Raising the Stakes with Pasha Esfandiary

Joe takes a seat at the table with Pasha Esfandiary, professional poker player turned real estate entrepreneur and author of Raising the Stakes: Professional Poker Strategies for Winning in Business and in Life. Pasha shares his incredible journey from dropping out of college to mastering the high-stakes world of poker, and how the strategic mindset of the game propelled him into the competitive realm of real estate.

Discover how Pasha’s poker skills—patience, calculated risk-taking, and game selection—translated into building a thriving portfolio, including mobile home communities, and founding Evo Capital. He also dives into the misconceptions around mobile home parks, the housing crisis, and why he believes technology holds the key to affordable housing solutions.

Pasha’s story is a testament to resilience, adaptability, and the power of thinking long-term. Whether you’re a poker enthusiast, aspiring entrepreneur, or simply love a good underdog story, this episode is packed with actionable insights and inspiration.

PASHA ESFANDIARY grew up in San Jose, the son of a single father who gave up a fortune to immigrate to the US with his two sons. After a troubled childhood, Esfandiary was broke and unhappy until he stumbled onto the world of professional poker. He studied poker and personal development intensely and rose to play some of the highest-stakes games in the world. Applying poker strategies to life, he overcame obstacles to marry Jessica, the love of his life; amass a nine-figure real estate portfolio; and found Evoke Capital, a rapidly growing real estate company, with 2,500 units under management as of this printing. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and their adorable twins, Zoe and Taj.