Jeremy Kaufman, a popular high-stakes poker player known to be “fun-loving” by his friends and family, passed away unexpectedly.
The 56-year-old recreational player from Chicago leaves behind three teenage children, a successful real estate business, and numerous friends within the poker community, including Mike Matusow, who taught him how to play poker.
Remembering Jeremy Kaufman
Ryan Feldman, co-founder of Hustler Casino Live, shared the news on X. He referred to Kaufman, a player he had on his show multiple times, as “the life of the party,” and said he was the “most loved person” in his poker group.
Feldman, who first met and befriended Kaufman during COVID, praised the character of the late poker player, especially his presence at the poker table. He spoke glowing praises of how Kaufman never berated opponents and melted down over bad beats, and always had a smile on his face even if the game wasn’t going his way.
“His attitude at the table was perhaps the best of anyone we know. Never once did he ever complain about losing a hand. No matter the size of the pot or how bad of a beat it was, he would lose graciously with a smile,” Feldman wrote.
Kaufman first became known to the poker world in 2017 when he appeared in some memorable Poker Night in America episodes as an amateur player competing against top pros such as Shaun Deeb and Doug Polk. Kaufman was among the most entertaining players in the game, playing loose and aggressive.
In perhaps the craziest moment during the game, Polk and Kaufman agreed to a $42,000 10-card stud poker flip, with the player who drew out the best five-card hand winning the pot. Polk shared the video of the flip on YouTube.
Kaufman, more recently, played a number of times on Hustler Casino Live and twice in 2026 on Poker at the Lodge. He was well-known in high-stakes private games in Los Angeles.
Away from the felt, Kaufman served as CEO of Kaufman Jacobs, LLC, a leading boutique real estate private equity firm.