WSOP bracelets: how much are they worth and what do they represent?
For decades, the World Series has been presenting bracelets to the champions, making them the most sought-after rewards in the poker world.
When the World Series of Poker first kicked off in 1970, winners weren’t awarded bracelets but a cup and a plaque.
However, six years later, everything changed as Benny Binion, an American gambling icon who created the WSOP concept, considered introducing bracelets. Since then, a bracelet has been awarded to the winner of every event at the annual WSOP.
The World Series champions could wear them while playing, so their competitors could see who they were facing. When poker became more popular, the number of bracelet-awarding events increased.
How much is a bracelet worth?
Over the years, the bracelets have changed, and so has their value, but the first bracelet in 1976 was worth around $500.
The WSOP bracelets are pretty different nowadays, and the ones awarded in most events are worth around $1,500.
However, bracelets awarded to the Main Event winners are much more valuable. Some modern Main Event bracelets are worth hundreds of thousands due to their materials and design, as they have gold and precious stones.
The 2019 Main Event bracelet, when the Series was celebrating its 50th anniversary, was made out of 10K gold and contained 77 rubies and 2,175 diamonds.
That year, a $2,500 Limit Omaha event bracelet was auctioned on eBay. It reached the final price of $50,000, while in 2010, a Main Event bracelet was sold in an auction for $147,500.