Poker has long been dominated by men, but female poker players have still made their mark in the game.
Many female players boast impressive careers with winnings that many male professionals would envy. This article highlights the five most successful women in poker, showcasing their achievements and contributions to the game.
Vanessa Selbst: A Trailblazer in Poker
Vanessa Selbst stands out as the most successful female poker player globally.
Born in New York in 1984, Vanessa was introduced to poker during her school years by her older brother. This early exposure sparked a passion that would shape her future. After graduating high school, Vanessa attended Yale University intending to become a lawyer. However, her growing fascination with poker led her to focus on the game, studying theory, and participating in tournaments.
Vanessa's professional poker career is nothing short of remarkable. She has amassed almost $12 million in live play winnings and an additional $1 million online.
Some other achievements include:
- Three WSOP bracelets from wins in 2008, 2012, and 2014.
- A $1.8 million win at the Partouche Poker Tour in Cannes in 2010.
- A $1.4 million win at the 2013 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure High Roller Event.
- A $1 million win at the $100,000 Super High Roller Celebrity Shootout in 2015.
- Back-to-back wins in the 2010 and 2011 PokerStars North American Poker Tour.
- A best rank of 20th on the All-Time Money List.
- Hendon Mob 2014 Best Player of the Year.
- Joined the Women's Poker Hall of Fame in 2022.
Although Vanessa retired from professional poker in 2018 to work at the investment hedge fund Bridgewater Associates, she occasionally returns to the tables. Vanessa and her wife, Miranda Foster, are raising a child together.
Liv Boeree: Poker Prize Money to Public Speaking
Inside and outside of poker rooms, Liv Boeree has done a lot. Despite getting First-Class Honors in Physics with Astrophysics, she’d be pulled in a very different direction after her time at the University of Manchester.
Liv’s poker origin story got off to a unique start in England, on a reality TV show (here’s a clip to watch). She may not have won that poker game, but she says that it kicked off her interest in the game. Her first major win came in 2010 when she took down the European Poker Tour in Sanremo, Italy, netting her over $1.6 million. Liv had won many thousands of dollars before that tournament but hadn’t had a million-dollar win yet.
Liv Boeree pursued poker professionally until around 2019 when she formally retired from the sport. Her results are impressive, including being the only female player to win a WSOP as well as an EPT event.
Some other achievements include:
- Reaching almost $4,000,000 in recorded live tournament earnings.
- Nominated in 2022 for the Women in Poker Hall of Fame
- Co-founded the Raising for Effective Giving (REG) charity.
- Spoke on TEDx multiple times about poker, competition, and life skills.
- Ranked as the #1 Female Player of the Year from 2014 to 2016.
Liv is now a podcaster, YouTuber, public speaker, and philanthropist, among many other talents.
Kathy Liebert: Analyst to Poker Pro
Kathy Liebert, also known as Kathleen, was born in Tennessee in 1967, making her one of the veterans on our list of famous women in poker. Onboard a partypoker cruise event in 2002, she became the first woman to win a major poker tournament, taking in $1 million in prize money and beating Phil Hellmuth.
Initially aspiring to work as an office analyst, Kathy quickly found her true calling on the stock exchange, which proved exciting and profitable. This new venture brought travel into her life, and it was during one of her trips that she discovered poker, a turning point that would redefine her career.
Over her career, Kathy won a WSOP bracelet and cashed in dozens of different poker events. She continues to actively participate in offline games, earning respect and recognition from her peers.
To date, Kathy’s winnings total $6.9 million, among other notable achievements:
- Number one on the Tennessee, USA All Time Money List
- Her biggest cash was on the Party Poker Million Cruise for $1,000,000
- Won a WSOP bracelet in 2004 from a $1,500 Limit Hold'em Shootout event.
- Member of the Women's Poker Hall of Fame.
Kristen Foxen: A Canadian Powerhouse
Kristen Foxen is one of the female poker players in the top 5 who doesn't hail from the United States. Born in Canada in 1986 into a family with a professional racing driver father, Kristen was introduced to poker at the age of 20. She saw Jennifer Harman on Poker After Dark regularly, which may have inspired her to pursue poker.
The game quickly captivated her, leading to significant achievements, including total offline prize money of $7.5 million and four WSOP bracelets won in 2013, 2016, 2020, and 2023.
Foxen also spent time on Full Tilt and PokerStars, where she apparently played over 2.5 million hands per year at times.
Kristen, who was a partypoker ambassador for five years, continues to excel in her poker career.
Other achievements include:
- 13th on the Canadian All Time Money List.
- One of the Hendon Mob’s Female Poker Players of the Year (2017).
- 2020 Online WSOP Bracelet winner.
- 2018 GPI Player of the Year.
- Nominated in 2022 for the Women's Poker Hall of Fame.
These days, Foxen is married to top poker player Alex Foxen, whom she met at the poker table. In 2018, the famous poker couple split the prize money in a heads-up match in a $5,000 tournament.
Maria Ho: A Prominent Figure in Poker
Maria Ho, born in Taiwan in 1983 and raised in California, discovered her talent for poker in college. Opting to play for money, Maria focused on honing her skills while completing her education.
Her biggest win to date is $540,000, with total winnings amounting to $5.2 million, but not for long. Along with the recent Game of Gold series from GGPoker, Maria has always been active in the scene.
Although Maria has yet to win a WSOP bracelet, despite many final tables and cashes. Still, her career is far from over. Her contributions to poker have been recognized, and in 2022, she entered the Women's Poker Hall of Fame, highlighting her efforts to popularize the game.
Maria’s other achievements include:
- 2018 Global Poker Awards Winner
- Winner of the Poker After Dark: Game of Gold in Seoul for $450,000
- Over 90 cashes in WSOP events, but no bracelet yet.
