Beth Shak Poker Player Biography
Written by
Joe - Poker PlayerLast updated:
January 23, 2024
You can count yourself extremely lucky if you have had a life as full as Beth Shak’s by the time you are 54. From a professional poker player to a fashion icon, philanthropist, TV star, fashion designer, collection holder, and mother, whatever she has done, she has excelled in it. Beth’s life can be divided into two eras: while she was playing poker and now as a professional jewelry curator and retailer. The only two things that have been constant in her life are fashion and charity. Read on to know Beth Shak a little better and find out about her life as a professional poker player and beyond that.
Who is Beth Shak?
Beth Silverberg is known as Beth Shak in poker circles. Shak was her ex-husband’s last name, which somehow stayed with her even after their divorce in 2009 (more on that later). She was born on November 8, 1969, in a family where poker was a constant of their favorite pastimes. So, it was only natural that she started playing poker on Full Tilt Poker without betting any money as a young woman. She played poker professionally between 2004 and 2017 and earned a total sum of over $480K during her career.
Beth Shak’s Poker Career
Beth continued playing poker with virtual money until she felt confident enough to put real money into the game. That was when her husband, Daniel Shak, had taken up poker as a hobby and traveled the world playing in different tournaments. So, she thought, why don’t I go with him? She started playing poker and soon found out that she was good at it and made much more money than the job she had at that time.
Beth Shak’s Best Poker Wins
Beth Shak started her poker career by participating in the 2005 World Series of Poker for Ladies. It was an immediate success because she got 8th place and won $16,405. Her largest win came two years later at the 2007 WSOP. She lost first place to Jennifer Tilly and got second place, earning $328,683. Beth continued traveling the world and participating in poker tournaments and events, but her following significant win came with the 2019 WSOP Circuit, where she won $26,232. The final recorded game in which Beth won was WSOP in 2013. Her ranking in these tournaments was 126, earning only $2,111.
She was never a full-time poker player because she had three kids to care for. So, she picked her games carefully. She has 17 money wins under her belt, and she ended her career winning over $480,000.
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Beth Shak’s Humanitarian Projects
Charity work has been one of the most important aspects of Beth’s life. She has participated in many charity events and organized even more humanitarian projects; some are mentioned here. One of the charity poker events she organized early on in her career was Deal Me In. The purpose of this event was to help prevent suicide among university students. She also founded the charity poker tournament “All In For Kids,” raising millions of dollars to benefit the palliative care center at the Philadelphia Children’s Hospital.
Shak is also co-chair of the “Pink Tie Ball,” a charity organization supporting cancer patients and other worthy causes since 2005. These causes include the American Red Cross, P.A.W.S., the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Beth Shak’s Businesses
Poker has never been the sole source of income for Beth Shak. She is also known as a fashion icon and a successful shoe designer in American society, especially among celebrities who have enjoyed her designs for years. Over the years, she has designed shoes, started her own line of clothing, and even created a customized set of poker chips.
She started a vintage accessories store after retiring from most of these businesses. She travels the world and finds valuable and vintage pieces of jewelry and clothing and then puts them up for sale in her “Exceptional Finds.” At 54, she is as vital as ever and runs the business independently.
Beth Shak’s TV Appearances
When she worked as a professional poker player, Beth Shak appeared on many poker-related TV shows. One of these shows was Poker After Dark, which hosts poker stars each week for an hour to play poker and gossip about the previous week’s events. She has also shown off her house on MTV Crib, talked about her dreams on Celebrity Nightmares Decoded, gotten a tattoo on NY Ink, and even found a husband on Millionaire Matchmaker. All of these TV appearances have helped America know Beth as a charismatic and amiable fashion icon and love her for her successes.
Beth Shak’s Family Life
Beth was married to Daniel Shak, a professional poker player until she got divorced in 2009. The exact date of their marriage is unclear, and she has never mentioned a reason for her divorce. But it was Daniel who encouraged her to play poker professionally and put her on the path that earned her over $480,000. After their divorce, Beth kept her married name in professional circles because she was best known as Beth Shak.
In 2016, she married Rick Leventhal, whom she had met on a TV show called Millionaire Match Maker. Rick was the primary correspondent for the Fox TV Channel between 1997 and 2021. The marriage didn’t last long, and Beth filed for divorce only nine months after they had announced their union. Beth has three children: Austin (28), Lindy (26), and Cary (25). She currently spends half her time in New York with her children and the other half in Philadelphia, where her business is located.
Beth Shak’s Shoe Collection
Beth has made the news several times for her impressive shoe collection. She has over 1,500 pairs of shoes, most from famous brands. She also has an extensive collection of precious handbags. She even had to go to court and defend her collection from her ex-husband, Daniel, only three years after their divorce. David claimed that she had hidden her collection from him during the divorce proceedings, but he lost the case, and Beth got to keep her shoes and handbags to herself.
Beth Shak’s Net Worth
Poker has made a small contribution to Beth’s total net worth. She has always been an entrepreneur, a businesswoman, and a fashion designer first. Therefore, it makes sense that her net worth is much more than the $48 thousand that she earned from her poker tournaments. It is estimated that her net worth is about 10 million dollars. She has even reached the 94th place in the Pennsylvania all-time money list.
Beth Shak’s Life in a Box
| Name | Beth Silverberg |
| Nickname | Beth Shak |
| Born | November 8, 1969 |
| Birthplace | Philadelphia |
| Started poker | 2004 |
| Retired from playing poker | 2017 |
| Biggest win | $328,683 at the 2007 WSOP |
| Total poker wins | $481,809 |
| Net worth | $10 million |
| Pennsylvania’s all-time money list | 94th |
| Husbands | Daniel Shak (- till 2009)
Rick Leventhal (2016-2017) |
| Children | Austin (1995)
Lindy (1997) Cary (1998) |
| Current business | Exceptional Finds jewelry store |
| @exceptional.finds with 4,460 followers |
