Esfandiari Wins $18 Million – The Biggest Poker Jackpot in the World!

Antonio Esfandiari is now $18.3 million dollars richer after winning the “Big One for One Drop” Texan Hold’em event at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) at the Rio All Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas Nevada. The 33-year old Las Vegas native beat Sam Trickett from England who walked away from the tournament with a $10 million dollar prize.

This is the largest jackpot to date to be won in a poker tournament and is the 2nd bracelet for Esfandiari. The game buy-in was a steep $1 million and had 48 players at the start, making the total tournament jackpot stand on a staggering $48 million.

The Big One for One Drop will donate $5.3 million to a non-profit called One Drop which advocates for clean water. American Hedge Fund manager David Einhorn placed 3rd and plans to donate his $4.35 million to the education-focused nonprofit called City Year.

After placing 3rd in the No-Limit Hold’em Shootout, Esfandiari backed out of his agreement with ESPN to provide commentary during the final table game of the WSOP so that he could compete. After knocking out all of the other players, Esfandiari and Trickett played 16 hands before the winning hand.

Esfandiari gave the platinum WSOP bracelet he won to his father and said: “To win this bracelet and give it to him means the world to me.”