Joe Hachem

08.01.2008

Winning the World Series of Poker in 2005 brought Joe Hachem the stunning amount of $7,5 million. Hachem, ,originally Lebanese, used to work as a chiropractor when ill health forced him to change his trade. He couldn't use his hands properly and he started working as a mortgage broker. At the same time he became more interested in poker and he played in a casino in Melbourne and also online in a fashion that could be called somewhat professional.

After his grand slam in the World Series of Poker a question of tax arose. He wasn't working as a chiropractor anymore but he also was not registered as a professional poker player. Today it stands clear that Hachem is indeed a professional player. In 2007 his total winnings were reported to be $10,400,000. This ranks him second after Jamie Gold when it comes to the top players in the world based on winnings. Having made such a sum on his gaming, Hachem could hardly report himself as anything else but a full time professional gambler today.

Other notable achievements in the world of poker by Hachem are: his appearance on Poker Superstars III, winning the World Series of Poker Champions II on NBC's Poker After Dark and earning a World Poker Tour title. In Poker After Dark he defeated such skilled players as Jamie Gold, Huck Seed and Johnny Chan. Since his great victory in the World Series of Poker Hachem has become a bit of a hero in the online chat room. This is something he muses about himself as it was quite the opposite in the beginning of his career. Back then people would comment and correct his play and now he is advising people how to become skilled players.

Like many of his fellow professional poker players Hachem has written a book about his life and gambling. The book is called Hachem Exposed and it was published in 2007. Not only does this book tell how he went from being a chiropractor to being a world famous poker player it also gives good advice for strategies. While the book might not rank the highest of the poker manuals available Joe Hachem himself is said to have started a poker boom in Australia. Perhaps we will see more masters from down under thanks to his success.

It is clear that family is the most important to Joe Hachem. This is also where he has invested his acquired wealth. He enjoys his family life, watching movies, eating in nice restaurants and the new cars that his winnings allow him to constantly update. Hachem claims that his life hasn't changed much though. He had the house and the cars before he made it big and he says that in fact it is his family and the happiness he gets from his life at home that has made him the success he is.