Maria Ho’s family is in real estate. They want her to consider a career in real estate. If not real estate, maybe put her communications degree from the University of California at San Diego to good use. Just in case this “whole poker thing” doesn’t work out.
“I was raised in a very traditional Chinese family. My sister has her PhD. She’s a psychologist. They’d prefer a more traditional career for me. Even if I don’t want one.”
So far, poker has been treating Maria pretty well. She’s is the number 3 ranked female poker player in the world and was the last woman standing that this year’s World Series Of Poker. She seems to be doing just fine.
Born in Taiwan, Maria moved to LA with her parents and sister at the age of 4. After putting in her time at the University of California at San Diego, the place where she started playing poker for fun and occasionally taking people’s money, she moved back to LA and built enough confidence and skills to pursue a career in playing poker professionally.
Maria sat down for The BroBible Podcast and we talked about her time at UCSD, the seedy games that go on around campus and if that communications degree ever came into use.
Spoiler: it kinda did.