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Ryan Riess, famously nicknamed “Riess the Beast,” is an American professional poker player and the 2013 World Series of Poker Main Event Champion. Known for his supreme confidence and technical evolution, Riess is one of the few Main Event winners to successfully transition into a consistent high-stakes regular, amassing major titles across the WSOP and World Poker Tour (WPT).
Career Earnings & Biggest Results
With total live tournament earnings surpassing $16,941,000 (according to The Hendon Mob), Riess is the #1 ranked player on the Michigan All-Time Money List. His career-defining score of $8,361,570 came from his victory in the 2013 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event. Riess is a WSOP bracelet winner and a WPT champion, having captured the 2017 WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Finale for $716,088. He has remained highly competitive into 2026, recently recording a deep run in the WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open for $28,000. His sustained success in high-roller events and major championships contributes to an estimated poker net worth of over $12 million.
Biography & Poker Background
Born in 1990 in East Lansing, Michigan, Riess graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in business just months before his historic 2013 victory. His ascent was remarkably rapid; he recorded his first live cash in late 2012 and won the “Big One” on his very first attempt at age 23. Originally known for his bold declaration of being “the best player in the world” following his win, Riess has since matured into a respected veteran of the circuit. Now a resident of Las Vegas, he is known for his disciplined lifestyle and his ability to balance the freedom of the poker life with a rigorous study schedule. He remains a vocal fan of Detroit sports, often sporting a Calvin Johnson jersey during his most iconic final table runs.
Play Style & Strategy
Riess is renowned for a “purely confident and highly adaptive” play style. He describes confidence as the “weapon you can’t play poker without,” a philosophy that allows him to execute high-pressure bluffs in the world’s largest fields. While his 2013 win was fueled by a somewhat “naive” fearlessness, his modern strategy is deeply rooted in technical balance. He adjusts his approach based on the buy-in: utilizing GTO (Game Theory Optimal) principles in elite high-roller fields while shifting to a max-exploit, “chip-hunting” style in mass-field events like the WSOP Main Event. He is particularly effective at reading opponent tendencies and is willing to be “exploitable” if it means maximizing his chip gain. This strategic versatility has allowed him to avoid the “one-hit wonder” trap and remain a threat in WPT and Triton Poker Series events for over a decade.
Social Media & Online Presence
Want to follow “Riess the Beast” as he hunts for his second WSOP bracelet? You can do so here:
