World Poker Tour

James Tippin “Tip“

Birthplace
Toledo, Ohio

Hometown
Toledo, Ohio

Birthday
December 20

Total Winnings
$328,230

In poker, some people win dirty and some people play it clean. No one will ever accuse James Tippin of winning dirty. Tippin, known as "Tip" to his friends, spent nearly his entire professional career in the car wash business. After 45 years in the business, Tippin hung up his chamois and headed into a clean life of retirement.

With the car wash business behind him, Tippin took to poker. A game that he already knew had blossomed into a full-blown industry by the time he retired. It seemed to be a good way for the fun-living man from Ohio to spend his golden years. His experiments in the game took him south to Tunica, Mississippi.

Once in Tunica, Tippin entered a $220 rebuy satellite for the WPT Season 3 Jack Binion World Poker Open. Although he had to rebuy three times, he won his seat. A few days later, Tippin sat at the final table. He took third place and won more than $320,000. Since then, Tippin has continued to play poker tournaments all over the United States and continues to supplement his retirement fund with poker winnings.