Tony G

Tony G

Tony G Lithuanian-Australian poker player with over $11.3 million in career earnings. Born Antanas Guoga, he has built up a reputation as a charismatic businessman and philanthropist, as well as a member of the European Parliament from Lithuania (2014-19). In 2005, Tony G founded PokerNews, as well as several other poker affiliate sites.

In 2021, Tony G retired from the Lithuanian Parliament and has since racked up numerous cashes including at the 2021 Super High Roller Series in Cyprus.

In April 2024, Tony G was the third-ever guest on PokerNews' Life Outside Poker podcast show hosted by Connor Richards. Tony G spoke about growing up in Lithuania, founding PokerNews in the early 2000s, getting into European politics later in life and his favourite televised poker moments.

He also opened up about clashing with players like Phil Hellmuth in televised games and even issued a heads-up challenge to the Poker Brat. Will Hellmuth take him on, or is he, like Tony G said, "afraid to ever play me again?"

Read More: Top 5 Most Memorable Tony G Poker Hands

Tony G Background

Born in 1973 in Lithuania, “Tony G” moved to Australia just before his teenage years and began playing poker a few years later.

His first recorded cashes were in Austria in 2002, and his first WSOP cash came two years later, with cashes in seven-card stud and pot-limit hold'em.

In 2004, he finished second to Howard Lederer in the €10,000 Grand Prix de Paris WPT event for €339,930, before winning the European Poker Championships in London a year later for £260,000.

Throughout the mid-2000s, Tony G appeared and cashed numerous times on the partypoker Premier League Poker TV show.

In 2010, he became a partypoker Ambassador, only to leave and become an ambassador for TonyBet.com three years later.

In 2014, Tony G became a Member of the European Parliament, representing Lithuania's Liberal party.

“I think that Lithuanian politics needs new people and new blood and I want to change policy,” Guoga stated during his campaign’s launch in October of 2013. “I have been fortunate enough myself to be reasonably successful in my life and I have new ideas and hope to inspire others to come into politics, too. I think I can bring a lot to the table with my experience in life and business.”

In 2019, Tony G sought re-election to the European Parliament but was unsuccessful. He subsequently quit the Lithuanian Parliament in 2021.

Tony G Poker History

According to The Hendon Mob, Tony G recorded zero live poker cashes between 2014 and 2017. Since then, however, he appears to have made up for lost time.

In 2019, he won the partypoker LIVE MILLIONS Europe Triton Short Deck Event for €237,250, and signaled to the world that a return to the poker world may be on the cards.

“I guess I’m going to keep studying the game now and see if I can take on the best players in the future,” he said. “My game is behind at the moment because I’ve been in politics for five years. I’m dedicated to serving my country, but now I’m back in poker and enjoying life again.”

Later that year, he finished fourth in the WSOP Europe with €250,000 in Super High Roller for €799,045. In 2021, he again made it into the top stories of the year, with two stunning victories at the Super High Roller Series in Cyprus, for over $1.5 million combined.

In 2022, Tony G finished seventh in a €75,000 Triton Pokr Series Madrid NLHE event for €241,000 before finishing as the runner-up in the €100,000 NL Short Deck Main Event at the same series for €1,305,000 ($1,389,436), a new career best.

Is Tony G Good at Poker?

Tony G's net worth owes a great deal to his poker successes. On top of his $11 million in live tournament earnings—much of which he earned in high roller events—he has won additional funds in cash games.

Tony G - Top 5 Best Poker Results

How Did Tony G Make His Money?

Tony G's considerable net worth comes in part from poker, in part from his businesses, and part from his work as a politician in Lithuania.

Tony G has over $11 million in live tournament winnings and no doubt more from cash games. He is also the CEO of Cyberphunk Holdings and owns a stake in several poker and blockchain-related businesses.

Tony G Family

Tony G has a total of six children, including two sons with his current wife.

Tony G Wife - Is Tony G Married?

Tony G is married to model Aistė Šlapokaitė.

Does Tony G Have Children?

Tony G has two sons, Herkus and Taurus, with wife Aistė Šlapokaitė. He also has three daughters and a son from previous relationships.

Tony G Political Career

Tony G’s political career began in 2014 when he was elected as a member of the European Parliament to represent Lithuania. As an MEP, Guoga played a part in shaping EU policies, particularly in the online gambling space. Tony G's background in business and poker brought a unique perspective to politics, and he was known for his outspoken approach.

Funniest Tony G Moments

Tony G vs. Ralph Perry
Tony G faced off against Ralph Perry in 2006 at the International Poker Championships in Las Vegas.

"I Got the Heart!"

Rob Yong was another in the long line of players that got into it at the poker table with Tony G. This time it was the Big Game in Germany. Despite the fact that Yong lost the hand on the river, Tony G's loud demeanor eventually got a smile out of him.

Tony G Bullies a Call, Loses
Tony G bullied Roland de Wolfe into calling with ace-eight, but his sevens are no good when De Wolfe turns an ace.

Telling Fibs to Phil
The Hellmuth-Tony G rivalry is tried and true, and no more funny than in this moment. Tony G claims he hasn't seen his cards and Hellmuth called with ace-jack. Tony G tables the suited ace-king to a classic Hellmuth reaction.

Tony G v Phil Hellmuth

Tony G FAQs