Net Worth Ranker
What Is David Blaine’s Net Worth?
David Blaine, the celebrated American illusionist and endurance artist, has accumulated a substantial net worth of $40 million. This impressive figure is primarily attributed to his successful career in magic, which includes live performances, television specials, and various other ventures. Blaine’s ability to captivate audiences with his daring stunts and unique style has solidified his position as a prominent figure in the world of entertainment, leading to significant financial success over the years.
David Blaine’s Earnings and Career Highlights
David Blaine’s earnings are noteworthy. In a typical year without touring, he can generate around $5 million from performing in Las Vegas and at exclusive private parties. When Blaine embarks on tour, his earnings can surge to as much as $15 million annually. In 2017, his total earnings amounted to $4.5 million. The following year, in 2018, he earned $13.5 million, placing him as the fourth highest-paid magician globally during that year.
Blaine’s career began to gain significant traction after his first television special, “David Blaine: Street Magic,” aired on ABC on May 19, 1997. Following this initial success, he dedicated the next two years to traveling across the United States, performing magic for everyday people in cities such as Dallas, New York, and San Francisco. These performances were documented by a small crew using handheld cameras, capturing the raw reactions and wonder of his impromptu audiences.
One of Blaine’s most famous stunts, “Buried Alive,” took place in 1999 in New York City. He was entombed in a plastic box beneath a 3-ton water-filled tank for seven days, situated across from Trump Place. During this endurance feat, he abstained from food and consumed only 2-3 tablespoons of water daily. An estimated 75,000 people visited the site during the week, including Marie Blood, the niece of Harry Houdini. On the final day, numerous news and media teams were present for the coffin opening. Construction workers removed the gravel surrounding the 6-foot-deep coffin before a crane lifted the water tank. Blaine emerged, with BBC News reporting that the 26-year-old magician had surpassed his hero, Harry Houdini, who had planned a similar stunt but passed away in 1926 before executing it.
In 2000, Blaine attempted to stand in a large block of ice in Times Square for 72 hours, which was covered in the TV special “Frozen in Time.” Despite being dressed lightly, he shivered even before the ice blocks were placed around him. Supplied with air and water through a tube, he remained encased in the ice box for 63 hours, 52 minutes, and 15 seconds before being removed with chainsaws. He was immediately hospitalized due to concerns of shock and required a month to recover.
In May 2002, Blaine performed “Vertigo,” where he was lifted by a crane onto a 100-foot-high pillar in Bryant Park, New York City. Without any harness, he stood on the pillar for 35 hours, holding onto handles on either side for stability. He suffered a mild concussion when he jumped down onto a landing platform made of cardboard boxes, and reported severe hallucinations towards the end of the stunt.
In 2003, Blaine undertook “Above the Below,” where he was sealed in a transparent Plexiglas case suspended in the air near Tower Bridge in London. The box, measuring 7 x 3 feet, barely allowed him to stand or lie down. Over 44 days, spectators taunted him by throwing eggs, golf balls, and other objects at the box. Blaine emerged from the box significantly lighter, exhibiting signs of starvation, and was immediately hospitalized.
On May 1, 2006, Blaine performed “Drowned Alive,” where he was submerged handcuffed in an 8-foot water-filled sphere for seven days. Following this stunt, he was monitored by Yale researchers to study the physiological effects of prolonged submersion.
In 2012, Blaine performed “Electrified: One Million Volts Always On” in New York City, a 72-hour endurance stunt streamed live on YouTube. He stood on a pillar surrounded by seven Tesla coils, producing an electric surge of one million volts.
Blaine has also starred in several television specials. In November 2013, he starred in a 90-minute ABC special titled “David Blaine: Real or Magic,” directed by Matthew Akers, which featured Blaine performing magic for celebrities and public figures. Another special, “Beyond Magic,” aired on ABC in November 2016, showcasing Blaine performing magic for various public figures, including a trick where he appeared to catch a .22 caliber bullet in a small metal cup in his mouth. On April 1, 2020, he starred in “David Blaine: The Magic Way,” which included close-up magic acts, card tricks via video chat due to COVID-19, and special performances by his daughter.
Throughout his career, David Blaine has also performed for US Presidents, including Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama, in the Oval Office, further cementing his status as a world-renowned magician.
David Blaine’s Real Estate Holdings
In 1998, David Blaine expanded his assets by purchasing a 1,000-square-foot apartment in New York City. The exact price remains undisclosed. He later listed the apartment for sale in 2016 with an asking price of $2.3 million. In 2005, Blaine further invested in real estate, acquiring a duplex apartment in the Tribeca neighborhood of New York City for $1.675 million. As of now, it appears that he continues to own both of these properties, adding to his overall net worth and financial stability.
Early Life and Education
David Blaine was born David Blaine White on April 4, 1973, in Brooklyn, New York. He is the son of Patrice Maureen White, a teacher, and William Perez, a Vietnam War veteran. Blaine’s interest in magic began at the age of four when he witnessed a magician performing on the subway. His father was not consistently present in his life, and when he was 10 years old, his mother married John Bukalo, and the family relocated to Little Falls, New Jersey. Blaine attended Passaic Valley Regional High School before moving to Manhattan shortly after graduation.
