in at around $4,000.

"I was already going to replace my driver and my bag with my golf clubs," Tamayo explained. "At that point, I said let's just do the whole set because some of the clubs, the irons, I tend not to change out that often. You don't need to. They're seven years old, and my swing has changed...That was four grand."

When it comes to big-ticket items, Tamayo keeps things grounded. “I have a car that runs. It’s a 2019 Honda, and it runs fine. I don’t need a new car. I tell people, I might be rich now, but I’m not ‘four Ferraris’ rich.”

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What's Tamayo Been Up To?

For most people, winning the Main Event would mean leaving behind the routines of everyday life, but for Tamayo, it was important to stay grounded.

“So right after, I went back to refereeing high school football in Texas because that's what I do,” Tamayo explained. “You can't leave your crew high and dry with that. I stayed the season, and I'm still going to do it because I need something else to do because I have a lot more time on my hands.”

"One of my friends told me it's kind of cool to know you right now"

The transition to post-Main Event life brought other changes, particularly to his poker routine. “The hours of cash that I was playing, mid-stakes cash, just isn't a thing anymore. I don't need to do it,” he admitted.

“The other adjustment is how do I study now? Because now studying is different. Like, the network is different now. And just not being complacent because you always try to get to the top of the mountain, but you never think you'll get there. And now you're there—for my goals, at least.”

While the prestige of winning poker’s biggest tournament is undeniable, Tamayo was candid about the unexpected challenges of being in the spotlight. “Winning the main; it's not a realistic goal for anybody. But now I'm there. So the attention is an adjustment because usually, I'm the quiet one at the table. So, like, nobody even knew I existed half the time.”

"We're not going to clubs and strip clubs and stuff like that. But one of my friends told me it's kind of cool to know you right now, which is a weird thing to say."

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Tamayo In Favor of New WSOP Rules

Tamayo's triumph did come with a wave of controversy. As he was on the WSOP Main Event final table, he ran back and forth to his rail, where his crew had solvers running. While Tamayo didn't break any rules per se, many argued that it was a bad look for poker and gave a bad image to the game.

To avoid this issue in the future, the WSOP implemented a new rule regarding real-time assistance. Rule 63b reads:

"I'm fine with any changes, basically. It’s clear now what you can and can’t do."

"Players and spectators are not allowed to use charts, apps, or any other form of electronic assistance in the tournament room. Failure to adhere to this policy will result in a penalty up to disqualification for the player and removal from the tournament room for the spectator. Spectators are also prohibited from providing live assistance or coaching. Failure to adhere to this rule will result in a penalty for the player and removal from the rail for the spectator. Non-players on the rail must adhere to the **WSOP Terms & Conditions, including no viewing of live streams on an electronic device."

If this rule had been in place during the 2024 WSOP Main Event final table, Tamayo's rail would have been removed from the tournament area.

Reflecting on the controversy and the rule change, Tamayo was pragmatic. “Given the anger afterwards, it's probably a good thing,” he admitted.

“I'm one of those who think, give us the rules of the game, and we work around those rules so that they're clear. In the NFL, before the fourth-down fumble rule, the Raiders were able to fumble the ball down the field for a touchdown. They closed that loophole. I'm fine with any changes, basically. It’s clear now what you can and can’t do. And it’s the same for everybody. It’s the same for everybody every year. As long as it is the same for everybody, I don’t have a problem with whatever they do.”

How Has Tamayo Performed at the Tables Since?

Since becoming the "Ten Million Dollar Man," Tamayo's tournament results have been modest in the months that followed.

In August, he secured a 10th-place finish in a $600 event at the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open (SHRPO), adding $1,870 to his bankroll. A week later, he bolstered his live earnings with a $13,450 payday at Champion Club Houston, his local cardroom.

October brought a $3,000 cash from a smaller event, but it was Tamayo's deep run in the $5,300 NAPT Main Event that stood out, earning him a solid $26,000 payout.

At the WPTWC, Tamayo has just notched his first cash of the series in the $3K NLH event. He was among the 195 players to advance to Day 2, securing a min-cash of $6,515. He entered the next stage in 58th place on the chip leaderboard, where $702,844 from the $4,317,500 prize pool has been set aside for the winner.

Stay updated on Tamayo's journey by following WPT live reporting.

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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