When Keep Memory Alive co-founder Larry Ruvo, who was playing at a table with both Chip Reese and Barry Greenstein, won a big pot, he tried to give it back.

“Chip leaned over to him and said, ‘you know who you just beat, right? Barry Greenstein.’ Well, Barry is not only one of the best poker players in the world,” Donna says, “but he only plays in tournaments for charity. Last year, after winning a $100,000 tournament, he handed my
Rendering of Lou Ruvo Alzheimer’s Center.
Projected to open in 2006.

husband the check for Keep Memory Alive. So Larry said, ‘I don’t want to take your money, you support my charity,’ and pushed the chips back toward Greenstein.”
It was Laura Prepon of That ’70s Show, though, who caused the biggest stir. Not only was she the last celebrity at the table with poker powerhouses Johnny Chan and Chau Giang, she was the only woman. “She’s actually played in the World Series of Poker,” Donna says. “The ’70s cast told me they play poker almost every day on the set.”
In the end, it was Chan who lost to Giang on the final hand.

Everyone stuck around to watch the action—flawlessly managed by Bellagio Poker Room experts Doug Dalton, Director of Poker Operations and Jack McClelland—including brothers Chris and Danny Masterson, James Caan, Eileen Davidson, James Woods, Mila Kunis, Will Arnett, Rick Fox, Curtis Hanson, and Tommy Davidson, as well as Esquire magazine’s Stephen Jacoby, David Granger, and Kevin O’Mailey.