This young pro learned the game from his father, a Vegas poker dealer. But he didn't go straight into the family business. First, Joe took a detour and became a successful pool shark. Joining his father in Vegas at the age of 18, Joe began learning and studying a variety of poker games. He turned pro at 21, and built up a decent bankroll, but lost that playing blackjack, which forced him to go to work as a card dealer.

Joe hooked up with Dutch Boyd at the 2002 WSOP, and did a stint for a short while with Boyd's poker posse, The Crew. After building his bankroll back up into six figures by 2004, Bartholdi met and became friends with one of the hottest young players on the pro tour, Joe Cassidy. Seeing some serious poker promise, Cassidy staked Bartholdi after his bankroll again hit the shoals. Bartholdi began to show results, including 4 money finishes in WSOP events over 2004 and 2005.

Just prior to the Season IV WPT Championship, Bartholdi and Cassidy made a deal to swap 50% of each other for the tournament. Cassidy may have to become nicknamed "Clairvoyant," as Bartholdi went on to not only make the final table, but win the entire event, taking down $3,700,0000 for his Herculean efforts.