Who is Phil Laak, partner of Real Housewives’ Jennifer Tilly? He’s a fellow professional poker player with a world record to his name – they even met at a poker tournament

Jan 10 , 2025

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Jennifer Tilly and her boyfriend, Phil Laak, are a power couple in the poker world. Photos: @jennifertilly/Instagram

Dublin-born, US-raised poker aficionado Phil “Unabomber” Laak holds a Guinness World Record for longest poker marathon – and he’s been with the Bullets Over Broadway actress for 20 years

The highly anticipated 14th season of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills has had its premiere and a new friend has been added to the glamorous group: actress and professional poker player Jennifer Tilly.

In the show, she arrives at best friend Sutton Stracke’s Surrealist Ball in an elaborate, black swan-themed dress. Behind the scenes, she had just attended cast-mate Kathy Hilton’s star-studded Christmas toy drive party benefiting Animal Haven, Camp Cocker and the Los Angeles Mission. Other guests, who included Kris Jenner, Ashley Park and RHOBH alumna Faye Resnick, were similarly dressed in jim-jams from Hilton and daughter Nicky Rothschild’s new pyjama line with Printfresh, prompting Tilly to call the crowd a “pyjama cult” in an Instagram Reel.

Jennifer Tilly (second left) attended Kathy Hilton’s Christmas pyjama party. Fellow guests included Kris Jenner (right). Photo: @jennifertilly/Instagram

When not with her gal pals, the Bullets Over Broadway actress, 66, spends time with her boyfriend, fellow poker player Phil Laak. Recently, she was in Las Vegas to play for TV show No Gamble, No Future, after which she flew privately with her man and several friends, enjoying the “high-roller life” on the “biggest plane ever”, as she put it.

Who is Phil Laak, Tilly’s sweetheart of two decades?

What is Phil Laak’s background?

Jennifer Tilly’s boyfriend, Phil Laak, is an Irish-born poker player. Photo: @phillaak/Instagram

Phil Laak, 52, was born in Dublin, Ireland, but grew up in Wellesley, Massachusetts after moving to the US with his family when he was four. He graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, but throughout his academic years he honed his skills in poker, backgammon, chess and hearts. The passion continued after university and he began his career playing backgammon before turning to professional poker.

He’s now a poker star

Jennifer Tilly and her boyfriend, Phil Laak, have been together for 20 years. Photo: @phillaak/Instagram

Laak learned about playing cards from friends and family. Today, he has a World Poker Tour title and a World Series of Poker bracelet to his name. According to poker database The Hendon Mob, his total live earnings at the time of writing were a whopping US$4,323,174.