Antonio Esfandiari, born Amir Esfandiary in 1978, is an Iranian-American professional poker player and former magician. He is considered one of the most successful and well-known poker players in the world, having won numerous tournaments and cash games and earning more than $27 million in live tournament winnings.
Esfandiari began playing poker in the late 1990s, participating in underground games with college friends. In 2002, he took part in the World Series of Poker (WSOP) for the first time, finishing in the money in several events. This early success led him to pursue poker full-time, and in 2004 he won his first WSOP bracelet in the $2,000 Limit Hold’em event.
In 2006, Esfandiari won his second bracelet in the $10,000 Pot-Limit Hold’em event at the WSOP and earned the nickname “The Magician” due to his impressive card-handling skills. He also began appearing on poker shows such as High Stakes Poker and Poker After Dark, further increasing his popularity among the poker community.
Esfandiari has since become one of the most successful poker players in the world, winning multiple tournaments, including the World Poker Tour (WPT) Los Angeles Poker Classic in 2011 and the WPT World Championship in 2012. He also won the biggest win in poker history in 2012, when he won the Big One for One Drop at the WSOP and took home $18.3 million.
Esfandiari is also a philanthropist, having established the Antonio Esfandiari Foundation to support causes including animal welfare, children education, and health and wellness. In addition, he has also been involved in various charity poker tournaments, including the One Drop Extravaganza and the Big One for One Drop Extravaganza.
Esfandiari is a popular figure in the poker community and an inspiration to aspiring players. He has gained a large following of fans due to his charismatic and entertaining style of play, as well as his willingness to give back to the community. He is also known for his stylish clothing and flashy lifestyle, which has become part of his persona and has helped to further boost his popularity.
Antonio Esfandiari is one of the most successful and well-known poker players in the world, having earned millions of dollars in winnings and establishing himself as a leader in the poker community. His impressive
