Barry Greenstein: Kind-Hearted Pro
Barry Greenstein has been known to donate his poker earnings to charity, thus he's popularly called the "Robin Hood of Poker". He fondly donates to the Children Incorporated which an organization sponsoring thousands of children from twenty one countries. Greenstein has accumulated over $ 3.9 million in tournament winnings.
Greenstein's generosity has brought him more opportunities to play poker in other tournament events. Just in 2003 alone, he had played in over forty tournaments and events. Many of Greenstein's accomplishments include the $ 1 million he won at Larry Flynt's Hustler Casino at the one-table stud event and the $ 500 No-Limit Hold'em event of the California State Poker Championship tournament held at Commerce Casino where he took home $ 100,815.
Greenstein is one person who values continuous learning that one time he asked his girlfriend Mimi Tran to teach him how to speak Vietnamese in exchange a poker tutorials from him. They have been in a relationship for many years.
Barry Greenstein was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois on December 30, 1954. Greenstein learned how to play poker at an early age. His father was a popular poker player during his Army days and hi mother played poker with him. When he was thirteen, Greenstein played home games and he'd win $ 30 to $ 50 per night. When he was twenty years old, he was already a pro. Greenstein has other talents aside from playing poker; he was nearly fifteen when he developed his first software.
Education is important to Greenstein. He studied high school in Bogan High and studied college at the University of Illinois with a degree in computer science and a doctorate in Mathematics.
Prior to his career in Symantec, Greenstein was facing divorce and was advised by his lawyer to get a reputable job in order for him to support his children. He retired from his corporate job at the age of 36 and went on playing poker, this time playing full-time in order to support his wife and children.
Greenstein's love for children is quite evident for he has six of them and several step children. With his career as a pro poker player, the possibilities of earning large payouts are endless; thus giving him more opportunities to support others and his family as well.
He is now writing a book which is dedicated to unfortunate children especially to children of pro gamblers who have been neglected by their parents during the critical stage of their lives. Barry Greenstein, the "Robin Hood of Poker", is a true winner in both pro poker and in real life. He currently resides in Ranchos Palos Verdes in California.