Annie Duke - Poker Player

Biography

Annie Duke is a well-known former American professional poker player. She is recognized as one of the top women in poker, ranking seventh on the Women’s All-Time Money List. At one time, she was the highest-money winner among women in the World Series of Poker (WSOP).

Annie Duke has written a few books on poker, such as “Decide to Play Great Poker” and “The Middle Zone.” She has also written two books focused on making better decisions, “Thinking in Bets: Making Smarter Decisions When You Don't Have All the Facts” and “How to Decide: Simple Tools for Making Better Choices.” In 2005, she launched her autobiography, “How I Raised, Folded, Bluffed, Flirted, Cursed, and Won Millions at the World Series of Poker.” 

In 2007, Annie co-founded a non-profit organization named Ante Up for Africa with actor Don Cheadle. The organization raises money to support charitable causes in African countries. Annie has also raised funds for various NGOs and charities by playing in charitable poker tournaments.

Annie has also worked on poker-related issues, such as supporting the legality of online gambling and advocating for players' rights concerning their image. From 2011 to 2012, she was the co-founder and executive vice president of the Epic Poker League.

Background

Annie was born in Concord, New Hampshire, and grew up in a family that loved card games and competition. Card playing kept the family together, and everybody wanted to win. Her brother, Howard Lederer, is also a famous poker player.

At the age of 18, Annie enrolled at Columbia University. During her graduation, she started playing Texas Hold'em in a casino in Las Vegas. Later, she enrolled as a graduate student at the University of Pennsylvania for Cognitive Psychology.

In 1991, she married an old friend, Ben. Annie began playing poker in local poker rooms to pay the mortgage on their first home.

Poker Career

In 1992, Duke moved to Billings and started playing poker at the Crystal Lounge, a local bar with a legal poker room. 

After playing poker in Montana for a year, her brother Howard Lederer encouraged her to participate in the 1994 World Series of Poker (WSOP) in Las Vegas. She finished fourteen and fifth place in her first two tournaments and acquired 26th place in the Main Event at the 1994 WSOP. After winning almost $70000 in her first month of competition, Annie and her husband Ben moved to Las Vegas so that she could pursue poker professionally.

Despite being nine months pregnant with her third child, she finished 10th place competing against 512 players in the World Series of Poker World Championship Event in 2000, the second-best finish by a woman in the WSOP World Championship history at that time.

In 2004, she won the $2000 Omaha Hi-Lo Split tournament at the WSOP, competing against 234 participants and was honoured with her first WSOP bracelet. By July 2004, Annie Duke had made over $650,000 from her 25 money finishes, making her the top female winner in WSOP history.

She won the No-Limit Texas Hold’em winner-take-all inaugural WSOP Tournament of Champions in 2004, winning over her brother and nine former world championship winners, taking home $2 million. She placed 88th in the 2006 World Series of Poker, earning $51,129.

Annie won the NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship in 2010, defeating 64 participants and winning against Erik Seidel at the final table for $500,000. 

She has earned $1,166,567 from her 39 cash finishes at the World Series of Poker. Her total live tournament winnings amount to $4,270,548, making her the seventh highest among women in live tournament earnings.

Winnings in WSOP Events

Quick Facts

Date of Birth: September 13, 1965

Place of Birth: Concord, New Hampshire, U.S.

Nationality: American

Profession: Poker Player

Net Worth: $8 Million

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Annie Duke’s total live earnings in her poker career?

Annie Duke’s total live earnings are $4,270,548 in her poker career.

Who is Annie Duke's brother?

Howard Lederer, a popular poker player, is Annie Duke’s brother.

Does Annie Duke have a PhD?

Yes, Annie Duke completed her PhD in Cognitive Psychology in 2023.

What is Annie Duke’s net worth?

Annie Duke’s net worth is $8 million.