| 2010 | Dan Harrington |
| Erik Seidel | |
| 2009 | Mike Sexton |
| 2008 | Henry Orenstein |
| Duane “Dewey” Tomko | |
| 2007 | Barbara Enright |
| Phil Hellmuth | |
| 2006 | Billy Baxter |
| TJ Cloutier | |
| 2005 | Crandell Addington |
| Jack Binion | |
| 2004 | Berry Johnston |
| 2003 | Bobby Baldwin |
| 2002 | Lyle Berman |
| Johnny Chan | |
| 2001 | Stu "the kid" Ungar |
| 1997 | Roger Moore |
| 1996 | Julius Oral “Little Man” Popwell |
| 1993 | Jack Keller |
| 1992 | Thomas Austin "Amarillo Slim" Preston |
| 1991 | David “Chip” Reese |
| 1990 | Benny Binion |
| 1989 | Fred “Sarge” Ferris |
| 1988 | Doyle Brunson |
| Jack “Treetop” Straus | |
| 1987 | Walter Clyde “Puggy” Pearson |
| 1986 | Henry Green |
| 1985 | Red Hodges |
| 1984 | Murph Harrold |
| 1983 | Joe Bernstein |
| 1982 | Tom Abdo |
| 1981 | Bill Boyd |
| 1980 | T “Blondie” Forbes |
| 1979 | Nick “The Greek” Dandolos |
| James Butler “Wild Bill” Hickok | |
| Edmond Hoyle | |
| Felton “Corky” McCorquodale | |
| Johnny Moss | |
| Red Winn | |
| Sid Wyman |