Hey there magic fanatics and aspiring illusionists, have you ever wondered how much dough famous magicians like Criss Angel rake in? Turns out, it’s a lot. As one of the most popular magicians and illusionists of our time, Criss Angel has amassed an impressive fortune over his decades-long career. Between his hit TV show, live shows, brand partnerships, and business ventures, Angel has conjured up hundreds of millions of dollars. His Las Vegas magic show has been seen by over 5 million people and earned him up to $150 million. Not too shabby for a guy whose first magic kit was a gift from his aunt at the age of seven. Love him or hate him, you have to admit Angel’s magic touch with money and business is almost as mystifying as his stunts and illusions. Let’s take a peek behind the curtain and explore how Criss Angel built his vast empire of magic and money. Abracadabra, alakazam – let’s make some money appear!
Criss Angel’s Early Life and Career Beginnings
Criss Angel was born Christopher Nicholas Sarantakos in 1967 in East Meadow, New York. From an early age, he was interested in magic and the occult. His first performances were at the age of six, doing simple tricks at birthday parties. By the time he was in his teens, Criss was performing at small venues on Long Island as “The Boy Magician”.
After graduating high school in 1985, Criss focused entirely on his magic career. He adopted the stage name “Criss Angel” and began performing at bigger venues in New York City. His breakthrough came in the mid-1990s when he created and starred in the TV series Criss Angel Mindfreak on A&E. The show was a huge hit and ran from 2005 to 2010, catapulting Criss to international fame.
Touring and TV Specials
With his newfound fame and fortune, Criss began touring with large-scale stage shows. His first was Criss Angel Believe which ran from 2008 to 2016 at the Luxor Las Vegas. The show featured stunning illusions, escapology, and mentalism. Following its success, Criss created Mindfreak Live! which launched in 2016. It has since become the most successful magic show in Las Vegas history.
Outside of his Luxor shows, Criss has starred in several TV specials including:
- Criss Angel BeLIEve (Spike TV special, 2013)
- Criss Angel Trick’d Up (A&E special, 2013)
- Criss Angel Magicjam (A&E special, 2012)
Through hard work, perseverance, and a dedication to his craft, Criss Angel has made millions from his magical talents and build an entertainment empire. His story proves that with enough passion and practice, you really can achieve the impossible.
Rise to Fame Through Mindfreak TV Show and Live Performances
When Criss Angel burst onto the scene in 2005 with his TV show Mindfreak, he introduced millions of viewers to a reimagined, edgy style of magic and illusion.
Rise to Fame
Through Mindfreak, Angel showcased daring escapes, grand-scale illusions, and street magic. The show was a huge hit, running for over 240 episodes through 2010. This fame launched Angel into becoming one of the most successful magicians of all time.
Some of Angel’s most jaw-dropping feats include:
- Escaping from a straitjacket while suspended upside down over Times Square.
- Walking on water across the Luxor Hotel’s pool.
- Making a Lamborghini disappear in front of a live audience.
The success of Mindfreak led to Angel headlining a long-running Las Vegas stage show where he performs over 15 illusions and escapes nightly. He holds a record for the longest-running magic show in Vegas history.
Giving Back
Angel uses his fame and fortune for good. Through his Believe charity, he’s granted wishes for over 2000 critically-ill children and their families. He’s also worked with organizations like Make-A-Wish Foundation, Vegas Cares, and Keep Memory Alive.
Between his TV success, live shows, sponsorships and partnerships, Angel has amassed an impressive net worth of over $200 million. For a boy who started practicing magic at the age of 5, that’s proof that with hard work and perseverance, you can make your dreams come true. Angel lives by his catchphrase, “Dream believe achieve.” Thanks to his belief in magic, he’s achieved more than he probably ever dreamed possible.
Ventures Beyond Magic – Music, Books, and Television
Beyond his magic shows, Criss Angel has conjured up success in music, books, and television.
Music
In 1998, Criss formed the industrial rock band Angeldust, which released its first album Musical Conjurings From the World of Illusions in 2001. The band toured with Criss’s magic show for several years. Criss has also collaborated with hip hop artists like rapper Klayton and Insane Clown Posse.
Books
Criss has published two books. His first, Mindfreak: Secret Revelations, was released in 2007 and gives readers a behind-the-scenes look at how he developed and executed many of his famous magic tricks and illusions. The second, Walking Through Walls, is a memoir published in 2020 that chronicles Criss’s early life and rise to fame as a magician. Both books were co-written with author Laura Morton.
Television
Criss’s magic has been prominently featured on television, which significantly boosted his fame and success. His show Mindfreak aired on A&E from 2005 to 2010. It followed Criss as he performed street magic and large-scale illusions for unsuspecting people. The show was very successful, running for over 100 episodes across 6 seasons. More recently, Criss served as a judge on CW’s competition show Magic With the Stars in 2021.
Through these diverse ventures, Criss Angel has established himself as a multimedia star and one of the most prominent magicians and illusionists of his generation. His magic may have gotten him started, but his business savvy and ability to branch out into other areas of entertainment helped create his massive fortune and fame. Whether on stage, screen, or the printed page, Criss continues to leave audiences mystified with his bold and innovative performances.
Criss Angel’s Estimated Net Worth and Sources of Income
Criss Angel has been dubbed the “greatest illusionist of the 21st century” and holds a number of world records for various feats of magic. While his career has spanned over 20 years, much of his success and earnings have come from his popular TV show Criss Angel Mindfreak and his Las Vegas stage shows.
Criss Angel’s Estimated Net Worth
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Criss Angel has an estimated net worth of $50 million US dollars. The bulk of this comes from his Luxor Las Vegas show called Criss Angel MINDFREAK, his previous show BeLIEve at the Luxor which ran for over 5 years, and his various TV programs. His show MINDFREAK Live! generates nearly $150 million in revenue each year from ticket and merchandise sales.
TV Shows and Appearances
Angel’s breakout show was Criss Angel Mindfreak which aired for 96 episodes between 2005 to 2010. The show followed Angel as he performed street magic and large-scale illusions. It introduced his eccentric goth style and death-defying demonstrations to audiences worldwide. The show’s popularity led to higher pay for appearances, sponsorships and partnerships with brands like Fiat, Orville Redenbacher’s and more.
Luxor Las Vegas Residency
Angel’s partnership with Cirque du Soleil and MGM Resorts International has been his most lucrative. His BeLIEve show ran for over 1,600 shows at the Luxor from 2008 to 2016. His current show, Criss Angel MINDFREAK, opened in 2016 and features large-scale illusions, many of which Angel has never performed before. With ticket prices ranging from $55 to $175 per seat, and selling out nearly every show, Angel’s Luxor residency has generated hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue over the years.
While some critics argue much of Angel’s success comes from savvy self-promotion over talent, there’s no denying his mainstream popularity and financial achievements. By combining his eccentric persona with death-defying stunts and illusions in a Las Vegas spectacle, Angel has conjured up a very comfortable fortune and cemented his status as a master magician.
The Future and Legacy of Criss Angel’s Magic Career
Criss Angel has spent over 20 years building his magic empire and cementing his status as one of the greatest magicians of our time. At only 52, he still has many years ahead to continue amazing audiences with his daring demonstrations and death-defying stunts. What does the future hold for Criss Angel’s magic career?
Expanding His Vegas Show
Criss Angel currently headlines the critically acclaimed Criss Angel MINDFREAK show at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. The show features original illusions, escapology, and mentalism with high-tech stagecraft. Angel aims to keep improving and updating the show to give repeat visitors and new fans a thrilling experience. He may add new acts, revamp old favorites, and push the boundaries of what’s possible in a Vegas magic spectacular.
Television and Film
Angel has mentioned interest in creating both a MINDFREAK television series as well as feature films. His over-the-top style of magic is perfect for the big and small screens. A TV series could follow Angel as he creates and performs new illusions, escapes and stunts each episode. Action-packed magic movies starring Angel have the potential for major success, especially with the recent popularity of magical franchises like Now You See Me.
Inspiring the Next Generation
Through his CW television series, live shows, and online content, Angel has introduced millions of people to the art of magic. His flashy, edgy style appeals to younger crowds and has undoubtedly inspired countless children and teens to become magicians themselves. Angel may increase efforts to promote magic among youth, such as through kids’ events, online tutorials, magic kits, and more. His legacy will live on through all the future magicians he has influenced over the years.
Angel has spent decades honing his craft and building his MINDFREAK brand. Though already highly successful, his career is far from over. Fans can expect many more years of magic and illusion from the master magician Criss Angel. His impact on the future of magic will be felt for generations to come.
Conclusion
So there you have it, the story of how one talented illusionist turned a childhood passion into a multi-million dollar empire. Criss Angel has made an astonishing career and built up an incredible net worth through his daring stunts, TV shows, live performances, and business ventures. While his over-the-top persona and style aren’t for everyone, you have to respect his relentless work ethic and the risks he’s taken to bring magic into the mainstream. If you’ve ever had a dream that seemed impossible, let Criss Angel’s story inspire you. With passion, dedication, and a whole lot of practice, you too can achieve amazing things. Who knows, maybe one day you’ll make millions of dollars doing what you love. Now that would be magical.