Penn & Teller

What Penn & Teller does

Penn & Teller is a privately-held American magic and entertainment duo consisting of Penn Jillette and Teller, operating since 1975 under the legal entity Buggs & Rudy Discount Corp. The company generates revenue through a diversified portfolio of live entertainment, television production, theatrical productions, documentary filmmaking, publishing, and merchandise sales. Core products include their record-breaking Las Vegas residency at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino (since 2001, the longest-running headlining act in Vegas history), nearly 300 live touring performances annually across the US, UK, Canada, and Australia, and the CW television series Penn & Teller: Fool Us (11 seasons, longest-running American magic TV series) and Showtime's Penn & Teller: BS! (8 seasons, 13 Emmy nominations).

The underlying 'technology' is live theatrical performance combining magic, comedy, and social skepticism, supplemented by televised formats and theatrical co-productions with Mischief Theatre (Magic Goes Wrong, Olivier-nominated). Distribution is multi-channel: direct ticket sales via Ticketmaster, Bandsintown, and venue box offices; network distribution through The CW and Showtime; Off-Broadway/West End theatrical runs; and direct-to-consumer e-commerce at pennandteller.com. The business serves three primary customer segments: general entertainment consumers (B2C tickets, merchandise, streaming), corporate/private event planners (group sales, private bookings), and entertainment venues and television networks (B2B licensing).

The company employs 11-50 people, has earned 9 'Las Vegas Magicians of the Year' awards, a Hollywood Walk of Fame star (2013), 2024 Academy of Magical Arts Masters Fellowship, and has raised over $3 million for charitable causes including AFAN and Opportunity Village. Revenue is not publicly disclosed. The current 50th Anniversary World Tour (2025-2026) and extended Rio contract through 2026 indicate continued operational momentum despite the Rio contract's finite horizon.

Name

Penn & Teller

Legal name

Buggs & Rudy Discount Corp.

Website

https://pennandteller.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Penn & Teller is a privately-held magic and comedy duo (Penn Jillette and Teller) operating since 1975, generating revenue through a Las Vegas residency at the Rio, ~300 annual live tour performances, television series (Fool Us, BS!), theatrical productions, documentaries, books, and merchandise sold to general consumers, corporate clients, and entertainment networks.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Entertainment

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110)

akta.pro primary industry

Circus, Magic & Variety Shows (THAJAFAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Theater, Musicals & Performing Arts (THAJAFAB)

Keywords

• Live magic performances
• Las Vegas residency shows
• Comedy entertainment acts
• Television magic series
• Theatrical magic productions

Headquarters

HQ city

Las Vegas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Live Performance Revenue: Ticket sales from Las Vegas residency at Rio hotel & casino, Broadway runs, touring shows at performing arts venues, and international performances at venues like Sydney Opera House and London's Apollo Theatre
2. Television Production: Revenue from TV shows including Fool Us (The CW - renewed for 11th season), BS! (Showtime - 8 seasons), and various network specials for NBC, ABC, PBS, and Comedy Central
3. Merchandise Sales: E-commerce sales of branded merchandise including apparel (t-shirts, hoodies), accessories (trucker caps), and commemorative items for their 50th anniversary tour
4. Film/Documentary Production: Documentary films including Tim's Vermeer (BAFTA-nominated), The Aristocrats feature film, and Showtime short The Gambler's Ballad
5. Theatrical Productions: Productions including Magic Goes Wrong (Olivier-nominated, West End), The Mind Mangler spin-off (Off-Broadway), and Play Dead thriller
6. Corporate/Private Events: Corporate bookings and group sales for private events (groups of 10 or more)
7. Publishing: Book sales including Penn Jillette's five books with New York Times bestsellers 'God No!' and 'Presto', and Teller's two books

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Penn & Teller delivers live magic and comedy entertainment performances, including their long-running Las Vegas residency at the Rio Hotel & Casino, touring shows at performing arts venues, and international performances. They also produce television programming (Fool Us on The CW, BS! on Showtime), theatrical productions (Magic Goes Wrong), documentary films (Tim's Vermeer, The Aristocrats), and branded merchandise sold through their online shop.

Product overview

Penn & Teller is a legendary magic duo (Penn Jillette and Teller) whose product portfolio centers on live entertainment experiences and television programming. The core offerings include their record-breaking Las Vegas residency show at Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino, the long-running television series 'Penn & Teller: Fool Us!' on The CW, and the Showtime documentary series 'Penn & Teller: BS!' They also produce theatrical productions including 'Magic Goes Wrong' and its spin-offs, documentary films such as 'Tim's Vermeer' and 'The Aristocrats,' and a 2025-2026 50th Anniversary World Tour. Merchandise offerings include branded apparel (t-shirts, hoodies) and accessories sold through their online shop. The company operates as a live entertainment and media production enterprise rather than a technology product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Penn & Teller: Fool Us: Hit magic competition TV series on The CW Network where up-and-comers and magic veterans try to fool Penn & Teller.
• Penn & Teller: BS!
• Penn's Sunday School
• Magic Goes Wrong
• The Mind Mangler
• Stalker

Products and services

• Penn & Teller Las Vegas Residency Show The flagship live stage show featuring magic, comedy, and social commentary, performed at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Includes nine wins as 'Las Vegas Magicians of the Year.' Tickets available through Ticketmaster and the Rio box office.
• 50th Anniversary World Tour A world tour celebrating 50 years of Penn & Teller's partnership, with scheduled performances in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia at performing arts venues, the Sydney Opera House, and London's Apollo Theatre. Tickets sold through Ticketmaster and Bandsintown.
• Penn & Teller: Fool Us! A television series on The CW Network where up-and-coming magicians and magic veterans perform tricks attempting to fool Penn & Teller for a chance to star in their Las Vegas show. The longest continual American magic television series in history, renewed for an 11th season.
• Penn & Teller: BS! A Showtime documentary series highlighting the duo's skepticism by tackling fakes and frauds behind topics like alien abduction, psychics, and bottled water. The longest-running series in Showtime history with 13 Emmy nominations and a Writers Guild Award.
• Magic Goes Wrong An Olivier-nominated West End production written and created in collaboration with Mischief Theatre, featuring comedy and magic in a format where things go wrong. Set box office pre-sale records at the Vaudeville Theatre in London.
• Tim's Vermeer A BAFTA-nominated documentary film released by Sony Pictures Classics, following Texas-based inventor Tim Jenison on his quest to discover the methods used by Dutch Master painter Johannes Vermeer.
• The Aristocrats A critically lauded feature documentary produced by Penn Jillette exploring a comedian's joke and its variations across the comedy world.
• Penn & Teller Branded Merchandise Branded apparel and accessories sold through the online shop, including t-shirts (50th Tour Logo Shirt, Looks Simple Limited Edition, Rio Stamp Shirt) priced at $35, hoodies (Abstract 50th Hoodie) priced at $75, and trucker caps (Ampersand Trucker Cap) priced at $32.50.
• Penn Jillette Cameo Videos Personalized video messages from Penn Jillette available through the Cameo platform for individual consumer purchases.
• Penn Jillette Books Five published books by Penn Jillette, including New York Times bestsellers 'God No!' and 'Presto'. Available for sale through retail book channels.
• Teller Books Two published books by Teller. Available for sale through retail book channels.

Quantifiable outcome

• 9 wins as Las Vegas Magicians of the Year
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Mischief Theatre (creators of The Play That Goes Wrong)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Collaborative creators and producers of Magic Goes Wrong, an Olivier-nominated show that played London's West End Vaudeville Theatre setting box office pre-sale records. The partnership extended with Magic Goes Wrong spin-off The Mind Mangler and Stalker, both running Off-Broadway in 2024.
• The Rio Hotel & Casino (Las Vegas)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term residency at Rio all-suite hotel & casino since 2001, continuing through 2026. Makes Penn & Teller the longest-running headlining act in Las Vegas history. They hold nine 'Las Vegas Magicians of the Year' wins.
• The CW NetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHome of Penn & Teller: Fool Us, which has been renewed for an unprecedented 11th season and is the longest continual American magic television series. Show features up-and-comers and magic veterans trying to fool Penn & Teller.
• Showtime NetworkscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHome of Penn & Teller: BS! which ran for 8 seasons and was the longest-running series in Showtime history, earning 13 Emmy nominations and a Writers Guild Award. Also aired The Gambler's Ballad short.
• TicketmasterminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary ticket distribution platform for tour dates and Las Vegas show tickets.
• BandsintownminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTour dates and event tracking platform integrated into pennandteller.com for live event discovery and ticketing.
• AFAN (Aid for AIDS Nevada)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharitable partnership where Penn & Teller serve as honorary chairmen, have raised and donated nearly $2 million, and serve as grand marshals for AFAN's annual Las Vegas AIDS Walk for 23 years.
• Opportunity VillageminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharitable partnership assisting people with intellectual disabilities through employment placement and lifestyle betterment. Penn & Teller have raised over $1 million. Penn raised over $1 million more on Celebrity Apprentice.
• Sony Pictures ClassicsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor of Tim's Vermeer documentary, which was BAFTA-nominated.
• Walgreens/Duane ReademinorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRetail distribution of Penn's signature ice cream created in 2012.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• David Copperfield: The preeminent Las Vegas resident magician with a long-running MGM Grand residency. Directly comparable to Penn & Teller as a high-profile, award-winning headline magic act anchored in Las Vegas with a globally recognized brand.
• Criss Angel: Long-running Las Vegas resident magician with multiple shows at Planet Hollywood and other venues. Comparable as a magic-focused headliner with theatrical production values targeting the same Las Vegas tourism and tourist entertainment market as Penn & Teller.
• Siegfried & Roy: Iconic Las Vegas magic duo known for decades-long Mirage residency. Comparable in duo format, long-running Las Vegas residency history, and broad international brand recognition within the magic genre.
• Derren Brown: British mentalist and psychological illusionist with West End and Broadway runs, multiple TV specials, and a similar intellectual, skeptical showmanship style. Comparable as a sophisticated, non-traditional magic act with crossover theatrical and television presence.
• Mat Franco: Las Vegas resident magician (Winchester at the LINQ) who won America's Got Talent. Comparable as a younger-generation Las Vegas magician with TV exposure feeding residency demand, targeting a similar tourist entertainment market.
• Mac King: Long-running Las Vegas resident magician at Harrah's for over 20 years. Comparable as a sustained, family-friendly Las Vegas magic residency act with multi-year venue tenure similar to Penn & Teller's Rio run.
• Hans Klok: Dutch illusionist with Las Vegas residencies and international touring. Comparable as a high-production-value stage magician with a Las Vegas residency history and global touring footprint similar to Penn & Teller.
• Piff the Magic Dragon: Las Vegas resident magician (Flamingo) with a comedic, character-driven act and frequent UK touring. Comparable as a Las Vegas-anchored, touring comedian-magician with crossover TV exposure and a similar entertainment demographic.

Broad incumbents

• Cirque du Soleil: Las Vegas-based live entertainment powerhouse with multiple resident shows. Comparable as a long-duration Las Vegas residency operator targeting tourist entertainment spend, but at vastly larger scale and with a broader variety/musical format rather than magic-only.
• Blue Man Group: Long-running theatrical act with multiple resident productions including Las Vegas. Comparable in operating model (long-running residency, multi-channel brand, theatrical extensions) but distinct in format (performance art vs. magic).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/pennjillette
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCX9N-aGQckrkpfzepUjQcYw
• Facebookfacebook.com/PennAndTeller
• Instagraminstagram.com/pennandtellerlive

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Penn & Teller