Lyle Berman

Lyle Berman
Lyle Berman
	Berman in the 2005 World Series of Poker
Residence	Plymouth, Minnesota, U.S.
Born	Lyle Arnold Berman; August 6, 1941 (age 83); Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
World Series of Poker
Bracelet(s)	3
Money finish(es)	16
Highest ITM; Main Event finish	5th, 1989
World Poker Tour
Title(s)	None
Final table(s)	1
Money finish(es)	3
	Information last updated on July 20, 2009.

Lyle Arnold Berman (born August 6, 1941, in Minneapolis, Minnesota) is an American professional poker player and business executive.

Business

Berman grew up in Minnesota and attended the University of Minnesota where he was graduated in 1964 with a degree in business administration. He then went to work for his father's leather business, Berman Buckskin. When the business was sold to W. R. Grace in 1979, he stayed on as president and CEO. The company was then later sold to the Melville Corporation where it became Wilsons Leather. From 1994 to 2000 he was the chairman and CEO of the Rainforest Cafe chain of restaurants and retail stores.^[1]

Berman also played an important role in gaming companies. In 1990 he was a co-founder of Grand Casinos, a company that sought to create gambling establishments outside of Las Vegas and Atlantic City. Grand Casinos' Native American casino holdings were spun off into a new company, Lakes Entertainment, and Berman was named CEO. Additionally, Berman is the chairman of the board of the World Poker Tour and Pokertek.^[1]

He won the B'nai B'rith Great American Traditions award in 1995 and the Gaming Executive of the Year award in 1996.

Berman was one of the many investors victimized by the massive Ponzi scheme of Bernie Madoff, though his actual losses are unknown.^[2]

Poker

Berman has won three World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelets and is a member of the Poker Hall of Fame.^[3]^[4]^[5]^[6]

In 2005, Lyle Berman competed in the National Heads Up Championship. He finished in fifth place losing to eventual champion Phil Hellmuth Jr. in the quarterfinals.^[7]

Although he prefers high-stakes cash games, he has as of 2009 won over $2,500,000 in live poker tournaments.^[8] His 16 cashes at the WSOP account for $1,446,317 of those winnings.^[9] He was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2002.

According to the James McManus book Positively Fifth Street, Berman has bankrolled T. J. Cloutier in numerous poker tournaments, including the 2000 WSOP main event, where he finished 2nd. The book All-In is about Berman's life.^[10]

Berman currently resides in Plymouth, Minnesota and has 4 children and 11 grandchildren.

World Series of Poker Bracelets

Year	Tournament	Prize
1989	$1,500 Limit Omaha	$108,600
1992	$2,500 No Limit Hold'em	$192,000
1994	$5,000 No Limit Deuce to Seven Draw	$128,250

Publications

Berman co-authored I'm All In : Lyle Berman and the Birth of the World Poker Tour (ISBN 1-58042-176-8) with Marvin Karlins. The autobiography details Berman's life from his childhood to his life as an adult, covering his business ventures, his opinions on poker and Las Vegas, and his experiences with designing and developing the World Poker Tour into what it is today.

References

^ ^a ^b "Lyle Berman". Profiles. Forbes. Archived from the original on October 28, 2018. Retrieved January 26, 2010.
^ Robison, Jennifer (February 7, 2009). "Investors with ties to Las Vegas appear on Madoff's list". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on October 22, 2012.
^ "20th World Series of Poker - WSOP 1989, Omaha Limit". The Hendon Mob. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
^ "23rd World Series of Poker - WSOP 1992, No Limit Hold'em". The Hendon Mob. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
^ "25th World Series of Poker - WSOP 1994, No Limit Deuce to Seven Draw". The Hendon Mob. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
^ "Berman: "We Created Worldwide Phenomenon that Lasts Till This Day"". PokerListings. June 25, 2014. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
^ "2005 National Heads-Up Poker Championship, Heads-Up No Limit Hold'em". The Hendon Mob. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
^ "Lyle Berman's profile on The Hendon Mob". The Hendon Mob Poker Database. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
^ "Lyle Berman". WSOP.com. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
^ "Lyle Berman". World Poker Tour. Archived from the original on January 26, 2010. Retrieved January 26, 2010.

External links

[forbes-1] "Lyle Berman". Profiles. Forbes. Archived from the original on October 28, 2018. Retrieved January 26, 2010.

[LVRJ-2] Robison, Jennifer (February 7, 2009). "Investors with ties to Las Vegas appear on Madoff's list". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on October 22, 2012.

[3] "20th World Series of Poker - WSOP 1989, Omaha Limit". The Hendon Mob. Retrieved April 9, 2024.

[4] "23rd World Series of Poker - WSOP 1992, No Limit Hold'em". The Hendon Mob. Retrieved April 9, 2024.

[5] "25th World Series of Poker - WSOP 1994, No Limit Deuce to Seven Draw". The Hendon Mob. Retrieved April 9, 2024.

[6] "Berman: "We Created Worldwide Phenomenon that Lasts Till This Day"". PokerListings. June 25, 2014. Retrieved April 9, 2024.

[7] "2005 National Heads-Up Poker Championship, Heads-Up No Limit Hold'em". The Hendon Mob. Retrieved April 9, 2024.

[8] "Lyle Berman's profile on The Hendon Mob". The Hendon Mob Poker Database. Retrieved December 5, 2023.

[9] "Lyle Berman". WSOP.com. Retrieved April 2, 2024.

[10] "Lyle Berman". World Poker Tour. Archived from the original on January 26, 2010. Retrieved January 26, 2010.

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v t e 1980s WSOP bracelet winners
Note number in brackets represents the number of bracelets earned in that year
1980	Mickey Appleman Robert Bone Pat Callihan Deby Callihan Pete Christ Sarge Ferris Gene Fisher Jim Fugatti Lynn Harvey A.J. Myers Bobby Schwing Lakewood Louie Stu Ungar
1981	Ed Barmach Frank Cardone Fred David Sid Gamerman Ruth Godfrey Bruce Hershenson Juanda Matthews Johnny Moss A.J. Myers Mickey Perry Dody Roach Glen Rodgers Stu Ungar (2)
1982	Billy Baxter (2) Tom Cress Jim Doman June Field Nick Helm Dani Kelly Ralph Morton John Paquette Chip Reese Vera Richmond David Sklansky (2) Jack Straus Don Williams
1983	David Angel David Baxter Artie Cobb Donna Doman Jim Doman Ken Flaton Carolyn Gardner Buster Jackson Berry Johnston John Lukas Tom McEvoy (2) David Sklansky (2) Don Todd Stu Ungar
1984	Dick Albano Todd Baur William Bennett Norman Berliner Paul Fontaine Mike Hart Jack Keller (2) Sandy Stupak Bob Martinez Mike Schneiberg Dewey Tomko (2) Karen Wolfson
1985	Dick Carson Johnny Chan Tommy Fischer Rick Hamil John Lukas Mark Mitchell Rose Pifer Amarillo Slim Zorn Smiljanic Bill Smith Tony Thang Harry Thomas Don Williams Edwin Wyde
1986	Jim Allen David Baxter Mike Cox Hamid Dastmalchi Barbara Enright Tommy Fischer Ron Graham Jay Heimowitz Berry Johnston Sam Mastrogiannis Tom McEvoy J.B. Randall
1987	Bob Addison Billy Baxter T. J. Cloutier Johnny Chan Artie Cobb Jim Craig Hal Kant Ralph Merton Joe Petro Carl Rouss Linda Ryke-Drucker Hilbert Shirey
1988	Val Carpenter Johnny Chan (2) Russ Gibe Gilbert Gross Thor Hansen David Helms Lance Hilt Loretta Huber Merrill Hunt Seymour Leibowitz Johnny Moss Don Williams
1989	Lyle Berman Barry Blackburn Thomas Chung Phil Hellmuth Frank Henderson Don Holt Mel Judah Norman Keyser John Laudon Harry Madoff Alma McClelland Mike Sexton George Allen Shaw Bob Stupak
1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s

v t e 1990s WSOP bracelet winners
Note number in brackets represents the number of bracelets earned in that year
1990	Allen Baker John Bonetti Norm Boulus Marie Gabert Mike Hart Berry Johnston Monte Kouz Vasilis Lazarou Mansour Matloubi Phil Reher Ray Rumler Amarillo Slim Shawqui Shunnarah Tony Stormzand Hugh Todd
1991	Joe Becker Doyle Brunson Brent Carter Thomas Chung Artie Cobb Brad Daugherty Pat Flanagan Mike Hart Jay Heimowitz Paul Heinrich Max Linder Rodney H. Pardey John Spadavecchia Ron Stanley An Tran Donna Ward Byron Wolford Charles Wight
1992	Bob Abell Mickey Appleman Eli Balas Lyle Berman Buddy Bonnecaze Paul Clark Hoyt Corkins Hamid Dastmalchi Dal Derovin Kenny Duggan Shari Flanzer Lamar Hampton Phil Hellmuth Tom McEvoy Men Nguyen Ray Rumler Erik Seidel Rick Steiner Lance Straughn Billy Thomas
1993	Billy Baxter Jim Bechtel John Bonetti Buddy Bonnecaze Humberto Brenes (2) Hamid Dastmalchi Gene Fisher Ted Forrest (3) Chau Giang Phil Hellmuth (3) Jack Keller Phyllis Kessler Hugo Mieth Erik Seidel Marty Sigel Robert Turner
1994	Lyle Berman Vince Burgio Brent Carter Johnny Chan J. J. Chun T. J. Cloutier (2) Barbara Enright Russ Hamilton Mike Hart John Heaney Jay Heimowitz Mike Laing O'Neil Longson Roger Moore Rodney H. Pardey J. C. Pearson George Rodis Huck Seed Erik Seidel Steven Sim Bill Sykes
1995	Mickey Appleman John Bonetti Starla Brodie Anthony DeAngelo Marlon De Los Santos Phil Earle Valter Farina Dan Harrington (2) Berry Johnston Richard Klamian Men Nguyen (2) Rod Peate Dan Robinson Clifford Roof Hilbert Shirey (2) Mickey Sisskind Max Stern John Tsagaris Christian Van Hees Peter Vilandos Steve Zolotow
1996	Gary Benson John Cernuto David Chiu Freddy Deeb Barbara Enright Sam Farha Jim Feldhouse Gregory Grivas Adeeb Harb Randy Holland Jim Huntley Susie Isaacs Donny Kerr Al Krux Hans Lund Tony Ma John Morgan Men Nguyen Henry Orenstein Dody Roach Huck Seed Marty Sigel Frank Thompson Mel Weiner
1997	Louis Asmo Chris Björin John Cernuto Johnny Chan Claude Cohen Phil Hellmuth Susie Isaacs Linda Johnson Mel Judah Vasilis Lazarou Scotty Nguyen Matthias Rohnacher Doug Saab Maria Stern Max Stern (2) Kevin Song Dean Stonier Dave Ulliott Stu Ungar Bob Veltri
1998	Farzad Bonyadi Patrick Bruel Doyle Brunson Ken Buntjer Jan Chen David Chiu T. J. Cloutier Artie Cobb Mendy Commanda Bill Gempel Chau Giang Tommy Hufnagle Kirk Morrison Daniel Negreanu Scotty Nguyen Donnacha O'Dea Jeff Ross Paul Rowe Steve Rydel Erik Seidel Michael Shadkin
1999	Josh Arieh Steve Badger Eli Balas Charles Brahmi Paul Clark John Esposito Layne Flack Tom Franklin Noel Furlong David Grey Eric Holum Hassan Kamoei Ron Long Mike Matusow Christina Pie Mike Wattel
1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s

v t e Poker Hall of Fame
1979	Johnny Moss Nick Dandolos Corky McCorquodale Red Winn Sid Wyman Wild Bill Hickok Edmond Hoyle
1980s	Blondie Forbes Bill Boyd Tom Abdo Joe Bernstein Murph Harrold Red Hodges Henry Green Puggy Pearson Doyle Brunson Jack Straus Sarge Ferris
1990s	Benny Binion Chip Reese Amarillo Slim Jack Keller Little Man Popwell Roger Moore
2000s	Stu Ungar Lyle Berman Johnny Chan Bobby Baldwin Berry Johnston Jack Binion Crandell Addington T. J. Cloutier Billy Baxter Barbara Enright Phil Hellmuth Dewey Tomko Henry Orenstein Mike Sexton
2010s	Dan Harrington Erik Seidel Barry Greenstein Linda Johnson Eric Drache Sailor Roberts Tom McEvoy Scotty Nguyen Jack McClelland Daniel Negreanu Jennifer Harman John Juanda Todd Brunson Carlos Mortensen Dave Ulliott Phil Ivey Mori Eskandani John Hennigan Chris Moneymaker David Oppenheim
2020s	Huck Seed Eli Elezra Layne Flack Brian Rast

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