Alan "Ace" Greenberg (1927-2014) was chairman of Bear Stearns who hired Jeffrey Epstein at the firm in 1976 despite Epstein having no college degree. Greenberg preferred hiring men he called "PSDs" (poor, smart, and determined) and came to view Epstein as his protege. A Dalton School parent made the introduction.
Epstein rose quickly at Bear Stearns, becoming a limited partner by 1980 before leaving in 1981 under disputed circumstances. Greenberg appeared in Epstein's birthday book alongside prominent Wall Street and social figures. He died on July 25, 2014, at age 86.
His early mentorship gave Epstein his entry into elite financial and social circles.