Antonio Esfandiari, also known as the “Magician” in the poker community, is a professional poker player and former magician. Esfandiari began his journey by doing card tricks inside the Horseshoe Casino and somehow indulged himself in the poker game. Esfandiari has three World Series of Poker Bracelets and two World Poker Tour titles to his name. In this report, we will delve into the Early Life, Poker Career, Earnings, and net worth of Antonio Esfandiari.
Antonio Esfandiari’s Early Life and Poker Introduction
Antonio Esfandiari, born Amir Esfandiari on December 8, 1978, in Iran, moved with his family to California at the age of nine. Fascinated by magicians, he pursued magic tricks and became a professional magician, performing at corporate parties and small gatherings. His performances eventually led him to poker tournaments, where he met poker pro-Phil Laak. Together, they hosted the show I Bet You in 2007.
Esfandiari started dedicating long hours to poker, gradually setting magic aside. Initially concerned about his parents’ reaction to his new career, he eventually took his father to a poker game, where he played exceptionally well. From that point on, his parents started supporting his poker endeavors.
While learning magic, Esfandiari attended Del Mar High School, graduating in 1997. Rather than pursuing higher education, he ventured into poker and there has been no looking back since then.
Antonio Esfandiari’s Poker Career
Antonio Esfandiari is a veteran poker pro who got his first live cash in 2002 but didn’t achieve major success until 2004, when he won the WPT $10,000 NLH Championship, claiming his first major title and a prize of $1,399,135. That same year, he earned his first WSOP bracelet in the $2,000 PLO Event, pocketing $184,860.
He soon appeared on several televised poker shows, including Poker Royale: Battle of the Sexes, Poker After Dark, and Full Tilt Poker Million.
Esfandiari’s next big payday came in 2008, finishing 8th in the EPT Monte Carlo Main Event and earning $265,835. In 2010, he captured his second WPT title in the $10,300 Championship Event, securing $870,124.
In 2012, Esfandiari made history by winning the $1 million Big One for One Drop event at the WSOP, earning a staggering $18,346,673, which remains his best live score till date. That same year, he followed that by winning his third bracelet in € 1,000 + 100 No Limit Hold’em – (Event #2) at WSOPE 2012, Cannes.In 2016, Esfandiari added a WSOP Circuit Main Event win to his name, claiming his first Circuit Ring and $226,785. His last notable live tournament finish came in 2019 at the WSOP Main Event, where he placed 82nd and earned $82,365.
Antonio Esfandiari Biggest Cashes
| Tournament | Year | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| Five Diamond World Poker Classic Main Event | 2010 | $870,124 |
| L.A. Poker Classic No-Limit Hold’em Championship | 2004 | $1,399,135 |
| 44th WSOP One Drop High Rollers No-Limit Hold’em | 2013 | $1,433,438 |
| 43th WSOP Big One for One Drop | 2012 | $18,346,673 |
As of 2024, Antonio Esfandiari’s live poker earnings total $27,810,802, placing him 30th on the all-time money list and 18th in the United States All-Time Money List.
Antonio Esfandiari’s Net Worth in 2024
While we don’t have exact data regarding Esfandiari’s net worth, his net worth in 2024 is reported to be around $30 million, largely amassed from his poker career. However, he also participates in high-stakes private cash games and his net worth may be higher than this.
Antonio Esfandiari’s Acting Career
Beyond poker, Esfandiari has appeared in several television shows and films. Along with Phil Laak, he co-hosted I Bet You and MOJO HD. The World Poker Tour produced a documentary about him titled The Face of WPT Poker Made Millionaire. Esfandiari also made a cameo appearance in Entourage (Season 7, Episode 1) and debuted in Hollywood with the 2012 film Freelancers, alongside Robert De Niro.
In 2014, he hosted Ultimate Poker: Strip Magic, performing tricks on the Las Vegas Strip. In 2017, he reunited with Laak for Discovery Channel’s Underground Poker.
Antonio Esfandiari’s Personal Life
Antonio Esfandiari married fellow poker player Amal Bounahra, and the couple welcomed a son in 2015. Since 2019, Esfandiari has stepped back from live poker tournaments, focusing on spending more time with his family. However, he did appear in PokerGO’s High Stakes Poker Season 10, where he lost a $606,000 pot to Bill Perkins.
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Source: WikiPedia, Vegas Aces & HendonMob
