Jean-Noel Thorel
| Current Residence | Paris, France |
| Date of Birth | July 31, 1947 |
| Birth Place | Châtillon, France |
| Total Winnings | Over $21,000,000 |
Jean-Noël Thorel’s Biography Before His Introduction to Poker
Jean-Noel Thorel (JNT) is a French high stakes tournament regular player who was born on July 31, 1947 in Châtillon. After receiving an education in pharmacy, he began his career at a pharmacy at the Gare de l’Est in Paris.
In 1973, he worked at the PHARMEX pharmaceutical laboratory and later became director of the GOUPIL laboratory together with Jean-Jacques Goupil, but left the company due to ethical disagreements regarding the formulation of sunscreen products.
In 1977, Jean-Noël Thorel began working independently and founded the research center CEREDAP (Centre d’Études et de Recherche en Esthétique et Dermatologie Appliquée).
Thorel changed the approach to skin care and dermocosmetics. He developed the Bioderma philosophy — biology at the service of dermatology. Thorel was the first to view the skin as an ecosystem in constant interaction with the internal and external environment.
In 1977, Jean-Noël Thorel created the Nodé shampoo. It was an innovative product, as for the first time a shampoo was able to cleanse hair gently and delicately without damaging it.
In 1995, Jean-Noël Thorel’s company revolutionized the world of dermocosmetics by launching Créaline H2O — a makeup-removing water that followed the same cleansing principles as Nodé shampoo. Essentially, Thorel’s company created micellar water, whose equivalents are used by women around the world every evening. Removing makeup became easier than with cleansing milk or lotion.
Jean-Noël Thorel founded three companies: Bioderma, Institut Esthederm, and Etat Pur. In 2016, they were объединены into a single company, NAOS. The company holds more than 70 patents in the fields of cosmetics and dermatology.
In 2018, Jean-Noël Thorel sold all of his assets (estimated at approximately $250 million) to NAOS, and transferred the proceeds to the Jean-Noël Thorel Foundation. The foundation focuses on developing social projects for the benefit of society and artistic activities.
But Jean-Noël Thorel hasn’t retired and continues to work. During the pandemic, he helped develop Bioderma Biphase Lipo Alcoholic, a hand sanitizer that doesn’t dry out hands, doesn’t disrupt the protective barrier, and softens skin. He also founded the Heart Leadership University in 2021.
Jean-Noël Thorel’s Poker Career
Thorel first played poker at the age of five. He took part in his first major tournament in 2008. Poker had helped Thorel greatly in other areas of life. In business, he used to show his emotions openly, but poker taught him to control them.
Jean-Noël Taurel’s first major poker success came in 2009, when he took second place in the €20K High Roller EPT Deauville (€115.2K). This success inspired him to seriously study the game and improve his skills. He realized that poker isn’t just about gambling, but also about making the right decisions in difficult situations.
In 2025, he leads the rankings of the best live tournament players with over $27,000,000 in total winnings.
Jean-Noël Thorel’s Best Poker Results
| Place | Event | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd | $25K WSOP Paradise Super Main Event 2025 | $6,000,000 |
| 2nd | $100K NLHE Main Event, Triton Poker Jeju, 2024 | $2,875,000 |
| 2nd | $125K NLHE Main Event, Triton Poker London, 2023 | $2,830,000 |
| 2nd | $250K NLHE Super High Roller, PokerStars Caribbean Adventure, Bahamas, 2023 | $2,137,100 |
| 2nd | €100K NLHE Diamond High Roller, WSOP Europe Rozvadov, 2019 | $1,493,347 |
| 4th | $200K NLHE Triton Invitational Monte Carlo (2023) | $1,390,000 |
Online Poker Achievements
- World Series of Poker – WSOP Online 2020 at GGPoker, Online- $1,050 No Limit Hold’em – Beat the Pros [Bounty] (Event #82) – Prize is $1,617;
- World Series of Poker – WSOP Online 2020 at GGPoker, Online – $500 No Limit Hold’em Mini Main Event (Event #63) – Prize is $1,444;
- World Series of Poker – WSOP Online 2020 at GGPoker, Online – $1,500 MILLIONAIRE MAKER (Event #48) – Prize is $6,076.
Jean-Noel Thorel’s Socials
Professional poker player Jean-Noel Thorel, known for his success in world poker, is not an active social media user. His social media accounts are maintained mainly by his agency and the team of his cosmetics company.
However, despite this, Jean-Noel’s fans and admirers can follow his progress and poker news through the official tournament pages. There they publish photos and videos from tournaments, interviews with Jean-Noel himself, as well as other relevant information about his participation in major poker events.
Jean-Noel Thorel’s Facts
- Invented micellar water.
- You can find Jean-Noel Thorel on GGPoker under the nickname OscarBrown. In 2021, he finished 4th in the $10K Super MILLION$ ($197.4K).
- Travels on the series with his friend and assistant Frédéric Delval.
FAQ
Is Jean-Noel Thorel good at poker?
Yes, it is. Thorel’s successes are truly staggering, his winnings reach incredible numbers, and he is a household name in poker circles.
How old is Jean-Noel Thorel?
Thorel is 78 years old.
Does Jean-Noel Thorel still play poker?
Yes, Jean-Noel Thorel continues his poker journey and his winnings have only increased in recent years.
What is Jean-Noel Thorel’s IQ score?
Information about Jean-Noel Thorel’s specific IQ is not known. But it can be assumed that it is at a really high level.
What is Jean-Noel Thorel’s Nickname?
Thorel has the alias OscarBrown, but in poker circles he is referred to as “The Nutty Professor.”
What is Jean-Noel Thorel’s net worth?
He won more than USD 27,000,000 in his poker career with poker tournaments alone.
