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

Businessman

Berman grew up in Minnesota and attended the University of Minnesota where 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 restaurant and retail stores.

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

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

Poker player

As of 2004 Berman's poker accomplishments include winning 3 World Series of Poker gold bracelets. Although he perfers high-stakes cash games, he has won over $700,000 in WSOP and World Poker Tour events. He was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2002.

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

External link

• Hendon Mob tournament results