High Stakes Poker: Wealthy Amateurs and Pros Battle It Out

The High Stakes Poker show continues with a mix of wealthy amateurs and professional players. The organizers of HSP decided to compensate for the loss of top professionals by inviting wealthy amateurs to the table. In the first five episodes, three amateurs were featured: Robert Croak, Bill Klein, and Phil Raffin.

Robert Croak, the creator of Silly Bandz, has a net worth of $200 million from 2010 sales. He also has stakes in Marcos Pizza, BCP Imports, and Verso Group Enterprises. Croak has been playing poker for 10 years and is often seen in casinos like Bellagio, Wynn, and Aria. He describes himself as a loose-aggressive player.

Bill Klein, a former successful businessman, sold all his assets after being diagnosed with throat cancer. After successful treatment, he has been cancer-free for the past seven years. Klein spends 120-140 days a year in Las Vegas, playing high-stakes blackjack and poker. He donates all his winnings to charity. Phil Raffin, a 75-year-old businessman, plays poker at an amateur level. In 2007, he sold the New Frontier casino and hotel in Las Vegas for $1.2 billion. His net worth is estimated at $2 billion by Forbes. Raffin owns 12 hotels across the country, two dog racing tracks, and has a stake in the Trump International Hotel and Tower in Las Vegas. He also owns an island on the Bahamas covering 12 acres.