Poker is a zero-sum game, which means that for every winner there must be a loser. Despite the lack of reliable statistics, there are undoubtedly a lot of players going broke. Many professional poker players have experienced such a tragic fate. Here are some players who went from overnight success to broke.

1. Stu Ungar

Stu Ungar is a legend in the poker world, despite his tumultuous past. Considered by many to be the best Texas Hold'em player of all time, Ungar had a life of ups and downs that is legendary.
Ungar rose to prominence after winning the 1980 WSOP Main Event, a victory that earned him the nickname "The Kid." Coincidentally, this was Ungar's first tournament appearance. In 1981, he won the WSOP Main Event for $95,000.
Over the course of his career, Ungar has won about $30 million for his superb memory and math skills.

After winning his second WSOP title, Ungar went downhill. At first, he only took occasional cocaine while staying up late to play poker, but eventually he became addicted to drugs and Ungar became an avid gambler. After his death, he didn't have a penny in his name. In total, he lost more than $30 million in his lifetime.

2. Erick Lindgren

Erick Lindgren was a well-known figure during the poker boom, nicknamed "The Trolley." He once netted $300,000 a month at Full Tilt, which he signed with Full Tilt as their spokesperson.
In 2008, Lindgren won the WSOP $5,000 Mixed Hold'em event for $374,505. In 2013, he won his second WSOP gold bracelet - winning the $5,000 buy-in 6-max No-Limit Hold'em tournament for $606,317.
Lindgren is recognized as a world-class poker player. But when he started making big bets on fantasy sports, he started to sink. Lindgren also plays sports betting, betting between $50,000 and $100,000 per game.
His gambling problems first surfaced in 2012, when he couldn't put up $100,000 to join a private fantasy league. Several other poker players have come forward to accuse Lindgren of not paying back, most prominently Haralabos Voulgaris, who claimed Lindgren owed him six figures and hadn't paid it back for several years.

In 2015, Lindgren filed for bankruptcy with more than $1.2 million in debt.

3. Archie Karas

Archie Karas, nicknamed "The Greek," was one of the most famous self-made poker players before he went completely bankrupt.
In 1992, Karas came to Las Vegas with $50, dreaming of starting a business with the money. He borrowed $10,000 from a poker friend, turned it into $30,000 while playing Razz poker, and paid off the debt hours later.
Karas amassed a fortune from 1992 to 1995, with a net worth of a staggering $40 million.
Within three years, he managed to break the longest winning streak in casino history.
An $11 million craps loss put him on the road to bankruptcy, by another $17 million loss in baccarat. He lost more than $30 million in just two days.

Karas lost $1 million in less than two weeks. A few days later, he ended up losing everything playing craps and baccarat, losing more than $40 million in total.

4. David ‘Chino’ Rheem

David 'Chino' Rheem first appeared in the spotlight in 2006 when he finished runner-up in the WSOP $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em Championship for $328,000.
In August 2011, Rheem won the inaugural Epic Poker League six-handed no-limit hold'em event for $1 million.
Rheem won three WPT titles in 2008, 2013 and 2016. His first title came in season seven of the Doyle Brunson Five Diamond Poker Classic, a victory that earned him $1.54 million.
Although Rheem has been quite successful as a poker player, he is a chronic debtor. Most of the time, Rheem sold ticket shares to his friends and didn't pay them when he won.
Rheem has made more than $11 million in live tournaments and has made even more money in private poker games. But he still owes many poker players and merchants hundreds of thousands of dollars. Rheem is now penniless and unable to repay. It wouldn't be surprising if he filed for bankruptcy soon.
Therefore, a good attitude and self-control will make your life smooth.