What Size Bankroll for Playing in Large Live Tourneys?

[Qcity]

Suppose someone were to fly around, playing in 20-30 large tourneys a month with buy ins between $300-$1,500 plus qualifiers for the larger events. They go to the WPTs, the WSOP circuit events many the big poker festivals in Vegas, LA and Europe. This person travels cheaps but still spends $2,500-$3,500 in travel expenses a month or so including airline tickets. They have no utility bills, car payment or rent to take into account since they are living on the road.

Assume that this is a very good player, but sometimes has "Mike Matusow" moments--blowing tourneys on bad plays. What kind of bankroll would this person need? Give a conservative estimate, and a loose, living on the edge estimate.

[Bigdaddydvo]

One. MILLLION. Dollars.

[kenberman]

does he travel business class or coach?

[Qcity]

Any serious answers please?

[kenberman]

[ QUOTE ]
Any serious answers please?

[/ QUOTE ]

does he have groupies with him?

[MLG]

1 million should be a serious answer.

[Qcity]

This thread wasn't started so that you all could try to top each other in wittiness, its a serious question in which a serious answer would be appreciated.

[Ratman138]

40k a month is my guess. lets call it a smooth half mil over a year.

[The Ocho]

[ QUOTE ]
This person travels cheaps but still spends $2,500-$3,500 in travel expenses a month or so including airline tickets.

[/ QUOTE ]

Travel expenses will be much, much higher than this if you are staying in hotels nightly and flying around the world.

[ZeeJustin]

The variance in this situation is huge enough to make a bankroll virtually meaningless. A losing year or two would not be all that improbable. The bankroll would need to be large enough that this player could basically be able to retire for the rest of his life. You would probably need to play 1,000 tourneys (aka 3-4 years) before you can be close to 99.9% certain that you will be up money. Even then, there's a good 1% chance that you're up an insignificant amount of money.

Note that satellites are very high variance since instead of having a 10% chance of cashing, you only have a 1% chance of cashing (assuming single table sats, this number can be much lower)