David Copperfield is without a doubt one of the most famous and successful magicians to date, and rightfully so! The star has been in business since the 80s and does not appear to be going anywhere anytime soon.
Not only does he have one of the biggest shows at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, but he also continues to tour worldwide, making him the best selling act in history, beating out names such as Michael Jackson, Madonna and Elvis Presley. Considering he holds the Guinness World Record for most tickets sold by a solo act, it goes without saying that Copperfield is rich.
Across his sold-out shows, magic memorabilia, television specials and stints on tv and film, it makes sense as to why David Copperfield has become the first-ever billionaire in the world of magic and illusion. With over five decades of work, here are the ways David Copperfield has made his remarkable $1 billion net worth.
14 Las Vegas Shows
David Copperfield has managed to make a reported $1 billion from many things, however, his most successful one remains his Las Vegas residency. Copperfield has had a residency for nearly 15 years at the MGM Grand, and has managed to sell a whopping 40 million tickets, making more than $4 billion in revenue, says Celebrity Net Worth.
13 World Tours
In addition to his successful Las Vegas shows, David Copperfield has also been on over five world tours throughout his career, selling out each and every single one of them. According to Playbill, the star's 1996 'Dreams & Nightmares' show holds the record for most tickets sold in a week!
12 Magic Show Merchandise
While David Copperfield is racking up hundreds of millions of dollars on his residency and world tours, he is also making bank on his merchandise! The magician is the sole earner when it comes to t-shirts, posters and practically anything sold at his shows, which if you've ever been to a show of any kind, you know merch doesn't come cheap.
11 Bahamian Private Islands
David Copperfield purchased a number of private islands back in 2006 in the Bahamas, as one does. The illusionist bought them for a whopping $50 million, however, he is now making money on them. The star rents out these islands to wealthy celebs and worldwide elite for over $40,000 per night!
10 Magic Memorabilia
In addition to his very own merchandise, David Copperfield also own a lot of magic memorabilia. The star is not only in possession of many of his own historic costumes and props but owns memorabilia that once belonged to some of the greatest illusionists before Copperfield, such as Houdini, Hanks Klok and Franz Harary, which has been said to be worth well over $200 million.
9 Meet & Greets
If you thought that David Copperfield was making money off of tickets and tickets alone, you would be sorely mistaken. The magician also charges and arm and a leg for his meet and greets, and when you take into consideration 15 shows a week, and a thousand dollar price tag on a photo with him, then you know he's rolling in dough!
8 Magic Museum
Considering David Copperfield is the owner of so much magic memorabilia once owned and used by some of the greatest magicians and illusionists in the world, it would only make sense for him to have his very own magic museum. After purchasing an old library for $2 million, Copperfield transformed it into what is now known as the International Museum and Library of the Conjuring Arts.
7 Government Work
While this one may seem slightly out of place, it is still well worth mentioning. Back in October 2012, residents of the US state of Maryland received a robocall from David Copperfield himself supporting a ballot initiative that would expand gambling in the state. This certainly seems quite off-brand for Copperfield, but we bet he managed to score a nice paycheck for the recording.
6 U.S Real Estate
In addition to David Copperfield's private islands, he also owns a series of real estate in New York City and Las Vegas. The magician owns a penthouse just north of Central Park and a Vegas mansion only minutes from the Vegas Strip, all of which he rents out for thousands of dollars per night, too!
5 Talk Show Appearances
Considering David Copperfield is one of the best illusionists in the world, it is only fitting that he would be very sought after. The star has appeared on many talk shows throughout his career, and while this is usually done so to promote a show or product in exchange for screen-time, Copperfield would usually be paid for his appearances, particularly those he would be performing on.
