Shannon Elizabeth, born in Houston, Texas, and raised in Waco, is a name many associate with Hollywood thanks to her breakout role as Nadia in the movie ‘American Pie’. But beyond the cameras, red carpets, and magazine covers, Shannon built an entirely different legacy, one at the poker felt.
Though not a full-time pro, Shannon Elizabeth has built a tournament resume that competes with those of many committed professionals. Between 2006 and 2010, she recorded 12 tournament cashes and consistently competed in high-profile events.
Poker Career Highlights and Winnings
Shannon’s poker journey took off in the mid-2000s, with her debut in the 2005 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event under the mentorship of pro Daniel Negreanu. Just a year later, she won $55,000 at a celebrity/pro invitational tournament at Caesars Palace, besting 83 players. Her run continued with multiple cashes at the WSOP in 2006 and 2007.
Arguably her most impressive showing came in 2007, when she reached the semi-finals of the NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship. Competing against a field stacked with elite poker professionals, Shannon’s deep run marked her as a legitimate threat at the tables. In 2010, she finished runner-up in the $5,000 Ante Up for Africa charity event, winning $79,776—her second-largest cash.
Shannon’s stats reflect both consistency and a solid run during her active years:
- Total Live Tournament Winnings: $247,851
- Biggest Single Cash: $125,000
- All-Time Money List: 13,537th
- Best Historical Rank on All-Time Money List: 2,352nd
- United States All-Time Money List Rank: 6,569th
- Global Poker Index Ranking: 105,304th
Net Worth and Sponsorships
Shannon Elizabeth’s estimated net worth is approximately $7 million accumulated primarily through her acting career, with poker earnings and business ventures adding to her financial portfolio.
Although she never signed a long-term endorsement deal with a major poker site, she was frequently involved in high-profile charity events, many of them hosted by ‘Bodog’. In 2005, one such event raised over $50,000 for her nonprofit, Animal Avengers, which has since evolved into the Shannon Elizabeth Foundation, focused on animal rescue and conservation, particularly in South Africa.
While Shannon Elizabeth has stepped back from competitive play (her last notable live cash coming in 2013), she continues to be regarded as a respected and influential presence in the poker community.
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