Antonio Esfandiari

Antonio Esfandiari was born Amir Esfandiary on December 8, 1978, in Tehran, Iran. At age nine, his family moved to San Jose, California, where he graduated from Del Mar High School in 1997. He briefly served jail time after being caught selling marijuana. At 19, he changed his name to Antonio to pursue a career as a professional magician, also undergoing a nose job to appear less foreign. His younger brother Pasha also became a poker player.

While working as a magician, Esfandiari was invited to a game of Texas Hold'em and quickly developed a passion for poker. His magic background earned him the nickname "The Magician," and he became known for his elaborate chip tricks and occasional magic performances at the tables. He authored "The Magician's Secrets for Winning Tournaments" on Insta Poker, a poker strategy game available for iOS.

Esfandiari has won three WSOP bracelets:

• 2004: Won his first bracelet in the $2,000 Pot-Limit Hold'em event for $184,860.
• 2012: Won the $1,000,000 buy-in Big One for One Drop, securing a record-breaking $18,346,673 – the largest single payout in poker history at the time.
• 2012 WSOPE: Won his third bracelet in the €1,100 No-Limit Hold'em event for €126,207 ($164,656).

He also made ten WSOP final tables and 46 money finishes, with a deepest Main Event run of 24th place in 2009 ($352,832). Additional notable WSOP results include:

Esfandiari claimed two WPT titles:

• 2004 L.A. Poker Classic: Won $1,399,135 in the $9,900 championship event.
• 2010 Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic: Won $870,124 in the $10,000 championship.

He also finished third in the 2002 49'er Gold Rush Bonanza for $44,000 and made eight WPT final tables and 16 money finishes overall. Detailed WPT results include:

Total WPT earnings: $3,022,891.

The 2012 Big One for One Drop was a $1,000,000 buy-in tournament benefiting the One Drop Foundation. Esfandiari outlasted a field of 48 players, including wealthy businessmen and pros like Guy Laliberté (who finished 5th), to win $18,346,673 – then the largest cash prize in poker history. This victory propelled him to the top of the all-time money list until Daniel Negreanu surpassed him in 2014.

Esfandiari cashed in multiple high-roller events, including a fourth-place finish in the 2013 WSOP One Drop High Roller for $1,433,438. He also finished eighth in the 2008 EPT Grand Final (€168,000) for his only EPT cash. As of 2023, his total live tournament earnings are $27,810,802. He has 31 recorded WPT cashes overall.

In 2014, Esfandiari married Amal Bounahra, daughter of poker pro Badih "Bob" Bounahra. The couple welcomed a son on January 7, 2015. Esfandiari was the face of the now-defunct poker site UltimatePoker.com. He also appeared in the second and third seasons of the Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament, finishing second in the third season after a last-place finish the previous year.

Esfandiari has appeared on numerous poker television shows, including High Stakes Poker, Poker After Dark, and the Poker Superstars Invitational. He is known for his charismatic personality and magical showmanship at the tables. His exploits have been featured in various poker media outlets, and he remains a popular figure in the poker community.

Antonio Esfandiari is celebrated for his charismatic personality, magical showmanship, and historic achievements. His victory in the Big One for One Drop remains one of the most iconic moments in poker, and his three WSOP bracelets and two WPT titles solidify his status as a legend of the game.

Esfandiari's only European Poker Tour cash came at the 2008 EPT Grand Final in Monte Carlo. He finished eighth in the €10,000 Main Event, earning €168,000 ($266,004). This remains his sole EPT final table, as he has not recorded additional cashes on the tour.

Esfandiari served as the face of UltimatePoker.com, a now-defunct online poker site. In 2012, he authored "The Magician's Secrets for Winning Tournaments," a poker strategy guide available exclusively on Insta Poker, a mobile application. He has also made numerous appearances on televised poker shows such as High Stakes Poker and Poker After Dark, showcasing his charismatic personality and chip tricks.