Even before his name became the password into the world of wanna-be poker superstars, Christopher Brian Moneymaker had a last name that made people smile; after all, he was an accountant. If he thought he had answered the question "is that your real last name?" a lot before 2003, he was in for a surprise. After becoming the hero of average Joe poker players the world over, Chris was overwhelmed with that and many other questions about himself and his surprising, meteoric rise to poker super-stardom.

Chris grew up in a family of competitive gamblers, so the fact that he is good at poker is really no surprise. When other teens were out doing the things do he and his family were playing cards, or on cruises or other exotic vacations his father managed to swing through a part time travel agency business. After attending the University of Tennessee and getting his masters degree in accounting, Chris went to work. His real, competitive interest in poker came after he and some friends caught the movie that many have cited as being responsible for the current poker craze, Rounders. That was in 2000, and it was only to be three short years before Moneymaker became one of the most looked up names on the Internet.

It is a story that is almost part of every new poker player's education; "Chris Moneymaker won a seat into the main event of the 2003 World Series of Poker by winning a $40 online satellite tournament at the PokerStars online poker room. He emerged from a field of amateurs and champions to win the main event, earning $2.5 million and forever changing his life." When the casual observer sees promotional shots of Moneymaker in his Oakley sunglasses and ball cap, with his best poker face, and hear this story they think they know it all; what they might be surprised to learn is how much of Chris's life did not change.

True, he had to hire security, which really surprised him. Yes, he was now a millionaire, although a huge chunk went to pay taxes and he also had financial backers that earned a cut of his winnings. He had to hire an agent, and he can't play in a casino without being hounded for autographs, and then there is that annoying target on his back, the bullseye that draws everyone who wants to "take down" the champion. Despite all of these changes, Chris has not turned into a "poker diva." He is still a family man, devoted to his immediate and extended family members, although there is a pending divorce. His biggest goals surrounding money are the same as they have always been; supporting family (although he can knock off a few of those "smaller" goals, like a new house and plenty of money to play as much poker as he likes in big-shot tournaments.) That is not to say he doesn't enjoy some of the perks his celebrity has brought him; those head hunters that want to play against him often allow him to quickly meet his daily quota of a couple hundred dollars a day playing poker, and who would really complain if they get to play in regular games with Toby McGuire, Ben Afleck and other Hollywood stars.

When Chris won his seat to the WSOP he knew he would have to pay for hotel, airfare, and other related expenses, so he went to his father and others for backing. This practice is very common among regular tournament players, especially the pros, who get investors to float the costs of the event in exchange for a cut of the winnings. Once he settled in and began to play, he found himself sandwiched by Phil Ivey and Johnny Chan. How surreal must that moment have been, playing next to one of the poker greats that he watched in the movie that inspired him in the first place. He was shaken so badly by the big time, this being his first live tournament, that he took time out that night to center himself, and arrive at the table the next day with the calmness needed to bring forth his best game; and it worked out famously.

Now there is a world of players who sit next to him and feel the way he did on his first day at the WSOP, nervous, hungry, and a bit star struck. Anyone who wants a shot at busting out the Big Man would do well not to dawdle; it seems poker won't be the main focus in Chris's life forever. After his big win he actually went back to work, something most work-a-day folks would never dream of doing. He left after a few months when he realized the enormity of his accomplishment, becoming a spokesman for both PokerStars and the owner of the WSOP, Harrah's Entertainment. He has recently authored an autobiography, "Moneymaker: How an Amateur Poker Player Turned $40 into $2.5 Million at the World Series of Poker, " and his site, www.chrismoneymaker.com tracks his appearances and accomplishments; it seems he has made the transitioning to pro poker player all the way. However, he has said more than once that he sees himself returning to traditional work at some point in the future.

He still plays online with the same name that won him his legendary satellite seat, Money 800, and is very approachable to those who catch him online. If you do catch him, be prepared for honest, upfront and polite answers to your questions. He is always referred to as a gentleman at the table and away, a salt of the earth kind of guy, and seems to be comfortably rooted in a hometown life and family that give him shelter as he weathers the changing winds of celebrity.