Life of David Peat aka “Viffer”: Wealth, Personal Life, Profits, and Losses

David Peat: Who is He?

David Peat, also known as “Viffer,” is a professional poker player from the United States. His exact age is unknown, but he is thought to be in his early to mid-fifties. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio.

David Peat

He is best known for his appearances on Poker After Dark, The Game Show Network’s High Stakes Poker, and PokerStars’ Big Game. He stood out with his inventive and aggressive plays.

Peat has always preferred to play cash games away from the cameras, at high-stakes cash tables in Las Vegas. As a result, he has only three recorded live tournament cashes, but they are worth a total of $277,047.

When he’s not playing poker, he maintains his wild persona. He’s renowned for other poker players telling him crazy party stories, dubbed “Viffer stories.” He is now expected to retire from professional poker, though he recently appeared on a Hustler Casino live-streamed cash game.

Quick Summary of His Poker Career

During the fifth annual Five Star World Poker Classic, which took place in Las Vegas in 2007, David Peat finished in second place in the $5,120 No Limit Hold’em event. That is where he gained the most money he has ever won in a single live tournament in his career, amounting to $202,455. In 2008, he began appearing on NBC’s Poker After Dark.

The Professional Career History of David Peat

The Beginning

Peat’s life before poker is little known or how he discovered the game. He never completed high school and had a difficult childhood.

Another thing we know for certain is that on his way to becoming a professional poker player, he experienced some massive – million-dollar – swings.

David Peat in Online Stream Cash Games

When it comes to poker, this has been Peat’s bread and butter.

He was a regular in Las Vegas’s highest stakes cash games, including the famous Big Game in the Bellagio’s “Bobby’s Room” (now officially renamed “Legends Room“). In addition, he made appearances on several classic poker shows where he participated in live, in-person cash games in front of the cameras. Poker After Dark, which aired on NBC from 2007 to 2011, was one of these shows.

In one episode, Peat competed in a $400/$800 No Limit Hold’em cash game against online poker legends Tom “durrrr” Dwan. Both were holding 9-high, but Dwan flopped an open-ended straight draw, while “Viffer” flopped a flush draw. This prompted them to attempt to out bluff one another.

Peat has also appeared on The Game Show Network’s High Stakes Poker and PokerStars’ Big Game on FOX. He was known for his daring, clever, and overbearing plays on these shows.

Because of this, the PokerStars YouTube channel made the decision in September 2021 to compile a collection of his freakiest cash game hands and give it the headline “The SICKEST Poker Player of All Time.”

It has now received over 3.3 million views.

He makes insane moves against poker greats like Daniel Negreanu, Tony G, and Antonio Esfandiari on his “highlight reel.” David Peat briefly came out of retirement in December 2021 to play a $50/$100 No Limit Hold’em session on Hustler Casino’s live-streamed cash games.

HIGH STAKES POKER TOMORROW!!

$50/100 with @andystackspoker, @4viffer, @helloitslynne & more

Tune in tomorrow at 5pm PT pic.twitter.com/CLb9Uk5GIW

— Hustler Casino Live (@HCLPokerShow) December 2, 2021

David Peat in Live Tournaments

Peat has always preferred cash games to tournaments. As a result, he only has three documented cashes on his Hendon page. They cover a two-year period around 2005 and 2007. His earnings from live tournaments total $277,047.

His first cash is from the 2005 World Series of Poker. Two years later, in April 2007, he competed in the $5.120 No Limit Hold’em event that was part of the Annual Five Star World Poker Classic held at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. He finished in second place.

David won $202,455, his largest single live tournament win to date. Mike Hauptman of Nevada won the title in a heads-up match. Furthermore, he had 50% of the action of third-place finisher Brian Rast. So, for old Viffer, it was an exceptionally financially viable tournament.

A month later, in May 2007, he ended seventh in the $10,000 NLHE Championship event that was held at the Mirage Poker Showdown in Las Vegas. He won $72,047 as a result of his performance.

Viffer in World of Series Poker Events

David “Viffer” Peat has yet to win his first World Series of Poker gold bracelet.

In fact, he has only ever cashed in one World Series tournament. In 2005, he finished 145th out of 2,305 players in the $1,500 No Limit Hold’em event, earning $2,545.

David Peat’s Scandal

The poker community has numerous “scandalous” stories about Peat. These are commonly known as “Viffer stories.”

Stealing Accusations to Alec Torelli

Even before the now infamous Poker Night in America angle shoot, Alec Torelli did not have the best reputation among poker players. This is largely due to David Peat’s “detective work.”

In September of 2011, Torelli made a claim on the well-known 2+2 Forums that another known player of poker, Mark “PerkyShmerky” Lerner, owed him the sum of $85,000. Torelli’s claim was made public. Viffer, on the other hand, intervened in the conversation to indicate that Torelli and Lerner had a scheme in place in 2007 to cheat one of Lerner’s supporters out of the sum of $150,000.

Torelli allegedly used a tell so that “Perky” could chip dump to him. That way, they can keep the entire sum that the unnamed backer involved in Lerner, rather than just him sharing the profits. Eventually, Torelli admitted to chip dumping after some denial but insisted he had no idea it was to steal from Lerner’s backer.

Association to socialite Molly Bloom

Peat participated in Molly Bloom’s high-stakes underground cash game in New York City. In 2017, a film based on her life was brought to the big screen and directed by Aaron Sorkin, who had previously won an Academy Award. Molly’s private game was well-known for attracting A-list Hollywood celebrities regularly.