{{Short description|American businessman and poker player (born 1970)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}} {{Infobox poker player |name=Cary Katz |image=Cary Katz 2018.jpg |caption=Katz in 2018 |birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1970|01|29}} |hometown= |wsop bracelet count=1 |wsop money finishes=46 |wsop main event best finish rank=159th |wsop main event best finish year=2009 |multi-year wsop winner= |wpt titles=0 |wpt final tables=1 |wpt money finishes=6 |ept titles= |ept final tables= |ept money finishes= |updated=2021-07-22 }}
'''Cary Steven Katz''' (born January 29, 1970) is an American businessman and poker player.
==Career== Katz graduated from [[University of Georgia]] with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration. In 1999, he founded the College Loan Corporation, where he was CEO for 15 years. The company was the seventh largest student loan company in the United States providing $19 billion in loans.<ref name="poke_Cary">{{Cite web| title = Cary Katz — CEO, College Loan Corporation| author = Holloway, Chad| work = PokerNews| date = July 1, 2012| access-date = February 26, 2018| url = https://www.pokernews.com/tours/wsop/2012-world-series-of-poker/event-55-the-big-one-for-one-drop-no-limit-hold-em/post.207185.htm}}</ref>
Katz started the conservative media website CRTV in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.salon.com/2017/03/04/conservative-feud-right-wing-pundit-mark-steyn-sues-student-loan-billionaire-cary-katz-for-canceling-his-web-tv-show/|title=Conservative feud: Right-wing pundit Mark Steyn sues after student-loan billionaire Cary Katz cancels his web show|first=Matthew|last=Sheffield|date=March 4, 2017|website=Salon.com|access-date=December 9, 2021}}</ref> In 2018, he filed a lawsuit against CRTV over alleged non-payment of a $20 million loan.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ferrera |first=David |date=April 28, 2018 |title=Las Vegas billionaire sues conservative media outlet over $20M loan |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/local-las-vegas/las-vegas-billionaire-sues-conservative-media-outlet-over-20m-loan/ |access-date=December 9, 2021 |website=ReviewJournal.com}}</ref>
In October 2015, Katz founded the website [[Poker Central]] which launched subscription-based streaming service [[PokerGO]].<ref name="vari_Poke">{{Cite web| title = Poker Central Bets on $10 Monthly Subscription Video Service| last = Spangler | first = Todd| work = Variety| date = May 22, 2017| access-date = February 26, 2018| url = https://variety.com/2017/digital/news/poker-central-pokergo-subscription-video-1202439546/}}</ref> Katz also created high roller tournaments including [[Super High Roller Bowl]], [[Poker Masters]], and the [[U.S. Poker Open]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=April 7, 2015|title=$25 Million Super High Roller Bowl® Announced|url=https://www.pokergonews.com/articles/25-million-super-high-roller-bowl-announced/|access-date=July 23, 2021|website=PokerGO News|language=en-US}}</ref>
He currently serves as chairman of the non-profit organization Stop Child Predators.<ref name="lasv_L.V.">{{Cite web| title = L.V. executive keeps low profile, makes big donations to Sandoval, far-right causes| author = Frank, Ryan| work = LasVegasSun.com| date = August 31, 2014| access-date = February 26, 2018| url = https://lasvegassun.com/news/2014/aug/31/low-profile-las-vegas-executive/}}</ref>
Katz is married to Jackie Katz and they have six children together and currently reside in [[Las Vegas|Las Vegas, Nevada]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cary Katz {{!}} Home|url=https://carykatz.com/|access-date=July 23, 2021|website=carykatz.com|language=en}}</ref>
==Poker== Katz learned poker from his grandmother and began playing live tournaments competitively in 2004.<ref name="wsop_CARY">{{Cite web| title = CARY KATZ| work = wsop.com| access-date = February 26, 2018| url = http://www.wsop.com/players/profile/?playerID=695}}</ref>
In August 2005, Katz finished 21st in the $5,000 [[World Poker Tour]] Legends of Poker Main Event, earning $20,850.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Main Tour The Bicycle Casino Legends of Poker Season 2005-2006 |website=Worldpokertour.com|url=https://www.worldpokertour.com/event/the-bicycle-casino-legends-of-poker-season-2005-2006/|access-date=July 23, 2021|language=en-US}}</ref> In 2009, Katz finished 159th in the [[2009 World Series of Poker]] Main Event, earning $40,288.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cary Katz |url=https://www.wsop.com/players/profile/?playerid=695 |access-date=July 23, 2021 |website=WSOP.com}}</ref>
In January 2013, Katz entered the [[PokerStars Caribbean Adventure]] $100,000 high roller event, finishing fourth for $543,800.<ref name="poke_$100">{{Cite web| title = $100,000 Super High Roller| author = Bandana, Santana| work = PokerNews| date = January 8, 2013| access-date = February 26, 2018| url = https://www.pokernews.com/tours/psca/2013-pokerstars-caribbean-adventure/100-000-super-high-roller/}}</ref> Later that year, he finished runner up to [[Davidi Kitai]] at the [[2013 World Series of Poker]] $5,000 Pot Limit Hold'em event.<ref name="card_Davi">{{Cite web| title = Davidi Kitai Wins Second World Series Of Poker Bracelet| author = Pempus, Brian| work = Card Player| date = June 12, 2013| access-date = February 26, 2018| url = https://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/15721-davidi-kitai-wins-second-world-series-of-poker-bracelet}}</ref>
In 2014, Katz played in the $1,000,000 [[Big One for One Drop]], where he finished eighth, earning $1,306,667.<ref name="poke_Cary2">{{Cite web| title = Cary Katz Eliminated in 8th Place ($1,306,607)| author = Bandana, Santana| work = PokerNews| date = July 1, 2014| access-date = February 26, 2018| url = https://www.pokernews.com/tours/wsop/2014-wsop/event-57/chips.96489.htm}}</ref> The tournament had a memorable hand where Katz's {{cards|As|Ah}} cracked Connor Drinan's {{cards|Ac|Ad}} after both were all in pre-flop. The board ran out {{cards|2d|Kh|5h|4h|2h}}, giving Katz an ace-high flush.<ref name="bost_Poke">{{Cite web| title = Poker Player Loses $1 Million in the Worst Way Possible| author = Dzen, Gary| work = Boston.com| date = July 30, 2014| access-date = February 26, 2018| url = https://www.boston.com/sports/untagged/2014/07/30/poker-player-loses-1-million-in-the-worst-way-possible/}}</ref><ref name="sbna_Watc">{{Cite web| title = Watch the bad beat that cost a poker player $1M| author = Dator, James| work = SBNation.com| date = July 30, 2014| access-date = February 26, 2018| url = https://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2014/7/30/5951589/espn-wsop-bad-beat-1-million-connor-drinan}}</ref>
Katz plays in Las Vegas high roller events hosted at the [[Aria Casino]].<ref name="card_Cary">{{Cite web| title = Cary Katz, Dan Smith and Brian Rast Win 2017 February Aria High Rollers| author = Fast, Erik| work = Card Player| date = February 6, 2017| access-date = February 26, 2018| url = https://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/21310-cary-katz-dan-smith-and-brian-rast-win-2017-february-aria-high-rollers}}</ref> In January 2018, Cary Katz won his first major poker tournament, placing first in a field of 48 entries to win the PCA Super High Roller and earning $1,492,340.<ref name="card_Cary2">{{Cite web| title = Cary Katz Wins 2018 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure $100,000 Super High Roller| author = Fast, Erik| work = cardplayer.com| date = January 8, 2018| access-date = February 26, 2018| url = https://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/22386-cary-katz-wins-2018-pokerstars-caribbean-adventure-100-000-super-high-roller}}</ref>
In September 2019, Katz won Super High Roller Bowl London. Katz defeated Ali Imsirovic heads-up to earn £2,100,000.<ref>{{Cite web| title= Super High Roller Bowl London tournament won by Cary Katz| work = pokersuperagent.com| date = September 20, 2019| access-date = September 24, 2019| url = https://pokersuperagent.com/news/2019/super-high-roller-bowl-london-tournament-won-by-cary-katz.html}}</ref>
In February 2020, Katz finished third in Super High Roller Bowl Australia for AU$640,000.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nuwwarah |first=Mo |date=2020-02-03 |title=Timothy Adams Becomes First Super High Roller Bowl Australia Champ |url=https://www.pokernews.com/news/2020/02/timothy-adams-first-super-high-roller-bowl-australia-champ-36541.htm |access-date=2024-03-30 |website=PokerNews.com |language=en}}</ref>
In July 2021, Katz won the [[2021 PokerGO Cup]] Main Event for $1,058,000.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fast |first=Erik |date=July 14, 2021 |title=Cary Katz Wins PokerGO Cup $100,000 High Roller Event |url=https://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/26045-cary-katz-wins-pokergo-cup-100-000-high-roller-event |access-date=July 23, 2021 |website=CardPlayer.com}}</ref>
In January 2023, Katz was crowned the [[2023 PokerGO Cup]] champion after cashing five times and winning $655,800 in prize money.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Richards |first=Connor |date=2023-01-21 |title=Isaac Haxton Wins PokerGO Cup Finale; Cary Katz Named Overall Champ |url=https://www.pokernews.com/news/2023/01/2023-pokergo-cup-results-haxton-katz-42908.htm |access-date=2024-03-30 |website=PokerNews.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=January 24, 2023 |title=PokerGO Cup Wraps Up With Cary Katz Taking Series Title |url=https://www.uspoker.com/blog/pokergo-cup-wraps-up-with-cary-katz-taking-series-title-haxton-foxen-wins/40844/ |access-date=January 27, 2023 |website=www.uspoker.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
As of December 2025, Katz has cashed for over $42,100,000 in live poker tournaments.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cary Katz's profile on The Hendon Mob |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=26721 |access-date=December 11, 2023 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official|http://www.carykatz.com/}} *[https://www.cardplayer.com/poker-players/5074-cary-katz Card Player profile] *[https://www.globalpokerindex.com/poker-players/cary-katz-26721/ Global Poker Index profile] * [http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=26721 Hendon Mob profile] *[https://www.pokernews.com/poker-players/cary-katz/ PokerNews profile] *[https://www.worldpokertour.com/player/cary-katz/ WPT profile] *[https://www.wsop.com/players/profile/?playerid=695 WSOP profile]
{{2020s WSOP bracelet winners}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Katz, Cary}} [[Category:American poker players]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:1970 births]] [[Category:University of Georgia alumni]] [[Category:World Series of Poker bracelet winners]]