Queen of Stud: Cyndy Violette Wiki, Net Worth & More!
Written by
Joe - Poker PlayerLast updated:
April 13, 2024
Cyndy is a professional high-stakes poker player who belongs to the generation of women poker players who were treated as second-class citizens in the poker world, but they did not give up. Cyndy started playing professional poker at the male-dominated tables in the late 19s and has had many ups and downs ever since. However, her name has been mentioned in debates about the hottest and best-looking female poker player. Everyone who played against her, male or female, agrees that she is not only a pretty face but an excellent poker player.
This is the story of a 65-year-old woman who belies the poker stereotypes and becomes the Queen of Stud! Let’s uncover Cyndy Violette’s life, poker achievements, love life, net worth, and more.
Cyndy Violette Fast Facts
| Full Name | Cyndy Violette |
| Nickname | Ultra |
| Date of Birth | August 19, 1959 |
| Zodiac Sign | Leo |
| Age | 65 |
| Born | Queens, New York |
| Nationality | United States |
| Residence | Las Vegas, NV, United States |
| Sexual Orientation | Straight |
| Marital Status | Single(divorced) |
| Number of Children | 1 girl |
| Pet | A Dog called Rosie |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Height | 1.66 cm |
| Weight | 55 kg |
| Net Worth | $2 Million |
| GPI Rank | 171,213 |
| Total Live Earnings | $1,419,017 |
| Best Live Cash | $295,970 |
| Popularity Ranking | 667 |
| All-Time Money List | 1,857 |
| Education | High School |
| Profession | Poker Player- Owner of Violettes Vegan |
| NFL Favorite Team | Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers |
| Twitter (X) | @CyndyViolette |
| @cyndyviolette19 | |
| @cyndyviolette |
Cyndy Violette Biography
Cyndy Violette was born in Queens, New York. he used to play poker and card games with her relatives at the kitchen table when she was a little girl but got into poker in her 20s. Cyndy was just 12 when her family moved to Las Vegas, Nevada. She finished high school but did not attend college, and there is little that we know about her educational background. She fell in love at a young age and married before entering the professional poker world.
Cyndy & The Male-Dominated World of Poker
She started at casino world as a blackjack and poker dealer at a downtown Las Vegas casino when she was 21. She did not have enough bankroll to play full-time poker and was basically broke! So, she only played at $1 and $4 poker tables, and thanks to her talent, she didn’t stay broke for a long time. Cyndy admits that she didn’t know what she was doing at the time, and everything seemed to be pure luck or some innate skill that made her win pot after pot. Cyndy started to believe that she could actually make a living playing cards.
The whole idea seemed pretty crazy because, at a time, she had seen dozens of gamblers going broke trying to make the transition from amateur to pro. Even worse, men dominated the poker tables, and few professional female poker champions could win tournaments. For example, Betty Carey, a no-limit Queen; Terry King, a master of seven-card stud; and Barbara Enright, the first woman to reach the WSOP Main Event final table. But these women were anomalies as women did not play high-stakes poker, and if they did, they wouldn’t last in the big games for so long. Although things are much different today, you still don’t see many high-stakes pro female poker players at big tournaments.
Violette kept playing low-stakes poker, and as her bankroll grew, so did the buy-ins. She could play poker at $15 to $30 stakes within six months.
The Rise Of The Queen Of Stud
Violette was 22 when she got pregnant, and soon after her daughter, Shannon, was born in 1984, she visited Lake Tahoe on a vacation and played her first-ever poker tournament. Cyndy finished in the top five. That was a moment when she realized poker could be her life-long career. It was Cyndy Violette’s first big step in becoming a full-time pro poker player. After the tournament, she never went back to the dealer’s side of the table and left her job.
Violette entered a Seven-Card Stud Poker tournament at the Golden Nugget in Vegas and won the whole thing. She finished in first place and earned the biggest prize ever won by a female in the history of poker—a $74,000 pot. Her biggest wins and best results are at stud poker tables. Seven-card stud has been her specialty, so people call her the Queen of Stud.
When Violette strictly played this poker variation in the 1980s, the big games were $30-$60. Violette successfully beat those games. It doesn’t mean that she won every single game, no. She consistently won more during her profitable sessions than she lost during her bad ones. In fact, this is what beating poker means. Later, she joined the newly available games at $75-$150 in Vegas and beat those, too.
The Best USA Online Casinos of May 2024
Why Did Cyndy Violette Stop Playing Poker?
It’s all about men! Historically, the high-stakes poker world has been dominated by men, making it an ongoing challenge for Cyndy and other women to achieve success. In 1987, the young Cyndy fell in love for the second time. His name and identity are not publicly available. However, we know he was a professional poker player from Washington, US. This time, Cyndy thought he was the one, and they would make a great poker couple, just like the Foxens.
So, she immediately married him and moved to Washington. Against all her expectations, the mystery guy requested her not to play poker, and she agreed. Cynde did not play a single hand of poker for two years and focused on her family life instead of gambling.However, things only stayed this way for a short time.
Cyndy Chose Poker Over Her Husband
A visit to Caesar’s Palace in 1990 ignited Cyndy’s passion for poker again, leading her to join a tournament and win it. It was when she realized that she could no longer stay away from poker. Cyndy re-entered the poker scene, playing cash games and tournaments in Southern California and Las Vegas card rooms and casinos. But this was not what her husband wanted her to do. So, their relationship rattled, and their marriage started to fall apart. Finally, in 1993, they decided to go their separate ways.
They got divorced, and Cyndy moved to Atlantic City.
Is Cyndy Violette Single?
After getting divorced from her second husband, Cyndy did not get married again and did not start any serious relationships. Her love life details have not been revealed since her second divorce. So, as our sources confirm, Cyndy Violette is currently single.
Poker Career & Achievements
Cyndy belongs to the generation of female poker players who had a hard time playing at male-dominated tables without being discriminated against and looked down on. Although she made good friends with male poker players like Doyle Brunson, she had to work twice as hard to make it to the final tables.
Against all odds, our Stud Queen crushed the high-stakes poker games, achieved a lot, and made things easy for younger-generation female poker players to join the table.
| World Series of Poker Achievements | |
| Winnings | $959,889 |
| Cashes | 45 |
| Final Tables | 12 |
| Bracelets | 1 |
Atlantic City became Violette’s new base. She remained a fixture on the tournament circuit, a regular at the WSOP, and even ventured onto the World Poker Tour. Unlike many players, Violette thrived in weekend cash games, where celebrities, titans of industry, and high rollers flocked to the tables, ready to test their luck for a chance at a big win.
In 1998, she participated in a $500 buy-in Seven Card Stud tournament, the 1998 United States Poker Championship. She finished first and cashed $25,800 in winnings.
Cyndy Violette cemented her place in poker history at the 2004 World Series of Poker. She won a coveted gold bracelet in the seven-card stud high-low split event. She became one of just three women, alongside Kathy Liebert and Annie Duke, to conquer an open tournament that year. Her latest appearance was on February 16, 2023, in the $400 Omaha 8 2022/2023 WSOP Circuit—Las Vegas event, where she finished 10th and cashed $1,493.
Violette Lifestyle, Vegan Diet & Philosophy of Life
Cyndy does not focus only on poker. She also focuses on her diet, lifestyle, and mental health. She has been a vegetarian for a long time and always wanted to open her own health food café.
Cyndy prioritizes her strict vegan diet during the WSOP, relying on a personal chef for custom meals. She also practices Yoga and Aromatherapy regularly. That’s why she is still pretty at the age of 65! She is among the nicest and most positive people you can meet at a poker table. Known for her warm smile and respectful demeanor, Cyndy stands out at the table for her positive attitude, which is rare to see at poker tables!
Here, I quote her from an interview. It is good advice for younger poker enthusiasts who want to break into the competitive world of professional poker.
“You have to have balance in life. Poker can be obsessive and then it’s not good for you. You have to stay focused at all times; don’t get emotionally involved, and don’t let it take over your life.”
Is Violette’s Vegan Closed?
In 2015, Cyndy made her dream come true and opened the fourth Vegan restaurant in Las Vegas. It served a community of poker and non-poker vegans with high-quality foods for dinner, lunch, and brunch. Sadly, although the place had a nearly 5-star rating, in April 2022, she permanently closed the restaurant as the Vegas vegan community now has more than 20 options to dive in and enjoy their favorite foods. She shared a message on the restaurant’s Facebook page to announce they will be closed permanently.
Is Cyndy Violette An Actress?
Cyndy’s primary focus and recognition are firmly in the realm of professional poker. However, she had small acting roles related to her poker career, like appearances on poker shows or documentaries according to IMDB.
She is known for her roles in poker movies, such as Lucky You (2007), Poker Superstars III (2006), and Poker Superstars II (2005) TV shows.
Last Few Words
Cyndy Violette carved her own path in the tough world of high-stakes poker. Some, especially men, might have underestimated her, but her skills and love for the game silenced them. Violette’s success is an inspiration, proving anyone can win at poker with brains and dedication. Especially for women, she’s a true champion, showing they can be the Queens of Tables.
