What is Criss Angel's Net Worth and Salary?
Criss Angel, an American illusionist, magician, and musician, boasts a net worth of $50 million. He gained prominence by starring in and creating the A&E show "Criss Angel Mindfreak" (2005–2010) and Spike TV's "Criss Angel BeLIEve" (2013). His collaboration with Cirque du Soleil for the "Criss Angel Believe" (2008–2016) at Luxor casino sold over $5 million in advance tickets. In addition to "Mindfreak LIVE!" (2016-2018) at Luxor, he launched a residency, "Criss Angel MINDFREAK," at Planet Hollywood's Criss Angel Theater in December 2018.
Angel has graced numerous TV shows like "CSI:NY," "The Oprah Winfrey Show," "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson," "WWE RAW," "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," "The Megan Mullally Show," and "Larry King Live." He authored "Mindfreak: Secret Revelations" in 2007, and as lead vocalist of Angeldust, released four studio albums. The International Magicians Society honored him as Magician of the Century in 2010.
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Early Life
Born Christopher Nicholas Sarantakos on December 19, 1967, in Hempstead, New York, Criss Angel was raised in Elmont and East Meadow. His parents, Dimitra and John, owned a restaurant and doughnut shop. Inspired by a card trick from his aunt at age seven, he performed his first magic show at 12. As a teen, he performed in local restaurants and conducted his first major illusion, making his mother float in their den. Despite his parents' wishes for him to attend college, Angel pursued magic post-high school, touring with other performers.
Magic Career
Criss Angel debuted on TV in the 1994 ABC special "Secrets" and was featured in Clive Barker's 1995 film "Lord of Illusions." His other early appearances include "The Science of Magic" (1997), "The Science of Magic II" (2003), and numerous specials on networks like ABC Family and SciFi Channel. The TV series "Criss Angel Mindfreak" (2005-2010) was highly successful, noted for having more primetime hours dedicated to magic than any other show.
As a judge on NBC's "Phenomenon" in 2007 and a performer during Britney Spears' MTV Video Music Awards act, Angel's TV credits expanded. His later work includes the 2013 Spike TV show "Criss Angel BeLIEve" and several subsequent touring productions. The "Criss Angel MINDFREAK" show was named the #1 show in Las Vegas by Celebrity Radio in 2019. The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic led to the cancellation of several tour dates and performances.
(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Other Projects
In 1989, Angel led the heavy metal band Angel, blending magic into their music videos. He formed Angeldust with Klay Scott in 1995, releasing several albums. Partnering with IdeaVillage in 2010, he launched the Criss Angel Magic Collection for aspiring magicians, which included a children's magic kit and "Mindfreak" tricks. A pioneer in internet magic, his videos have garnered over 200 million views, with standout clips such as "Rip Bodies Apart" from "BeLIEve."
Personal Life
Criss married JoAnn Winkhart in 2002, parting ways in 2006. He dated Holly Madison from late 2008 to early 2009 and began a relationship with singer Shaunyl Benson in 2012. They have two sons, Johnny and Xristos. Johnny's leukemia diagnosis led Angel to rename his charitable foundation to the Johnny Crisstopher Children's Charitable Foundation for pediatric cancer awareness and research. The Make-A-Wish Foundation awarded Angel the Chris Greicius Celebrity Award in 2007 and named him their most supportive celebrity in 2010.
Awards and Achievements
The International Magician Society awarded Angel Magician of the Year five times through 2008 and Magician of the Decade in 2009. He received the World Magic Legacy Awards' Living Legend award in 2011 and became the Merlin Magician of the Year in 2001 and 2004. Inducted as the youngest member into the International Magician Society's Magic Hall of Fame, he was also the youngest to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Brotherhood of Magicians in 2018. Angel was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2017 and has set multiple world records, including for his "Metamorphosis" illusion and a Guinness record for making 100 people disappear in May 2010.
