Vanessa Rousso Bio: From Law Grad to Poker Star
Written by
Joe - Poker PlayerLast updated:
April 17, 2024
Shrewd, strategic, successful—these are just a few words to describe Vanessa Rousso, a name synonymous with brilliance in the high-stakes world of poker. But Vanessa’s journey extends far beyond the felt. This French-American female poker player isn’t just a card shark; she’s a whip-smart scholar with a law degree and a captivating personality transcending the poker table.
It is about the fascinating story of a professional poker player, Vanessa Rousso. We’ll explore her rise to poker stardom, multifaceted talents, and unique path in love and life.
Vanessa Rousso Life At A Glance
| Full Name | Vanessa Ashley Rousso |
| Nickname | Pokerness, Lady Maverick |
| Date of Birth | February 5, 1983 |
| Zodiac Sign | Aquarius |
| Age | 41 |
| Born | White Plains, New York |
| Nationality | United States |
| Residence | Miami, FL, and Las Vegas, NV – US |
| Siblings | 2 sisters |
| Sexual Orientation | Lesbian |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Wife | Melissa Ouellet |
| Number of Children | 3 boys |
| Pet | A Dog called Maverick, died in 2023 |
| Eye Color | Light Brown |
| Height | 5′ 7″ = 170.18 cm |
| Weight | 119 lbs = 53.9 kg |
| Net Worth | $4 Million |
| WSOP Bracelets | None |
| GPI Rank | 218,341 |
| Total Live Earnings | $3,554,328 |
| Best Live Cash | $700,160 |
| Total Cashes | 59 |
| Popularity Ranking | 63 |
| All-Time Money List | 586 |
| Education | Economics, Political Science, and Law graduate |
| Profession | Poker Player, Lawyer, Music Producer, and DJ |
| Twitter (X) | @VanessaRousso |
| @vanessarousso | |
| @VanessaRoussoOfficial |
Vanessa Rousso Biography & Background
Born in Feb 1983, Vanessa Rousso is the eldest child in the French-American Rousso family. She has two younger sisters, Tiffany and Leticia. Her father, Marc Rousso, settled in the US in 1982. He is a French businessman, the founder of Accoona.com, a business-to-business search engine, and X3D Technology which is an active player in the international Chess landscape. Cynthia Bradley is Vanessa’s American mother and her major supporter in everything she has done in life. Vanessa’s story starts in White Plains, New York, but by age three, she was living in Paris with her family. A natural learner, she began talking and reading at an early age. Holding dual citizenship in the US and France, Vanessa thrived in a multilingual environment.
Following her parents’ divorce in 1992, Vanessa moved to Florida with her mother, excelling academically and athletically. She wasn’t just a bookworm; she was active in swimming, lacrosse, and debate. She even played softball and basketball for fun. The debate became a particular strength, with Vanessa competing in national policy debate tournaments.
While her mother was a guidance counselor, Vanessa graduated valedictorian from high school. Balancing academics with extracurriculars, she maintained an extraordinary GPA of 4.0. She participated in the National Honor Societies (French and general), founded the Environmental Club, volunteered with Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, and even played the violin.
Her youngest sister, Tiffany, is a 39-year-old high school teacher and Big Brother contestant. Leticia, Vnaessa’s second sister, is a 40-year-old optometrist in Florida.
College at Duke University saw Vanessa continue her impressive streak. She graduated in record time, earning a degree in Economics and a minor in Political Science in only two and a half years. This remarkable achievement is the shortest completion time frame in Duke’s history.
Vanessa’s interest in game theory led her to explore challenges like chess and the Rubik’s Cube. However, her intellectual curiosity ultimately led her to poker, a game that incorporated human psychology and offered the possibility of winning even with a weaker hand. This fascination with the strategic and psychological aspects of the game would become a defining characteristic of her poker career.
While pursuing a law degree at the University of Miami, Vanessa began playing poker tournaments seriously. Despite initially leaving law school to chase poker full-time, her academic drive eventually led her back. She returned to college again in 2017 and graduated magna cum laude in the Spring of next year, finally completing her law degree and passing the Florida Bar Exam.
Today, Vanessa remains a respected figure in poker and is among the few high-stakes LGBTQ poker players. She resides in South Florida with her family of five. Although Vanessa hasn’t cashed in a tournament since 2017, her impressive career earnings still rank her among the top female poker players of all time. Her nickname, “Maverick,” was inspired by a relative and reflects the bold way she entered a high-stakes poker event early in her career.
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Straight to Lesbian: Vanessa Rousso’s Love Life
Vanessa’s love life and relationships have been complicated and involved much drama over the past decades.
She married Chad Brown, the famous American actor, professional poker player, Ultimate Poker Challenge television series presenter, and color commentator from Manhattan, New York. Vanessa called him a “soul mate”. The couple had been together for a couple of years before getting married. However, the love story was not a fairy tale, and they separated in 2012. Even after separation, Chad and Vanessa remained close friends and poker pals.
In 2014, Chad was diagnosed with liposarcoma and a big tumor was removed from his abdomen. He underwent various chemotherapy sessions and struggled with the disease for some time until he passed away on July 2, 2014. Below is a snapshot from Vanessa’s Facebook page about Chad while he was struggling with cancer:
Vanessa Rousso Wife: Who Is Melissa Ouellet Rousso?
Nobody knows for sure if Vanessa divorced Chad because she had an affair, was in love with a girl, or it happened after they separated. However, from what we found on Vanessa’s official Instagram page, Melissa Oulette, a music producer and DJ, and Vanessa have been friends since 2013 (or even before!). Obviously, they have been together right after Vanessa divorced his ex-husband. In October 2015, they officially got engaged and soon after married. Since then, Melissa changed her family name and added Rousso to it.
Meet The Rousso Family
Melissa and Vanessa decided to start their own family in 2019. As a lesbian couple, they had to get pregnant through In vitro fertilization or IVF. A gay couple, Ryan Acarrillo and Luke Prusinski, donated their sperm so Vanessa and Melissa could get pregnant. After 3 rounds of IVF, Melissa got pregnant with a boy and gave birth to Lucas Valentino Rousso on Feb 15, 2020. Vanessa got pregnant with an identical twin boy. She had a very difficult pregnancy. When she was diagnosed with severe preeclampsia, doctors had to perform an emergency c-section to save the babies. The twin was born 8 weeks prematurely on March 4, 2020, and stayed at NICU(Neonatal ICU) for weeks before they were discharged in April 2020. They named the twin boys London James Rousso & Lorenzo Mark Rousso.
The Rousso family story is not the traditional one. Still, they love their life and family, and as Vanessa pointed out on her Instagram page, they wouldn’t have it any other way. It has been a year since Vanessa did not post on social media, and her last post was the news of her dog’s death, Maverick. However, the rest of the family, especially the fathers, are active on social media. Luke is a custom designer and fashion stylist. At the same time, Ryan works as a TV host and a pro Skater.
Vanessa Rousso Poker Career
Vanessa Rousso is the Big Brother finalist and her journey in professional poker began in late 2005. Within her first year, she was already turning heads with multiple in-the-money finishes at major tournaments. Some of her early highlights include a prestigious 7th-place finish at the 2006 World Poker Tour Championship and a triumphant 1st-place win at the 2006 Borgata Open’s $5,000 No-Limit Hold’em event.
Rousso also established a strong online presence under “Lady Maverick” as part of Team PokerStars (until 2015). Her talent and strategic mind translated well to the virtual world, and she also achieved significant success online.
In her overall career, Vanessa Rousso ranks among the top 10 women in poker history for all-time money winnings (over $3.5 million, excluding online earnings) as of 2021. One of her biggest career achievements was a second-place finish at the 2007 World Championship of Online Poker Main Event, which was her most significant payday then.
Her impressive list of accomplishments also includes reaching the prestigious 2009 National Heads-Up Poker Championship finals, where she ultimately faced off against Huck Seed. Another major win came in 2009 when she conquered the €25,000 EPT High Roller Championship, taking home the highest payday of her career – a whopping €570,000.
Vanessa Rousso hasn’t actively participated in tournaments since 2017, and the poker champion’s resume is missing a WSOP bracelet. Her last cash was on Apr 09, 2017, in the $1,100 No-Limit Hold’em, 2017 APT Spring Fling Poker Series event, where she finished 18th and won $3,086.
She is primarily focused on her family life and career in law. Vanessa and her wife had a DJ Duo program called N1TE L1TE that streamed on YouTube, Soundcloud, and Spotify. However, they have not produced anything new since they decided to grow their family and get pregnant.
Last Few Words
While Vanessa Rousso hasn’t actively participated in tournaments since 2017, her impact on the poker world remains undeniable. She continues to inspire aspiring players, particularly women, with her strategic brilliance and success at the highest levels. Beyond poker, Vanessa’s journey showcases the power of dedication and intellectual curiosity as she achieves academic excellence and a demanding professional career.
Explore the fascinating lives of other poker legends on our website! Discover their unique journeys, game-changing strategies, and unforgettable moments at the tables.
