The Mizrachis: A Poker Family Like No Other
I recently sat down with Paul Mizrachi to talk about poker and family. Paul just turned 21, and, unsurprisingly, he’s as obsessed with the game as the rest of the Mizrachi tribe. His father, Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi, is the reigning World Champion and an eight-time WSOP bracelet winner, so poker has always been more than a pastime; it’s the family business.
Dec 12 2025 04:40 PM EST
Nassau, Bahamas (December 12, 2025) - I recently sat down with Paul Mizrachi to talk about poker and family. Paul just turned 21, and, unsurprisingly, he’s as obsessed with the game as the rest of the Mizrachi tribe. His father, Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi, is the reigning World Champion and an eight-time WSOP bracelet winner, so poker has always been more than a pastime; it’s the family business.
Combined, the family owns 13 WSOP bracelets; Michael has 8, tied for 7th all-time. Paul’s uncle Robert, owner of 5 bracelets, sits in a tie for 27th on the all-time bracelet list. His third uncle, Eric, has nearly $500,000 in tournament earnings, and his fourth uncle, Donny, has over $150,000, according to Hendon Mob. Paul’s grandmother, Susan, the matriarch of the legendary family, is the one responsible for teaching her four sons how to play poker.
Paul Mizrachi, son of The Grinder, is making his poker debut at WSOP Paradise 2025. (Photo taken by Miguel Cortes)
Paul has just become old enough to enter the tournament scene, so his career earnings are still in the early stages compared to the rest of the family. But when you’ve got poker in your DNA and plenty of relatives ready to coach you every step of the way, the sky’s the limit for this kid.
We discussed the historic moment this past summer in Cyprus when, for the first time, five Mizrachis played in the same tournament, a moment inspired by the iconic 2010 WSOP Main Event, where the four brothers (Michael, Robert, Eric, and Donny) cashed, and Michael made the final table. Paul was only six years old during Michael’s magical 2010 Main Event run, and he admits it was hard to fully grasp the magnitude at the time. Still, he knew it was huge just by watching how excitedly his family reacted while cheering Mike on at the final table.
Five-time WSOP bracelet winner Robert Mizrachi. (Photo taken by Miguel Cortes)
Paul remembers one hand in particular from the 2010 Main Event final table, his favorite hand of all time. His Dad’s AdQd clashed against Matt Jarvis’s 9♥️9♣️, and the chips went in preflop. Things looked great when the board came Q♠️8♦️Q♣️, but everything flipped when the dealer dropped the 9♠️ on the turn. Then came one of the most unforgettable rivers in Main Event history: the A♠️. Just like that, Michael improved to the bigger full house, and the eruption from the crowd said it all.
Michael finished 5th in 2010 for $2,332,992, his second-largest score to date. As most know, Michael got a second chance to win the Main Event this year, reaching his second final table... and this time, he would not be denied. Earning the victory and a $10 million payday, The Grinder cemented his legacy as one of poker’s all-time greats, and as a first, he was instantly inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame.
DJ Mizrachi (left) and Eric Mizrachi (right) playing in the Super Main Event. (Photos taken by Miguel Cortes)
Today, history repeats itself: all five Mizrachis will once again be in action together, this time in the Super Main Event at WSOP Paradise in the Bahamas.
Paul and Michael have rolled out a must-watch poker vlog airing daily during the World Series of Poker Paradise on GGPoker’s YouTube channel. It shadows the Mizrachi dynasty, offering an unfiltered, behind-the-scenes look at what it really means to be a world champion and part of one of the game’s greatest families.
About the AuthorJoseph Berg has played poker his whole life. His father taught him five card draw at a young age, and he discovered no-limit hold'em in 2004. Primarily a cash game player, Berg has had some noteworthy tournament results, including a 5th place finish in Event 12, the Main Event 8-Max Online WSOPC at Harrah's Las Vegas, good for $15,897. Outside of poker, Berg enjoys rooting for Boston sports teams and spending time with his family. Berg is currently serving as a live reporter for the WSOP at WSOP Paradise 2025.
