Jeanette Lee is an American professional pool player widely recognised as one of the greatest female billiards stars in history. Known by her chilling nickname “The Black Widow,” she ruled the women’s nine-ball circuit during the 1990s and remains one of the sport’s most marketable faces. Beyond the pool table, she is admired for her courageous public fight against stage IV ovarian cancer and her advocacy for scoliosis awareness.
Jeanette Lee Biography
| Field | Details |
| Full name | Jeanette Lee (born Lee Jin-Hee, 이진희) |
| Nickname | The Black Widow |
| Gender | Female |
| Date of birth | July 9, 1971 |
| Age | 54 years old (as of June 2026) |
| Place of birth | Brooklyn, New York, United States |
| Current residence | Tampa, Florida, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Korean-American |
| Zodiac sign | Cancer |
| Religion | Christian |
| Sexual orientation | Straight |
| Height | Around 5 ft 8 in (approximately 173 cm) |
| Weight | Approximately 128 lbs (around 58 kg) |
| Hair colour | Black |
| Eye colour | Dark brown |
| Marital status | Separated / divorced |
| Former spouse | George Breedlove (m. 1996; separated) |
| Children | Four (one son, three daughters) plus two step-daughters |
| Alma mater | Bronx High School of Science (dropped out); attended college (Early Childhood Development) |
| Profession | Professional pool player, author, public speaker, philanthropist |
| Years active | 1989 – present |
| Net worth | Estimated around $7 million |
Who is Jeanette Lee?
Jeanette Lee is an American billiards icon who became the world’s top-ranked female pool player during the mid-1990s.
Born Lee Jin-Hee to Korean immigrant parents in Brooklyn, she discovered pool at age 18 in a Manhattan billiards hall and turned obsession into mastery within a few short years.
Her sweet smile paired with ruthless table presence earned her the nickname “The Black Widow.” She became the first female pool player to land mainstream television deals, magazine covers and endorsement contracts on a global scale. Her image helped pull women’s billiards into the cultural mainstream during the ESPN era.
How old is Jeanette Lee? Age and birthday
Jeanette Lee is 54 years old as of June 2026. She was born on July 9, 1971, in Brooklyn, New York. Her zodiac sign is Cancer, a water sign often linked to grit and emotional depth. She will turn 55 in July 2026.
Jeanette Lee’s height, weight and body measurements
Jeanette Lee stands around 5 feet 8 inches tall, which works out to roughly 173 centimetres. Her weight is estimated at approximately 128 pounds (around 58 kilograms), although she has publicly spoken about weight changes tied to cancer treatment. She has long black hair and dark brown eyes. Her body measurements are estimated at around 34-25-35 inches, though she has never confirmed exact figures publicly.
She has lived with scoliosis since age 13 and has had roughly 10 back surgeries, with steel rods placed in her spine.
What is Jeanette Lee’s education background?
Lee attended the prestigious Bronx High School of Science in New York City before leaving school. She later enrolled in college and completed about two and a half years of studies, majoring in Early Childhood Development. She left school to chase pool professionally once her competitive results made the career path obvious.
Jeanette Lee’s career
Lee first picked up a cue in 1989 at the Chelsea Billiards club in Manhattan. Within months, she was practising up to 16 hours a day, often missing meals and sleep to drill shots.
Rise to world No. 1
By 1993 she was already winning WPBA tour stops. In 1994 she swept multiple major events, including the WPBA U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship, the WPBA National Championship and the Brunswick Classic. That breakout year earned her the Billiards Digest Player of the Year honour.
She held the world No. 1 women’s ranking through the mid-1990s and was named WPBA Sportsperson of the Year in 1998. She also finished runner-up at the Women’s World Nine-ball Championships three times between 1993 and 1996.
International glory and hall of fame
Lee captured a gold medal for Team USA at the 2001 World Games in Akita, Japan, in nine-ball singles. She also took the 2001 BCA Open Nine-ball Championship and won the Tournament of Champions in 1999 and 2003. Over her career, she has collected more than 30 professional titles.
Her achievements led to a triple hall-of-fame induction: the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame and the WPBA Hall of Fame in 2013, followed by the Asian Hall of Fame in 2015. In 2020 she received the BCA President’s Award.
Media, books and recent comeback
Lee has appeared on ESPN broadcasts, HBO Real Sports, The Late Show with David Letterman, Today and Live with Regis & Kelly.
She authored the instructional book The Black Widow’s Guide to Killer Pool and was the subject of an ESPN 30 for 30 short film.
In 2025 she made a celebrated return to the WPBA Tour after her cancer treatment, and she is scheduled to compete at the 2026 WPBA 50th Anniversary Tour events.
She continues to serve as a national spokesperson for the Scoliosis Association and the American Poolplayers Association.
What is Jeanette Lee’s net worth and salary?
As of 2026, Jeanette Lee’s net worth is estimated at around $7 million, according to multiple celebrity finance trackers. Her wealth was built across more than three decades of tournament earnings, endorsements, media appearances, instructional products and business ventures.
Income sources
Her income streams include:
- Prize money from WPBA tournaments and global events
- Sponsorship and endorsement deals with billiards brands
- Royalties from her book The Black Widow’s Guide to Killer Pool
- Speaking engagements and paid corporate appearances
- A former local franchise of the American Poolplayers Association in Tampa
- Television and documentary projects, including ESPN productions
Her exact annual salary is not publicly disclosed. Industry estimates place her speaking and appearance fees in the range of $10,000 to $25,000 per booking.
The COVID-19 pandemic and her cancer diagnosis in 2021 hit her business income hard, which prompted the launch of a public fundraiser to support her daughters.
Is Jeanette Lee married? Husband and relationship status
Jeanette Lee married fellow professional pool player George Breedlove, nicknamed “The Flamethrower,” in 1996. The pair were once known as one of the sport’s power couples, often appearing at events together.
They have since separated, and Lee now identifies publicly as a single mother. The exact date of their divorce has not been confirmed in public records.
Children
Lee is a mother of six in total when including step-children. With Breedlove and through fostering, adoption and surrogacy, she raised four children: a son (whom she fostered) and three daughters named Cheyenne, Chloe and Savannah. She also helped raise Breedlove’s two daughters from a previous marriage, Morgan and Olivia.
Lee has spoken openly about being told she could not have biological children, which led her to foster and adopt. Her youngest daughter was born through surrogacy, and her next pregnancy came as a surprise less than a year later.
Health battle with ovarian cancer
In February 2021, Lee announced that she had been diagnosed with stage IV ovarian cancer. Doctors initially gave her a difficult prognosis. She responded with intensive chemotherapy and targeted therapy using the drug Lynparza.
By May 2022, her treatments were reported as successful, and she entered a period of remission. Later updates confirmed a recurrence, and she has continued maintenance therapy while returning to competitive play. She remains an ambassador for the V Foundation and an outspoken advocate for ovarian cancer awareness.
Social media presence
As of June 2026, Jeanette Lee has around 80,000 followers on Instagram (@jeanettelee), where she shares pool tips, family moments, cancer-awareness messages and tour updates.
She also maintains an active Facebook page with more than 200,000 followers. Her content style blends personal storytelling with billiards promotion.
Fast facts about Jeanette Lee
- Her Korean birth name is Lee Jin-Hee (이진희).
- She was raised in a Korean immigrant family in Brooklyn alongside her sisters.
- She practised pool up to 16 hours a day in her early years.
- She has had around 10 back surgeries because of scoliosis.
- She often wore black at tournaments, which inspired her “Black Widow” nickname.
- ESPN once named her one of the sexiest female athletes in the world.
- She is an ESPN 30 for 30 documentary subject.
- She launched the Jeanette Lee Legacy Fund on GoFundMe to support her daughters.
- She returned to the WPBA Tour in 2025 after her cancer battle.
- She lives in Tampa, Florida, with her daughters and foster son.
Read more: Tia Blanco Net worth, age, height, husband, career
Wrapping up
Jeanette Lee’s life mixes raw talent, relentless work and quiet courage. From a teen with steel rods in her spine to a global pool superstar with more than 30 professional titles, she has reshaped how the world views women in billiards.
Her ongoing fight against stage IV ovarian cancer and her 2026 return to professional play have only added new layers to a story that already reads like a Hollywood script.
References
- Wikipedia. “Jeanette Lee”.
- American Poolplayers Association. “Jeanette Lee ‘The Black Widow’”.
- The Sun. “What is ‘Black Widow’ Jeanette Lee’s net worth and who was her husband?”.
- IMDb. “Jeanette Lee”.
- SurvivorNet. “Billiards Champ Jeanette Lee on Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer”.
- The V Foundation. “The Black Widow: V Foundation Ambassador Jeanette Lee”.
- Impact Podcast. “Cultivating a Survivor’s Instinct with Jeanette ‘The Black Widow’ Lee”.
- Sparks Magazine. “A Black Widow’s beginnings: Jeanette Lee”.
Disclaimer: At Glamora Magazine, we collect information from trusted public sources to bring you the latest in fashion, beauty, and celebrity news. While we work hard to ensure accuracy, we cannot guarantee that every detail is 100% complete or current. We encourage readers to verify information independently. For corrections, feedback, or inquiries, contact us at: info@glamoramagazine.com.
