The Queen of Poker in a Man’s World

Even though recent years have brought notable progress in gender equality, plenty of outdated stereotypes still linger about what women can or cannot do, what they’re supposedly good at, and where they’re not expected to perform. Yet real-life examples show, time and again, that women are just as capable — if not more so — than men in almost every field. So why not poker too? The next time you see an ad on UK or US television for an online poker site, and you’re a woman reading this article, consider giving it a try — you might just surprise yourself.

Vanessa Selbst is widely regarded as the greatest female poker player of all time. On New Year’s Eve 2017, the American pro shocked the poker world by announcing her retirement after a 12-year career, via a heartfelt Facebook post. At just 33 years old, the Brooklyn native stepped away from the game with three World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelets and nearly $12 million in live tournament winnings — almost double the total of Kathy Liebert, the next most successful female tournament player in history. With her fearless, aggressive style and her refusal to hide her emotions at the table, Selbst became a standout figure in poker circles around the globe.

It all began in the early 2000s, a time when many new players took up poker, inspired by the 1998 cult movie Rounders and the now-legendary 2003 WSOP win by Chris Moneymaker — a Tennessee accountant and online player who turned a satellite win into $2.5 million and poker superstardom. (Yes, that’s his real name.) Curious about the game, Selbst started playing online while studying political science at Yale University.

After graduating, she briefly worked as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company’s New York office. But poker kept calling. “I was playing poker one-third of the time and earning three times as much as I did working 10-hour days,” she later explained.

Over the course of her career, Vanessa Selbst captured three WSOP bracelets and became the only woman ever to win three open-field WSOP events. She also remains the only player — male or female — to win the same North American Poker Tour main event in back-to-back years. In January 2013, she won the PCA high roller tournament for $1.4 million, becoming the highest-earning woman in poker history.

More Than a Game: Charity and Advocacy

What makes Vanessa even more remarkable is her commitment to social causes. Throughout her career, she consistently participated in charity tournaments and raised funds for underrepresented issues. In a 2016 interview with Cardplayer Lifestyle, she shared her thoughts:

“Charity poker is one of the most beautiful things to come out of the poker community. People love the game and will show up to play, especially when celebrities or poker stars are involved. It’s a great way to raise money for something meaningful. There are a lot of charity events out there, but most tend to focus on health, disease, children — all important causes, of course. But I felt there was a gap when it came to social justice and supporting adults who don’t always receive the help they need. That’s where I wanted to make a difference — and it worked incredibly well.”

From Poker to the Big Screen

Fame also brought unexpected opportunities. Last year, Selbst made her acting debut with a guest appearance on the hit American series Billions. The show, starring Paul Giamatti and Damian Lewis, wrapped up its seventh and final season in 2023. It wasn’t the first time poker had made an appearance on the show — Phil Hellmuth, the all-time WSOP bracelet leader and Poker Hall of Fame member, guest-starred in Season 2, Episode 3, titled Optimal Play.