Early Life
Mark Scheinberg was born in Israel in 1973 and moved to Toronto, Canada, at the age of 13. He settled in Richmond Hill in the 1980s. He later attended Fanshawe College but did not complete his studies.
Rise to Success
In 2001, at the age of 28, Mark Scheinberg co-founded PokerStars with his father, Isai Scheinberg, a computer programmer. PokerStars quickly became the world's largest online poker business and hosted the world's largest online tournament series. Under his leadership, PokerStars acquired the Full Tilt Poker brand in 2012. In 2014, Scheinberg sold PokerStars to Amaya Gaming Group for $4.9 billion. He owned 75% of the parent company, Rational Group, at the time, pocketing over $3 billion from the sale.
Key Business Strategies
Scheinberg's success can be attributed to his foresight in the online gaming market and his ability to capitalize on the poker boom of the early 2000s. He focused on providing a secure and user-friendly platform, which attracted a massive user base. After selling PokerStars, Scheinberg strategically invested in luxury hospitality assets through his real estate investment vehicle, Mohari. Mohari Hospitality has invested in the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, a historic Madrid hotel, a luxury resort in Costa Rica, and Tao Group Hospitality, acquiring 80 restaurants and clubs.
Philanthropy
In March 2020, Scheinberg and his family founded The Scheinberg Relief Fund, which allocated $50 million to support COVID-19 relief efforts. Scheinberg also has a passion for conservation and animal welfare, supporting initiatives such as the Wildlife Ranger Challenge.
