Net Worth Ranker
What Is The Amazing Johnathan’s Net Worth?
At the time of his death in February 2022, The Amazing Johnathan, born John Edward Szeles, possessed a net worth of $15 million. This valuation reflects his successful career as a stand-up comedian and magician, which spanned several decades and included numerous performances, television appearances, and entrepreneurial ventures. A comprehensive breakdown of the exact assets contributing to this net worth is unavailable in the provided source, but it can be inferred that a significant portion stemmed from his Las Vegas residencies and other performance-related income.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Born on September 9, 1958, in Detroit, Michigan, John Edward Szeles, later known as The Amazing Johnathan, spent his formative years in Fraser, Michigan. He grew up alongside his mother, Doreen, his father, Edward, and his sisters, Gail and Nancy. His father, Edward, worked as a draftsman designing military equipment. Johnathan’s educational background included attending Bethlehem Lutheran School and Fraser High. He described himself as a “below average student.” In 1973, at the age of 15, he bought his first magic trick. Subsequently, he sought instruction from Bob Moats, an amateur magician and magic shop proprietor, who became his mentor. His debut performance occurred at a neighbor’s birthday celebration. In 1975, he participated in the Fraser High talent contest, and unfortunately, all six of his tricks failed.
In 1976, Johnathan ventured to California with companions and decided to remain there. He traveled from Los Angeles to San Francisco via hitchhiking with his friend Kathy, and they resided in a student co-op in Berkeley. To earn income, Johnathan engaged in street performing. While developing his street act, he encountered Harry Anderson, a fellow street performer who later achieved fame as a “Night Court” star. Anderson’s act inspired him to incorporate comedy into his performances. Subsequently, Johnathan met A. Whitney Brown, who would later become a writer for “Saturday Night Live” and a correspondent for “The Daily Show.” Brown instructed him on comedy writing. By 1980, Johnathan’s shows at Fisherman’s Wharf had attracted such substantial audiences that he was arrested multiple times for obstruction. He then moved his outdoor shows to Pier 39, and he had his first comedy club gig at the Holy City Zoo.
Television and Comedy Career Highlights
After showcasing his talent at an industry night event at the Hollywood Improv, Johnathan’s television debut took place in 1983 with an appearance on “The 8th Annual Young Comedians Show.” He also had a guest-starring role on “Thicke of the Night.” His television career expanded rapidly, including appearances on “Late Night with David Letterman.” A significant moment occurred in 1986 when he was chosen as one of four comedians to perform a private show for President Ronald Reagan and French President François Mitterrand. The other comedians selected for this prestigious event were Jerry Seinfeld, Larry Miller, and Yakov Smirnoff.
In 1991, Johnathan co-created and hosted the variety/game show “Ruckus” alongside Merv Griffin. During the early 1990s, he made appearances on “The Chuck Woolery Show,” “The A-List,” and “Viva Cabaret.” Furthermore, he was featured in several episodes of “An Evening at the Improv” between 1988 and 1994. In 1997, he guest-starred on “The Weird Al Show” and appeared on “Make Me Laugh” and “The World’s Wildest Magic.” Johnathan had his own episode of “Comedy Central Presents” in 2001, and he participated in the documentary “The Aristocrats” in 2005. His presence on Fox’s “Comic Strip Live” amounted to 24 appearances. His numerous appearances on “Hey Hey It’s Saturday” contributed to his popularity in Australia.
Las Vegas Residency and Stage Performances
The Amazing Johnathan established himself as a prominent figure in the Las Vegas entertainment scene, headlining year-round for 13 years, starting at the Golden Nugget in 2001. This long-term residency significantly contributed to his income stream. He later performed at the Harmon Theater (at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino) and Bally’s. Precise financial details regarding his contracts with these venues are not available in the provided text, but such long-term engagements would have constituted a substantial portion of his $15 million net worth. He also released the specials “Wrong on Every Level” (2006) and “The Amazing Johnathan Live” (2007).
Entrepreneurial Ventures and Other Projects
In 2008, The Amazing Johnathan diversified his activities by opening the Amazing Underground, a members-only drive-in movie theater in Las Vegas. He also launched the SCREAMont Experiment, a 35,000-square-foot haunted hotel attraction during the 2012 Halloween season. In 2001, Johnathan published “Every Trick in the Book,” a guide to practical jokes and magic tricks. He is the subject of two documentaries, “Always Amazing: The True Story of the Life, Death and Return of The Amazing Johnathan” (2018) and “The Amazing Johnathan Documentary” (2019). These entrepreneurial pursuits and media appearances further contributed to his income and recognition, thus influencing his overall net worth. Precise revenue figures for these ventures are not provided in the source.
Collaborations and Stage Partnerships
In 2001, The Amazing Johnathan encountered actress and comedian Penny Wiggins at the Comedy & Magic Club in Hermosa Beach, California. Wiggins soon became his onstage assistant, assuming the character of “Psychic Tanya,” and appeared with him in “Wrong on Every Level” (2006) and “The Amazing Johnathan Live” (2007). From 2005 to 2006, Johnathan was featured in three episodes of “Criss Angel Mindfreak.” In 2008, he participated in the TV special “The Mad Men of Comedy Magic.” In 2013, he became the host of “Burn Unit,” described as “a weekly video podcast for the politically incorrect.” He also appeared as himself in the horror movie “The Litch” (2018). In 2021, he was animated in the “Rickdependence Spray” episode of “Rick and Morty.” While these collaborations added to his professional exposure, their specific financial impact on his net worth is not detailed in the provided material.
Personal Life Details
The Amazing Johnathan’s personal life included a marriage to Sandra Bowing in 1995, which ended in divorce in 2000. On June 7, 2014, he married performance artist Anastasia Synn at A Special Memory Chapel in Las Vegas. Comedian Gallagher officiated the ceremony, and guests included David Copperfield and Penn and Teller. Johnathan became the stepfather to Synn’s daughter, Haley. He openly discussed his use of cocaine and meth, stating, “My whole show was written entirely on coke. I’d pretend to snort ‘fake’ coke on stage – but it was real. I actually even freebased backstage.” Such lifestyle choices, while personal, can indirectly affect a person’s career and finances.
In 2007, The Amazing Johnathan was diagnosed with a “serious heart condition,” identified as cardiomyopathy on his website. In 2014, he disclosed that he had only 12 to 15 months to live and would be retiring. At this point, his heart was functioning at 15% capacity, and he was ineligible for a heart transplant due to Type 2 diabetes. He performed what he believed would be his final show at The Magic Castle in Los Angeles on July 1, 2014. Johnathan exceeded his doctors’ prognosis and went on tour around the U.S. in 2017. He explained his decision to return to work, stating, “They gave me a year and a half and that was almost three years ago, and I get tired of sitting and waiting for it to happen. So I just thought, I’m going to go back to work…If I die, I die on stage, rather than in my bed.” His website stated that “most of the impairment caused by the lack of circulation has healed almost completely.” The Amazing Johnathan died on February 22, 2022, at the age of 63. The expenses related to his medical treatments and lifestyle choices could have influenced his financial situation, though precise figures are not available.
Awards and Recognition
Throughout his career, The Amazing Johnathan received several accolades, including the “Las Vegas Review-Journal’s” Best Comedian award, and the publication named him one of the Top Ten Acts in Vegas. He also earned “Nevada Magazine’s” Comedian of the Year award, and the International Magic Awards recognized him as Best Comedy Magician three times. In 2020, “The Amazing Johnathan Documentary” secured him a spot on the Cinema Eye Honors Awards list of The Unforgettables, which acknowledges “notable and significant nonfiction film subjects.” While these awards enhanced his reputation and likely contributed to his career longevity, their direct monetary impact on his $15 million net worth cannot be precisely quantified based on the information provided.
