Daniel 'Dan' Shak is an American semi-professional poker player and a hedge fund manager. He is a regular on the high stakes circuit, playing major poker events and occasional cash games.
The majority of Shak's net worth comes from his work in finance. Even so, Shak has won over $12 million in live poker tournament cashes over almost two decades of play. Dan Shak's biggest poker win came when he took second at the 2014 PCA $10,000 Super High Roller for $1,178,980. This topped Shak's poker victory at the Aussie Millions in 2010, where he won the $100,000 Challenge event for $1,107,553.
Shak's family life is largely private. However, he was married to poker player and model Beth Shak. They divorced in 2009 and Dan Shak remarried in 2014.
Dan Shak Background
Dan Shak was born in 1959 in the U.S.. Before he became known in the world of poker, Shak made a name for himself in a slightly different environment��Wall Street.
Shak started as a trader on the floor of the New York Mercantile and Commodities Exchange. Moving up from COMEX, in 2002 Shak established his own hedge fund under the name of SHK Asset Management.
Since then Shak's business has done well, allowing him to pursue a hobby in high-stakes poker.
Dan Shak Poker History
Dan Shak's tournament successes date back to a handful of mid-stakes cashes in 2004. Since then, his poker portfolio has grown substantially with over $12 million in live cashes.
For almost two decades, Shak has posted multiple major cashes every year. Not bad for a side-hustle.
Among Dan Shak's poker achievements are several first-place finishes in high roller events, two $1,000,000+ cashes, and two runner-up finishes in WSOP bracelet events (the 2023 WSOP $10,000 Seven Card Stud Championship and the 2010 $5,000 Pot Limit Omaha Hi/Lo event).
He also plays in high-stakes cash games, TV shows, and live streams like Poker Night In America and High Stakes Poker.
Dan Shak's Top Five Poker Cashes
Date | Event | Position | Prize | Prize (USD) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Jan 2014 | PCA 2014 $100,000 SHR | 2nd | - | $1,178,980 |
Jan 2010 | Aussie Millions A$100,000 SHR | 1st | A$1,200,000 | $1,107,553 |
Jan 2012 | PCA 2012 $ 100,000 SHR | 2nd | - | $846,700 |
May 2016 | 2016 Super High Roller Bowl $300,000 NLHE | - | $600,000 | |
Mar 2013 | Premier League Poker VI, London $125,000 NLHE | 1st | - | $528,000 |
Wealth��What is Dan Shak��s Net Worth?
Dan Shak's net worth is hard to estimate. However, given his willingness to play dozens of $100,000 no limit hold'em tournaments against some of the best players in the world, we can assume it is pretty high.
SHK Asset Management is a relatively small hedge fund with assets under management of around $10 million according to Business Insider. As a hedge fund manager Shak's income is tied to the fund's performance.
Some online estimates run from $1 million to $15 million. However, these are largely guesses, we may never know the real number. What we do know is that he has enough set aside to feel comfortable paying $100,000 just for "study."
Dan Shak Controversies
Dan Shak has been a fairly uncontroversial poker player. Well-liked in the poker community and
However, as a hedge fund manager, he has been in trouble multiple times.
Financial Controversies
In 2022, the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission made allegations that Shak had used his hedge fund to manipulate gold markets through a practice called spoofing.
He has also had multiple previous run-ins with authorities, including fines in 2008 for a commodities trading practice called "banging the close," in 2013 for manipulating oil prices, and in 2014 for violating a trading ban.
So far all Shak's financial violations so far have been civil, not criminal.
Frequently Asked Questions��FAQs
Is Dan Shak a poker player or hedge fund manager?
Both! Dan Shak plays poker semi-professionally but his main job is as a hedge fund manager.
Who is Dan Shak's wife?
Dan Shak was married to poker player Beth Shak for several years. After a divorce in 2009, he was remarried to former model Anna Shak in 2014.
Is Dan Shak good at poker?
Although, poker is not his main career, Dan Shak is solid amateur who frequently plays with the best players in the world. So far he has won over $12 million in live tournament cashes.