Antonio Esfandiari

Antonio Esfandiari was born Amir Esfandiari in Tehran, Iran, and immigrated to the United States as a child. Growing up in San Jose, California, he developed an early fascination with magic, eventually becoming a professional magician performing sleight-of-hand tricks in Los Angeles nightclubs. His stage name "The Magician" followed him to the poker table, where his showmanship would become equally legendary.

Esfandiari transitioned from magic to poker in his early twenties, finding that his skills in misdirection and reading people transferred naturally. He won his first WPT title in 2004 at the L.A. Poker Classic, defeating a field of 538 players for $1.4 million. His charismatic personality made him a television natural, and he quickly became one of poker's most recognizable faces.

Esfandiari combines solid technical play with expert psychological manipulation. His background in magic gives him unusual insight into human behavior and deception. He is known for constant table talk designed to extract information from opponents. His loose-aggressive style keeps opponents guessing, and he excels at making big lay-downs when beaten.

Beyond his playing success, Esfandiari has been instrumental in making poker entertaining for television audiences. His personality and willingness to engage with fans have helped grow the game's popularity. He has appeared on numerous TV shows beyond poker, bringing mainstream attention to the game.

Esfandiari's defining moment came in 2012 when he won the inaugural Big One for One Drop, a $1 million buy-in charity event. His $18.3 million first-place prize remains the largest single tournament payout in poker history. With three WSOP bracelets and three WPT titles, he has proven himself among the elite while entertaining millions along the way.