Find Out Why Shaun Deeb Gives Away All of His WSOP Gold Bracelets

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May 16, 2025 4 min read

There’s no denying that Shaun Deeb is a future Poker Hall of Famer. Whether you know him from his online poker days, where he won more than a dozen COOP titles on PokerStars, or as the 2018 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Player of the Year, Deeb has amassed nearly $13 million in live tournament earnings dating back to 2006 according to The Hendon Mob.

Deeb, who in February 2024 accepted a buyout in his $1 million body fat loss prop bet against Bill Perkins, is also a six-time WSOP gold bracelet winner, but did you know that just like Phil Hellmuth, he’s made a habit of gifting them to those close to him?

With the 2025 WSOP fast approaching, PokerNews chatted with Deeb about why he gives away his bracelets, which ones he’d keep if he were to win them, and why giving away No. 6 to honor his good friend, the late Thayer Rasmussen, meant so much to him.

Where’d They All Go?

Deeb won his first gold bracelet a decade ago when he took down the 2015 WSOP Event #15: $10,000 Pot-Limit Hold’em Championship for $318,857. The following year, he nabbed his second bracelet, and in 2018, he added two more en route to winning WSOP POY. He’d go on to win No. 5 and No. 6 in 2021 and 2023, respectively.

“I've gifted them all away,” Deeb revealed. “The first one went to my grandma, the second went to my wife, the third went to my dad, and the fourth I gave to my uncle. The fifth I gave to my friend, Fred, who was battling cancer at the time, and then the sixth to Thayer’s family.”

Interestingly, Deeb also has four runner-up finishes in WSOP bracelet events, as well as another four third-place finishes. Had things turned out just a little differently in those spots, he could very well have 14 bracelets to his name. But as they say, “If ifs and buts were candy and nuts, we’d all have a Merry Christmas.”

Even so, it does beg the question – who will get future bracelets?

“My kids have been begging for one, and I don't want them to fight, so I told them if I win two in a year, you'll get them together,” Deeb shared. “I mean, there's been so many people I'm close with over the years that I want to give that token to.”

He continued: “I'm never going to wear them. They're going to sit in a safety deposit box, so I always said the only two I'd keep would be the Main Event or the $50K PPC. I just care about those events a little bit more than I don't really think it's good to give those out. So, that's kind of always been my plan, my whole career.”

Shaun Deeb’s Gifted WSOP Gold Bracelets

Honoring "THAY3R"

In April 2023, Deeb took to X to share the unfortunate news that online poker legend Thayer "THAY3R" Rasmussen had passed away.

“I was super close with him,” said Deeb. “We started [online MTT group] Waffle Crush together. I was close with his brother as well. His parents were awesome every time I met them. So, when he passed away, I told his brother, Geoff, I said, ‘You know, I'm winning a bracelet this summer.’”

Indeed, two months later, Deeb captured bracelet No. 6 when he took down the 2023 WSOP Event #27: $1,500 Eight Game Mix 6-Handed for $198,854.

“We were planning on doing something during the series, do a little get-together in his honor because they didn't want to do a funeral, but everyone was all over the place,” Deeb remembered. “They had lost someone else in their family around that time, so it was just rough for them. So, we got together in Las Vegas and I presented his mom with a bracelet.”

It was a moment that Thayer’s younger brother, Frank, caught on camera and shared on X:

It was a touching gesture, and one that was expounded upon as Thayer’s mother was intent on including her entire family.

“She decided to bring it to a jeweler to get it split up so everyone in the family can have a piece,” Deeb shared. “I think she said she had nine pieces made. I think she gave the queen of clubs to Geoff as there was some hand that was very memorable between the two of them. So, you know, it's just great that that whole family has my appreciation for my friendship with Thayer.”

Deeb concluded: “He helped me so much in my career and never won a bracelet himself. It's definitely probably my second favorite bracelet. I love gifting them out and knowing how many people get to appreciate that token and wear it and have it as part of them.”

If things go well for Deeb this summer during the 2025 series, there’s a good chance his kids could be donning WSOP gold. After that, who might get bracelet No. 9 and beyond is anybody’s guess.

PR & Media Manager for PokerNews, Podcast host & 2013 WSOP Bracelet Winner.

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