Barry Greenstein
Barry Greenstein is one of the most successful players of all time, and also one of the most generous. Dubbed "The Robin Hood of Poker" Barry donates all of his tournament winnings to charity while actually making his living at the high stakes cash tables. He was one of the last big name players to sign a sponsorship deal with an online poker room (PokerStars) and the reason he did it was primarily to cover his expenses from the ever-growing tournament schedule so that he could continue donating 100% of his winnings.
As he is not an attention seeker, casual poker fans have not gotten to know much about Barry except that he gives away his tournament paychecks. In recent years, however, he has become more and more popular for his cash game skills as a result of his appearances on the television show High Stakes Poker.He has been able to showcase his extraordinary strategic and creative poker mind on the show.
Barry produced one of the most memorable moments in recent World Series of Poker history in 2005, when he won the $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha event. He had learned about a 26-year-old poker player named Charlie Tuttle from Tennessee, who was dying of cancer and decided to dedicate his tournament to the young man. Barry was obviously overcome with emotion after winning the final hand and, in an uncharacteristic move, took the microphone from the tournament director to tell everyone about Charlie. Unfortunately, Charlie lost his battle shortly thereafter.
He has totaled over $7.5 million in live tournament winnings and an impressive 52 WSOP cashes.
Barry Greenstein Fun Facts and Finishes
- Three WSOP bracelets -- $5,000 No-Limit Deuce-to-Seven Draw (2004); $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha (2005); $1,500 Razz (2008)
- Two WPT titles -- $10,000 Jack Binion Poker Open (2004); L.A. Poker Classic Invitational (2006)
- Was playing in another WSOP event at the same time he won his bracelet in 2005
- One of the first employees of Symantec Corporation; helped develop the successful software product, Q&A.
- His stepson, Joe Sebok, is also a professional poker player.
- He is also is known for giving away a copy of his book to a player who eliminates him in a tournament, including his autograph and details of the hand.
World Series of Poker Bracelets
Year
Tournament
Prize (US$)
2004
$5,000 No Limit Deuce to Seven Draw
$296,200
2005
$1,500 Pot Limit Omaha
$128,505
2008
$1,500 Razz
$157,619
