The Pros: Barry Greenstein
Barry Greenstein was born December 30, 1954 in Chigago Illinois. He now lives in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. He currently is unmarried and has 6 children.
Greenstein began playing at the age of four with his family and then graduated to playing for money at age 13 with friends. He played poker through his high school and college years, graduating from the University of Illinois in computer science and then spent 10 years in the PhD program in mathematics. Greenstein became an initial employee of the enormously successful software company Symantec, but left to play poker because he could make more money and control his own fate.
Barry Greenstein was one of the top high stakes cash game poker players in the world. Until recently he only played in a number of tournaments. With the huge success of the World Poker Tour, Barry Greenstein decided to start playing tournaments to try and bring attention to his favorite charities, and to encourage others to give.
Barry is well known in the poker world as "the Robin Hood of Poker" for all of his charitable acts. His favorite charity is “Children, Incorporated,” a child sponsorship program which is affiliated with schools, orphanages, and welfare centers around the world and in the United States. This charity helps to provide food, clothing, and educational needs to children deep in poverty. The $600,000 from his win in Tunica will be committed to rebuilding shelters and supporting disaster relief programs for children in countries around the world.
The other half will be divided among a number of other programs, including “Guyana Watch,” which flies doctors to the remote nation to perform surgeries. Greenstein will cover the cost of key medications and help personally direct the effort on site. That donation is a result of a reciprocal commitment with Guyanian poker player, Victor Ramdin, who donated to “Children, Incorporated” when he did well in a tournament. Greenstein is returning the favor.
Barry is also very well known for teaching Mimi Tran, one of the most respected female poker players around, how to improve her game. She in turn taught him how to speak Vietnamese.
Some of Barry Greenstein's accomplishments:
Tournament Accomplishments:
7th on the WPT money list with $1,533,401
1 WPT Title
Four total cashes on the WPT
1 WSOP Bracelet
15 Cashes at the WSOP
Won $1 million at the Larry Flynt Inviational (Stud)
Total tournament earnings: $3,635,793
Barry Greenstein's official site
Picture courtesy of The World Poker Tour
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