Magic World Records
Record Holders and Record Breakers
Magical world record holding magicians and their amazing feats, as recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records
Highest Paid Magical Performer
David Copperfield
Most Emmy Award wins for a magic series
David Copperfield has won 18 Emmy Awards for his 17 television magic specials. His specials have received a total of 36 nominations.
Oldest U.S. Magic Club
Society of American Magicians, founded on May 10, 1902
Longest running magic championship
The International Federation of Magic Societies (Fédération Internationale des Sociétés Magiques, or FISM) has hosted the World Championship of Magic since its founding in 1948. It is the largest international competition of its kind, each time attracting more than 100 competitors, and since 1952 has been held every three years.
Most FISM competition wins by a single performer
FRED KAPS.
The most wins of the Fédération Internationale des Sociétés Magiques (FISM) World Championship of Magic Grand Prix is three, by Fred Kaps, aka Abraham Pieter Adrianus Bongers (Netherlands), who took home the trophy in 1950 (Barcelona), 1955 (Amsterdam) and 1961 (Liège).
Most FISM competition performances by a magician without a win
Maxim, aka Maggi Vito (Italy), competed nine times in the World Championship of Magic, in 1961 (Manipulation), 1964 (General Magic), 1967 (Manipulation and Micro Magic), 1973 (Manipulation and Micro Magic), 1979 (Manipulation) and 1982 (Manipulation and Micro Magic). He did not win any of them.
Most expensive magic trick sold at auction
Harry Houdini's Automatic Flowering Rosebush was sold by Potter & Potter for $324,000 on October 29, 2022.
Largest collection of magic sets
As of February 2020, Manfred Klaghofer (Austria) has a collection of 2,401 different magic sets from all over the world, starting his collection in 1995.
Most magic tricks performed in one minute
The most magic tricks performed in one minute is 42, and was achieved by Martin Rees (UK) at Wonderville in London, UK, in February 2023.
Most magic tricks performed blindfolded in one minute
The most magic tricks performed blindfolded in one minute is 36, and was achieved by Martin Rees (UK) at Wonderville in London, UK, in February 2023.
Largest playing card revealed for a magic trick
The largest card trick was performed by Peter Firman *UK) who revealed the chosen card as an image carved into a cornfield. The Three of Clubs image measured 63 x 88 feet.
Most magicians participating in a magic show
The most magicians performing in a single magic show is 162, achieved by the Indian Brotherhood of Magicians in Delhi, India, on April 24, 2016.
Most participants simultaneously performing the same magic trick
The most magicians performing a trick simultaneously is 12,514, and was achieved by The City of Turin, Walter Rolfo and Masters of Magic (all Italy) in Turin, Italy, on 31 December 2018. The magic trick involved all spectators holding four cards. They rip them in two, shuffle them, and put a single piece in their pockets. They then Shuffle them again, decide to keep some of them, or throw some away. At the end of the trick, they will 'magically' remain with one single piece of card, and it will match exactly the one in their pocket.
Longest magic show performed by one magician
The longest magic show performed at the same venue by an individual before a paying audience was achieved by Richard Smith (UK) whose show ran for 30 hr 45 min 7–8 August 7-8 2004. Richard performed one stretch for 11 hr 20 min without repeating a trick. In all, he performed 331 different tricks.