Howard Lederer

Childhood

Howard Henry Lederer was born on October 30, 1964, in Concord, New Hampshire. He was fortunate to be introduced to card games at a young age through his family, who fostered his early interest in strategic gameplay. His father, Richard Lederer—an author, linguist, and former educator at St. Paul's School—also taught him to play chess, which Howard developed a competitive interest in during his teenage years.

Howard comes from a family of notable achievements: his sister Annie Duke also became a professional poker player of considerable renown, while his other sister, Katy Lederer, established herself as an author. Though his father was Jewish, his mother was not, and Howard was not raised in the Jewish faith.

Career

Professional Poker Accomplishments

Lederer moved to Las Vegas in 1993 to fully commit to poker. Between 1993 and 1999, he made eight WSOP final tables. In 2000, he captured his first WSOP bracelet in the $5,000 Limit Omaha Hi/Lo event, followed by a second bracelet in 2001 in the $5,000 No-Limit Deuce to Seven event. He later secured World Poker Tour (WPT) titles in 2002 and 2003 and notched two WPT wins in 2004. In 2008, he won over AUD 1 million at the Aussie Millions High Roller and earned $250,000 for a runner-up finish in the WSOP Tournament of Champions in 2010. As of 2022, Lederer’s live tournament winnings exceeded $6.5 million, with 44 WSOP cashes accounting for over $1.5 million.

Other Poker Activities

Outside of tournaments, Lederer became a prominent poker commentator and educator. He appeared on NBC’s Poker After Dark 14 times and provided expert analysis for several poker TV shows. He produced instructional videos, contributed to strategy books (notably The Full Tilt Poker Strategy Guide), and hosted poker fantasy camps. From 2006 to 2011, he also served on the board of the Poker Players Alliance.

Full Tilt Poker

Lederer co-founded Tiltware LLC, the company behind Full Tilt Poker, and served as a board member. Launched in 2004, Full Tilt Poker became a leading online poker site, sponsoring numerous televised poker programs. However, in 2011, the U.S. Department of Justice shut the site to U.S. players and later suspended its license amid allegations of fraud. The DOJ accused Full Tilt’s owners of misappropriating $443 million in player funds, with Lederer reportedly receiving $42 million. A 2012 settlement saw PokerStars acquire Full Tilt Poker’s assets and repay players. Lederer settled separately with the DOJ, forfeiting over $2.5 million without admitting wrongdoing.

Personal life

Lederer resides in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he relocated in 1993. He lives with his wife, Suzie, and his son, Mattias. Though previously overweight, Lederer underwent gastric bypass surgery which helped him achieve significant weight loss. In a 2006 interview, he mentioned that he follows a vegetarian diet.

Revenue

Howard Lederer's poker career has been financially substantial. His tournament winnings alone exceed $6.5 million, with significant contributions from his two WSOP bracelet victories, WPT titles, and other high-profile tournament placements. His involvement with Full Tilt Poker also generated considerable income, with reports suggesting he received approximately $42 million from the company between 2007 and 2011.

Interesting facts

Howard Lederer is known in the poker community as "The Professor," a nickname given to him by poker player and commentator Jesse May. While Lederer claims the nickname came "out of nowhere," it has since been attributed to his strategic approach to poker and his instructional style.

Lederer comes from a family of accomplished individuals: his father is a renowned author and linguist, one sister (Annie Duke) is a successful poker player, and his other sister (Katy Lederer) is an established author.

Despite his significant career in poker, Lederer briefly attended Columbia University before choosing to pursue poker professionally.

Lederer and his wife have been involved in various charitable activities, including hosting charity poker events such as the "April Fools" fundraiser in 2009 to support the Las Vegas Springs Preserve, and the "Suzie and Howard Lederer Celebrity Charity Tourney" in 2009 and 2010, which benefited the Boys and Girls Club of Las Vegas.

Legacy

Howard Lederer's legacy in poker is complex. On one hand, he is recognized for his substantial achievements as a player, with two WSOP bracelets, two WPT titles, and numerous other tournament successes. His contributions to poker strategy through books, instructional videos, and commentary have helped educate a generation of players.

On the other hand, his reputation was significantly impacted by the controversy surrounding Full Tilt Poker. The allegations of financial mismanagement and the company's collapse affected not only Lederer's standing in the poker community but also had broader implications for online poker regulation in the United States.

Despite these controversies, Lederer's technical poker skills and strategic understanding of the game remain respected, and his nickname "The Professor" speaks to his analytical approach to poker that influenced many players.