Jennifer Harman is regarded as one of the top female poker players in the world, and one of the four women to have won multiple bracelets at the WSOP.
Jennifer Harman started her poker journey at an early age. Despite setbacks, like health issues, bankruptcy, and divorce, she has solidified herself as one of the top female poker veterans in the game. In this article, we will throw light on Harman’s early life, poker career, net worth and more.
Jennifer Harman’s Life Before Poker
Born on November 19, 1964, in Reno, Nevada, from an early age, Harman was interested in strategy-oriented games like Poker. She begged her father to teach her poker at the age of 8 and used to play a lot of poker games with her mother.
At the age of 16, she bought a fake ID to play poker at a local brick-and-mortar casino. When Harman was 17, she lost her mother, an event that shaped her life forever. Harman herself faced some serious health issues. At a young age, she experienced kidney failure.
Jennifer Harman went on to graduate from the University of Nevada with a degree in biology. She wasn’t interested in doing a traditional job. Rather, she chose to just play poker professionally and moved to Los Angeles. Harman’s father wasn’t happy with this decision, leading to strained relationships for many years.
After two years of playing poker, Harman took a break from poker and relocated to Maryland, Washington D.C., with her boyfriend, hoping to start a new life. The couple began a business together, but it failed miserably, leaving her in debt. She then took a loan from her grandmother and moved to Las Vegas re-starting her Professional Poker Career.
Jennifer Harman’s Live Poker Career and Her Biggest Cashes
Herman re-entered the Vegas gambling world to pursue her passion once more. She played mid-limit games for years, gradually increasing from $50 and $100 to $200 and $400.
As per Hendon Mob, Jennifer Harman began her live poker tournament journey in 1994. But it was in 1995 that she began marking her name in the tournament circle. She played in 1996. World Series of Poker, where she participated in the $2,500 PLO for 6th place finish, earning $15,750.
In 1998, she came 1st at the Orleans Open in $230 Texas Hold’em, earning $33,600. In 2000, Harman reached new heights in the tournament circle with an extraordinary win at the World Series of Poker. Harman competed in the $5,100 No-Limit Deuce to Seven Draw and finished in first place, claiming her first gold bracelet and the top prize of $146,250.
Surprisingly, Harman had never played No Limit 2-7 Draw before. As said by herself, Howard Lederer introduced her to the game and tutored her for five minutes before the event started. Lederer explained to her the rules and suggested some strategies to use.
Two years later, Harman triumphed in the $5,000 buy-in Limit Hold’em event at the 2002 World Series of Poker, securing his second bracelet and the top prize of $212,440.
Aside from the World Series of Poker, Harman has made some of her career’s biggest cash in the World Poker Tour. She has constantly competed in WPT Championship events, even finishing in 4th place in the 2004 WPT Championship event.
One of her biggest cash game successes came as the member of The Corporation, a team of professional poker players who pooled $10 million to challenge billionaire Texas banker Andy Beal. The team consisted of various poker veterans, including Phil Ivey, Doyle Brunson, Todd Brunson, Ted Forrest, Minh Ly, Howard Lederer, David Grey, Chip Reese, Gus Hansen, and many others, they went on to win more than $16 million from Andy Beal.
She might have never played tournaments if it wasn’t Daniel Negreanu who encouraged Harman to compete in the tournament circle.
Jennifer Harman’s 5 Biggest Cashes
- 2005 – $10,200 NLHE Championship Event at WSOP Circuit – $383,840
- 2008 – $10,000 NLHE Championship Event at WPT Bay – $330,000
- 2004 – $15,300 NLHE Championship Event at WPT – $299,492
- 2002 – $5,000 7 Card Stud at World Series of Poker – $212,440
- 2000 – $5,100 No-Limit 2-7 Draw at World Series of Poker – $146,250
Jennifer Harman’s Net Worth and Achievements
Jennifer Harman is believed to have a net worth of close to $4 million. Harman’s live tournament earnings are nearly $3 million. She is very much a cash game player and most of her wealth comes playing high-stakes cash games. Before competing in tournaments, she used to grind on cash games in Vegas casinos, even paying her debts from cash game winnings.
As per reports, she used to play the big game at the Bellagio Casino, which was only available for some of the top poker players. Some even say that Harman was the only woman to have played in the big game.
Her status as one of the greatest poker players of all time was further solidified in 2005 when Doyle Brunson asked her to contribute to “Super System II,” the sequel to his renowned 1978 poker strategy book. Brunson asked Harman to write a chapter on Limit Hold’em, the game where she had won a WSOP bracelet.
In 2015, Jennifer Harman was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame.
Jennifer Harman’s Personal Life and Philanthropy
In 2000, Harman and Marco Traniello tied the knot, but they ended their marriage several years ago. The couple have twin boys, and they currently share joint custody.
Harman faced several health issues. In 2004, Harman took a year-long break to undergo a second kidney transplant. After her second kidney transplant, Harman founded the charity Creating Organ Donation Awareness (CODA), the charity also raises money for organ donation initiatives and helps those in need.
Harman’s philanthropic efforts exceed CODA. The two-time bracelet winner actively raises fundings for the Nevada Society to Prevent Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA).
Where is Jennifer Harman Today?
Jennifer Harman hasn’t stopped playing poker, but has lowered the frequency of it. She used to play a lot of poker tournaments in the early 2000s but has now shifted her focus towards spending time with her twin sons. Harman still finds time during the summer to play in the World Series of Poker. Harman is currently competing in the 2024 WSOP and has posted four cash finishes. Most recently, she finished 5th for $ 93,615 in the WSOP 2024 $ 10,000 No Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw Championship (Bracelet Event #72).
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only. While we strive to present accurate and up-to-date information, we do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any data, facts, or figures mentioned. Readers are advised to verify any information and use their discretion before making any decisions or judgments based on the content of this article.
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