Read This: How Criss Angel became the $70 million king of Las Vegas

Ever since gambling became legal in more American cities, casinos have accounted for a smaller and smaller share of Las Vegas’ tourism revenue. So Sin City bridged this gap with big-name live entertainment. Magic shows in particular have been a major part of Las Vegas’ story. Eyeliner-loving illusionist Criss Angel knows this better than anyone. At 48, he’s able to afford a 25,000-square-foot mansion in the desert outside the Strip and a fleet of high-ticket cars to park in front of it, largely thanks to the lavish show he has been performing at the Luxor since 2008. Paul M. Barrett delves into Angel’s financial acumen in an article for Bloomberg Business entitled “Criss Angel’s Magical $70 Million-A-Year Profit Machine.”
The article arrives as Angel is retiring his profitable Believe, a collaboration with Cirque Du Soleil, and prepares to unveil an ambitious and risky new show called Mindfreak Live! Barrett chalks up a lot of Angel’s success to his willingness to diversify, promoting his personal brand through live appearances, viral videos, merchandising, and a series on A&E. He’s not merely a magician; he rules his own magic empire.