The FC Barcelona star had just won €17,810 (over $20,000) after showing the best possible hand—a royal flush—in poker. Neymar showed off his winning hand on Instagram.
That poker haul is amazing, for us mere mortals. For Neymar, however, that’s not even 1 percent of what he makes this year. According to Forbes, the 23-year-old Brazilian superstar will haul in an estimated $31 million in salary and endorsement deals.
This footballer is not a new hand in the game of online poker. A known poker fan, Neymar has recently signed up to become the new ambassador for Amaya Gaming’s marquee online gambling site, PokerStars.
During the announcement, Neymar said winning on the felt required the same skills—mental strength, resilience, patience, composure and focus—that made him a star on the field. Neymar has over 18 million Twitter followers and 51.2 million Facebook fans, giving PokerStars a megaphone it can use to promote the brand.
Neymar joins Brazilian footballer Ronaldo, tennis star Rafael Nadal and Dutch field hockey captain Fatima Moreira de Melo on PokerStars’ Team SporStars roster. He can be found online under the user ID ‘neymar-jr’ and had recently participated in “Celebrity Duels” at the European Poker Tour’s 12th season kickoff event in Barcelona.
