Fedor Holz

Childhood

Fedor Holz was born on July 25, 1993, in Saarbrücken, Germany, to a 17-year-old mother who later became a journalist. Raised in a modest household by his single mother, Holz grew up with two younger sisters. Despite financial challenges, he describes his childhood as loving, though he faced teasing at school due to their economic situation. Notably, Holz has an IQ of 155, but he often felt unmotivated academically and skipped school frequently.

Career

Holz’s introduction to poker came during his university years, where he initially studied informatics. He started playing casual games with friends and was inspired by their ability to earn significant sums online. At 18, he began playing online poker for real money, quickly progressing and earning several hundred euros per month. In 2012, Holz secured his first live cash, finishing second in the €500 No Limit Hold'em GPT II Deepstack Series Main Event in Rozvadov, Czech Republic.

By 2013, Holz left university to pursue poker full-time, embarking on a global journey to hone his skills. In 2014, after relocating to Vienna, he won $1.3 million in the World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP) Main Event under the alias "CrownUpGuy." Recognized as the best online tournament player in 2014 and 2015, Holz transitioned to live tournaments with remarkable success.

2016 marked a turning point: Holz won the Triton Super High Roller in the Philippines for over $3 million, finished second in the Super High Roller Bowl in Las Vegas for $3.5 million, and captured his first WSOP bracelet in the $111,111 High Roller for One Drop, earning nearly $5 million. That year, he amassed over $16 million in winnings and announced his retirement from professional poker, citing a lack of motivation for further self-improvement.

Despite his "retirement," Holz continued to compete at the highest levels. His largest single cash came in 2018, when he finished second in the $1,000,000 Big One for One Drop for $6 million. In 2020, he won his second WSOP bracelet in the $25,000 Heads Up No Limit Hold’em event. Holz has also served as a brand ambassador for GGPoker and contributed to the poker training platform Pokercode.

Personal life

Holz currently resides in Vienna, Austria. He is passionate about travel and the mountains. He maintains a private personal life, with little public information about his romantic relationships. After his first major win, Holz bought a house for his family in Germany.

Revenue

As of 2023, Fedor Holz’s career live tournament winnings exceed $40,200,000, making him the top German player on the all-time money list. His net worth is estimated between $32 million and $35 million, reflecting not only his tournament earnings but also his entrepreneurial ventures, including the poker training site Pokercode and the mental coaching app Primed Mind.

Interesting facts

• Holz was listed in Forbes’ 30 under 30 in Germany.
• He has an exceptionally high IQ of 155.
• He co-founded the mental coaching app Primed Mind in 2017.
• Despite announcing retirement in 2016, he remains highly active in the poker community as a player, coach, and ambassador.
• His online alias is "CrownUpGuy."
  

Legacy

Fedor Holz is recognized as one of the most successful and influential tournament poker players of his generation. His rapid ascent, strategic acumen, and contributions to poker education have inspired countless aspiring players. Holz’s legacy extends beyond his winnings, as he continues to shape the game through coaching, business, and media presence.