Mike Matusow

Mike “The Mouth” Matusow is an American professional poker player and television personality based in the Las Vegas area. Born in Los Angeles, he earned his nickname through his outspoken personality, emotional reactions, and constant table talk. Before turning professional, he worked in his family’s furniture store and spent several years as a poker dealer.

Matusow is also the author of the 2009 autobiography, "Check-Raising the Devil", co-written with Amy Calistri and Tim Lavalli, with a foreword by Phil Hellmuth. The book traces his rise in poker and his personal struggles with addiction, mental health, and legal troubles. He has spoken openly about these experiences, saying he hoped his story would help younger players avoid similar mistakes.

Beyond poker, Matusow has built a career in entertainment, broadcasting, and poker education. He created "The Mouthpiece" as a video series in 2007, later bringing it back as a podcast. He has also produced poker vlogs, contributed instructional content to Card Player Pro, and worked with DeepStacks Live. His television and film appearances include "King of Vegas", "Lucky You", and "Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List".

The 2024 documentary "Matusow", directed by Frank Zarrillo, explores his life and career, including his health challenges, chronic pain, and life away from the tables. In 2025, he joined Phil Hellmuth, Brandon Cantu, and David Woodley on the "Fade Us Sports" podcast, expanding into sports media. Matusow remains one of poker's most recognizable and outspoken public figures, known for his larger-than-life personality.