Cary Steven Katz (born January 29, 1970) is an American businessman and poker player.
Career
Katz graduated from University of Georgia with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration. In 1999, he founded the College Loan Corporation, where he was CEO for 15 years. The company was the seventh largest student loan company in the United States providing $19 billion in loans.[1]
Katz started the conservative media website CRTV in 2014.[2] In 2018, he filed a lawsuit against CRTV over alleged non-payment of a $20 million loan.[3]
He currently serves as chairman of the non-profit organization Stop Child Predators.[6]
Katz is married to Jackie Katz and they have six children together and currently reside in Las Vegas, Nevada.[7]
Poker
Katz learned poker from his grandmother and began playing live tournaments competitively in 2004.[8]
In August 2005, Katz finished 21st in the $5,000 World Poker Tour Legends of Poker Main Event, earning $20,850.[9] In 2009, Katz finished 159th in the 2009 World Series of Poker Main Event, earning $40,288.[10]
In 2014, Katz played in the $1,000,000 Big One for One Drop, where he finished eighth, earning $1,306,667.[13] The tournament had a memorable hand where Katz's A♠A♥ cracked Connor Drinan's A♣A♦ after both were all in pre-flop. The board ran out 2♦K♥5♥4♥2♥, giving Katz an ace-high flush.[14][15]
Katz plays in Las Vegas high roller events hosted at the Aria Casino.[16] In January 2018, Cary Katz won his first major poker tournament, placing first in a field of 48 entries to win the PCA Super High Roller and earning $1,492,340.[17]
In September 2019, Katz won Super High Roller Bowl London. Katz defeated Ali Imsirovic heads-up to earn £2,100,000.[18]
In February 2020, Katz finished third in Super High Roller Bowl Australia for AU$640,000.[19]
