Antonio Esfandiari Net Worth
Antonio Esfandiari Net Worth
In the world of casino gaming, and specifically poker, there are a few players who have distinguished themselves through their playing styles and, of course, their earnings. Antonio Esfandiari is one such great poker player.
When it comes to the magician in the poker world, only one name comes to mind: Antonio Esfandiari. So, who exactly is Antonio Esfandiari? What is important to know about him? This page is dedicated to him, and we will delve into the life and exploits of this legendary poker player.
Who is Antonio Esfandiari?
Who else but the magician himself is capable of performing as a magician? Antonio Esfandiari, also known as ‘The Magician,’ is a fascinating poker player. Amir Esfandiari was born on December 8, 1978, in Tehran, Iran. He was a professional magician and poker player in the past.
Antonio was well-known for his intricate chip tricks, and he has since gone on to become a poker gaming megastar. He was born in Tehran, Iran, and moved with his family to San Jose, California, in 1988. Antonio couldn’t speak English when he first started school in the United States, but he’s come a long way in just six months. In 1997, he graduated from Del Mar High School.
Until he reached the 12th grade, Antonio Esfandiari was a model student. He was always on time and dedicated to his studies prior to the 12th grade. However, when he reached the 12th grade in school, he transformed into a completely different person. From that point on, he became deeply involved in partying.
He left home at the age of 17 after falling out with his father over his partying ways, and he quickly got his own apartment, which he paid for by waiting tables. He became heavily involved in partying, and his apartment quickly became a hotspot for parties. His partying habits had a significant impact on his final semester of high school, as evidenced by his grade.
While working as a waiter, Antonio Esfandiari first encountered magic. When he saw a bartender perform some sort of magic trick between the tables, he was very impressed. He went straight to a nearby magic shop to find out how the trick was done. The owner of the magic shop was delighted to share his knowledge and demonstrate the magic’s technique with him.
Antonio became obsessed with magic at this point, and he went on to become a full-time magician. He began to demonstrate his magical abilities as a waiter by performing gigs for tips. In a short period of time, he quit his job as a waiter and went into ‘full-time magic work.’ He changed his name from Amir to Antonio when he was nineteen years old in order to pursue his dream of becoming a magician.
Despite being too young and inexperienced to win money at poker, he went on to win some money during his first tournament. This was a watershed moment in the career of Antonio the magician; he became addicted to the poker game. As a result, he began disappearing money as a professional poker player, in addition to disappearing rabbits as a professional magician.
He was convinced, as a magician, that Antonio’s name was more mystical than Amir’s. Antonio used to earn between $300 and $400 per hour as a magician when he first started out. During this time, Antonio Esfandiari shared a room with a professional poker player. One fateful day, Antonio’s roommate suggested he try his hand at a poker game.
Early Years as a Professional Poker Player
When he was performing as a magician, Antonio Esfandiari got his first break in the poker game. He was invited to participate in a game of Texas Hold’em, which launched his career as a professional poker player. He also has a younger brother who plays poker.
Later in his career, Antonio Esfandiari was heard discussing how his two professions (magician and poker player) complemented each other. Being a magician, he claims, taught him how to assess human behavior. This knowledge and skill has been extremely beneficial to him when it comes to moving cards.
He met a fellow player named Phil Laak while he was participating in a high stakes poker game. At the WSOP, Antonio and Laak shared a table, and Antonio was busy wowing the other players with his magic and tricks. Laak, on the other hand, seemed to have other plans, as he was seriously trying to figure out Antonio’s tricks, which irritated Antonio.
Antonio moved to another table to avoid Laak, but Laak followed him. Eventually, the two started talking and became fast friends. Laak, also known as Unabomber, took the friendship a step further by paying Antonio Esfandiari a visit in the Bay Area. They had agreed to share the space by the time Laak was leaving. Surprisingly, both poker players went on to become well-known in the world of poker gaming.
By 2002, Antonio had made a name for himself at the WPT’s 49’er Gold Rush Bonanza. During the tournament, Antonio became well-known for his ability to get under Phil Hellmuth’s skin, and he finished third for $44,000. This was Antonio’s first major tournament victory, but he quickly began amassing a string of victories. A year after the WPT, he reached the final table of the $2,000 No-Limit Hold’em poker tournament at the 2003 World Series of Poker.
During the L.A. Poker Classic in Los Angeles in 2004, Antonio Esfandiari made a historic impact in poker history. Antonio the magician performed some impressive poker magic to defeat 382 professional poker players, including Vinny Vinh in heads-up play, and take home the massive $1.4 million USD first-place prize.
Antonio was the youngest poker player to ever win a WPT event at the time. With the tournament prize money, he purchased an Armani suit and a Dodge Viper, and he has since gone on to become famous and a household name on the poker circuit.
Months later, Antonio Esfandiari won another major tournament, this time at the World Series of Poker. He triumphed over Phil Nguyen in the $2,000 Pot-Limit Event, winning an exquisite gold bracelet and $184,860. Around this time, Antonio made a significant decision regarding his residence; he decided to relocate permanently to Las Vegas, the epicenter of casino gaming. He has become a huge part of the poker world since the move. It’s worth noting that Antonio Esfandiari was the face of the now-defunct poker site Ultimate Poker.
Antonio Esfandiari’s Live Poker Games
During the L.A Poker Classic in 2004, Antonio won approximately $1.4 million USD and his first WPT (World Poker Tour) title. A few months later, he won his first WSP (World Series of Poker) bracelet in the Pot-Limit Texas Hold’em game. He appeared on Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament in the second and third seasons.
Although he finished last in the previous year’s tournament, he was able to redeem himself by finishing second in the third season. He also appeared on NBC’s Poker After Dark and the GNS Series High Stakes Poker.
Antonio reached the final table of the 2008 PokerStar.com EPT Grand Final on April 17, 2008, finishing in eighth place at Monte Carlo. He was awarded a whopping $266,004 (€168,000). Antonio Esfandiari finished 24th in the World Series of Poker Main Event in July 2009, his best finish to that point. At the end of the game, he had won a total of $352,832.
Antonio won his second WPT title in 2010 when he won the World Poker Tour Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World for a whopping $870,000. On July 3, 2012, he went on to win the most expensive buy-in tournament in poker history. At the $1,000,000 buy-in tournament event, he won the Big One for One Drop. He competed against 47 other professional players and defeated them all.
He won a total of $18,346,673 at the end of the game, which was the largest cash prize in poker history. During the 2012 World Series of Poker Europe, Antonio Esfandiari won his third bracelet in the €1,100 No-Limit Hold’em event, defeating Remi Bollengier heads-up to win a total of €126,207. He also finished fourth in the One Drop High Roller tournament at the 2013 World Series of Poker, which is the successor to the Big One Drop One he won the previous year. Antonio earned a total of $1,433,438 during the 2013 game.
Antonio Esfandiari’s total live poker tournament winnings had surpassed $27,600,000 by 2017. On the Global Poker Index, he is ranked 14th. Antonio was disqualified from the $5,300 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure Main Event on January 10, 2016 after performing a heinous act. Due to a prop bet he made with Bill Perkins, he urinated in a bottle.
Antonio Esfandiari World Series of Poker Bracelets
| Tournament | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| $2,000 Point Limit Hold’ Em | 2004 | $184,860 |
| $1,000,000 Big One for One Drop No Limit Hold’ Em | 2012 | $18,346,673 |
| €1,100 No Limit Hold ‘Em | 2012E | €126,207 |
*The ‘E’ following a year denotes bracelets won at the World Series of Poker Europe.
World Poker Tour Titles
| Tournament | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| $10,000 L.A. Poker Classic | 2004 | $1,399,135 |
| $10,000 Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic | 2010 | $870,124 |
Antonio Esfandiari Top Cashes
| Tournament | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| $100,000 No Limit Hold ‘Em Eight Max | 2014 | $575,920 |
| $1,000,000 No Limit Hold Em The Big One for One Drop | 2012 | $18,346,673 |
| $111,111 One Drop High Rollers No Limit Hold ‘Em | 2013 | $1,433,438 |
| WPT Five Diamond World Poker Classic Main Event | 2010 | $870,124 |
| No Limit Hold ‘Em Championship (WPT) 2004 | 2004 | $1,399,135 |
Antonio Esfandiari Recent Earnings
| Tournament | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| $10,000 No Limit Hold ‘Em | 2018 | $57,010 |
| CAD 5,300 No Limit Hold ‘Em $10 Million GTD | 2018 | $13,650 |
| $1,000 No Limit Hold ‘Em Super Turbo $300 Bounty | 2017 | $998 |
| $1,500 No Limit Hold ‘Em Millionaire Maker | 2017 | $2,861 |
| $111,111 No Limit Hold ‘Em for One Drop | 2017 | $257,072 |
Antonio Esfandiari Television Appearances
Antonio co-starred in the MOJO HD television show ‘I Bet You,’ with his friend Phil Laak. In addition, he was the face of the World Poker Tour’s Poker Made Millionaire promotion. He made an appearance in the Entourage Season 7 premiere. He also appeared as an undercover officer in the film Freelancers. Other actors in the film included Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson and Robert De Niro.
Antonio began filming a web reality series with the Ultimate Poker – Strip Magic in January 2014. Antonio appears in the web reality series performing street magic along Las Vegas strip. During this time, he also gave some exclusive interviews. Season 1 of the reality web series premiered in March 2014 on the YouTube channel, Youtube.com/UltimatePoker.
In September of 2014, Antonio Esfandiari was paired with Phil Laak, a fellow professional poker player, on the Discovery Channel’s ‘Underground Poker,’ which aired as part of a three-part miniseries titled ‘All in, All Night.’
In addition to numerous appearances on poker TV shows, Antonio has won two World Poker Tour championships and three World Series of Poker bracelets during his poker career. In 2012, he won the Big One for One Drop, a $1,000,000 buy-in tournament aimed at increasing the value of the One Drop Foundation.
When Antonio won the event, he received the largest single payout in tournament poker history, totaling $18,346,673. He holds the record for the most tournament poker winnings in history. However, Daniel Negreanu took over the title in 2014 when he finished second in the Big One for One Drop.
Antonio Esfandiari as a Writer
Antonio published a book titled ‘The Magician’s Secrets for Winning Tournaments’ on Insta Poker in 2012. The book on poker strategy game was written and is available for iOS devices. Antonio Esfandiari’s high profile has been maintained by the books he has written.
He has also appeared on several television series, including High Stakes Poker and the National Heads-Up Poker Championship. Antonio is well-known for his extravagant lifestyle and amazing chip tricks. There is no doubt that the Magician will continue to dazzle railbirds and competitors for many years to come.
Personal Life | Antonio Esfandiari Net Worth
Antonio Esfandiari married his heartthrob, Amal Bounahra, and they had their first child on January 7, 2015. Amal Bounahra is the daughter of Badil Bob Bounahra, a poker professional. Currently, Esfandiari has stated that he has no plans for additional TV projects or the launch of his Twitch channel. He is more concerned with living his life to the fullest with his family while also making waves in the poker community.
Antonio Esfandiari Net Worth
Antonio Esfandiari is without a doubt the poker magician, and he has amassed a fortune in the game. Antonia has amassed considerable wealth as a result of her participation in various tournaments and victories in a number of games. So, how have his abilities and expertise affected his net worth? Antonio Esfandiari’s net worth is estimated to be more than $27 million, with a large portion of this money coming from his all-time winnings during his professional poker career.
Antonio believes in and practices bankroll management, and he believes that other poker players and young millionaires should do the same. Antonio intends to open a magic-themed restaurant in the near future. At the age of 40, Antonio Esfandiari is one of the poker community’s youngest millionaires, and he is well-liked by his peers. In his professional poker career, he has three times won the prestigious poker bracelets, as well as other notable tournaments.
Esfandiari enjoys partying, and with his current wealth, he is constantly invited to one lavish party after another. Aside from his penchant for parties, Antonio is a shrewd poker player. He does not live above the law, and he is an astute gambler.
Antonio’s poker skills have earned him a reputation as one of the most respected and feared poker players in the world. His abilities as a magician, he claims, have prepared him for the task of predicting other people’s reactions and behaviors. This has proven to be useful during his table games.
Antonio Esfandiari Thoughts on Poker
Antonio recalls his most memorable hand as the year he won his One Drop game. He revealed that when he ‘hit the king on the turn’ during the game, the shift that occurred in his life was greater than the money involved; it was a watershed moment in his life and career as a professional poker player. After winning, Antonio’s life changed dramatically, and he went on to make a great impression and establish a worthy name for himself in the world of poker.
Esfandiari believed that the game of poker and magic have many similarities; knowing your opponent’s and the audience’s minds is a thrilling gift that every player or magician seeks. Antonio’s background as a magician has given him the ability to read people’s minds and predict their next moves. Antonio has never claimed to be the best poker player in the world, but many of his fans and other poker enthusiasts regard him as one of the best, if not the best, at the poker table.
When it comes to poker tournaments, Esfandiari says he respects and is aware of many other professional players. He stated that the most difficult table game he has ever played was at the One Drop tournament, which he won the year before. On the first day of the game, he faced off against other poker pros such as Phil Ivey, Tom Marchese, Nick Schulman, Erik Seidel, and Ben Lamb, who gave him a run for his money and forced him to brace himself for the remaining days. Antonio took the lead and went on to win the game.
When asked who he would choose if he had the opportunity to choose eight poker opponents for a 9-handed Sit ‘n’ Go game, his response was quite unexpected. He mentioned Bill Clinton, Eminem, Barack Obama, William Rehnquist, Sam Harris, Bill Perkins, Clive Owen, Angelina Jolie, and Antonio Esfandiari, in the order in which their names appeared, with seat numbers. He stated that he would have chosen Abraham Lincoln as well, but only because he is no longer alive. He went on to say that if ghosts could play poker, he would gladly join Lincoln at a table.