Greg Raymer

Greg Raymer, known as “Fossilman,” is an American professional poker player and author from Raleigh, North Carolina. Born on June 25th, 1964, in Minot, North Dakota, Raymer has earned over $8.3 million in live tournament winnings and holds one WSOP bracelet.

Raymer earned the title of 2012 HPT Player of the Year. He shares his poker expertise through his book, FossilMan’s Winning Tournament Strategies, and also maintains a website at fossilmanpoker.com.

Greg Raymer: Early Life

Greg Raymer was born on June 25th, 1964, in Minot, North Dakota. During his childhood, he moved several times, starting with a move to Lansing, Michigan, where he lived until he was 10 years old. Afterward, he relocated to Clearwater, Florida, where he attended Dunedin Middle School before moving again, this time to St. Louis, Missouri.

After graduating from Parkway South High School in St. Louis, Raymer enrolled at the University of Missouri–Rolla, where he majored in chemistry and joined the Kappa Sigma fraternity. He graduated from the University of Minnesota with a master’s degree in biochemistry in 1989 and then continued his education at the University of Minnesota Law School, earning his law degree in 1992.

Following his graduation, Raymer practiced law as a patent attorney for more than a decade, spending the last six years of his legal career at the pharmaceutical company Pfizer. In addition to his professional achievements, Raymer is nicknamed “Fossilman” due to his hobby of fossil collecting; he even uses a small fossil as a card protector while playing poker.

Greg Raymer: Live Tournament Participation

Greg Raymer began playing live tournaments in October 1996. He participated in a $60 + 10 Omaha Hi/Lo event at the Oktoberfest in Lake Elsinore. Raymer finished in 7th place and pocketed $350.

In July 2005, Raymer took part in a $10,000 No Limit Texas Hold’em World Championship at the 36th WSOP in Las Vegas. He finished in 25th place and cashed for $304,680. 

Notably, his best-known victory occurred in May 2004 at the 35th WSOP, where he won the $10,000 World Championship Event, earning $5,000,000 and a WSOP gold bracelet.

In the following years, Raymer continued to perform well, finishing 3rd in a $40,000 No Limit Hold’em 40th Anniversary event at the 40th WSOP in May 2009, which earned him $774,927.

Then, in September 2012, he secured 1st place in a $1,500 + 150 No Limit Hold’em Main Event at the Heartland Poker Tour in St. Louis, earning $121,973.

In January 2020, Raymer took 1st place again, this time in a $1,440 + 210 No Limit Hold’em Main Event at the Heartland Poker Tour in East Chicago, taking home $171,411. 

Most recently, in September 2024, he participated in a $200 + 50 No Limit Hold’em Double Green Chip Bounty Ring Event at the RunGood Poker Series in Tunica, Mississippi, where he finished in 3rd place and secured $2,690.

Conclusion

Greg Raymer’s journey from patent attorney to poker champion highlights his talent and passion for the game. With over $8.3 million in tournament earnings and a WSOP title, his story serves as an inspiration to those pursuing their dreams.