Jan 13 2025
Jon Dorenbos has made one of the most unlikely career transitions, from a 14-year career as a professional football player to a world-class magician who has made appearances on America’s Got Talent and Ellen.
Jon Dorenbos has an extraordinary and empowering story of resilience, forgiveness, and living a life of purpose in the face of unfathomable obstacles. He is also a America’s Got Talent finalist, 14-year NFL alumni, and renowned keynote and motivational speaker He seamlessly incorporates your company message through storytelling and world-class magic, leaving your audience motivated and aligned with your organization’s mission. Jon Dorenbos is available to be booked for corporate and private events. Contact the Mollie Plotkin Group today to inquire about Jon Dorenbos’s fees.
Contact the Mollie Plotkin Group at 215-510-6607 to book Jon Dorenbos for corporate or private events, keynote speeches, workshops, fireside chats, motivational speaking, or virtual appearances. Our agency will work directly with your organization and our keynote speakers to create an unforgettable event.
The Mollie Plotkin Group is the leading keynote speakers agency and entertainment bureau bringing excitement to audiences, clients, and employees. We represent subject-matter experts in every possible field, so whether we’re your partner in creating a memorable meeting, or your meeting planner’s secret weapon in securing the perfect keynote speaker, we’re in this with you.
Jon Dorenbos’ past has made him the man he is today. In August of 1992, at the age of 12, his father murdered his mother. His father was convicted of 2nd degree murder and was sentenced to 13 years in prison.
Despite his traumatic past, Jon Dorenbos became a 14-year NFL pro with two Pro Bowl appearances. As a member of the Philadelphia Eagles, Jon also earned the Ed Block Courage Award and the Eagles Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. Additionally, Jon holds the record for the most consecutive games played in Philadelphia Eagles franchise history.
After being traded to the New Orleans Saints before the 2017 season, team doctors discovered Jon had a heart condition that would require a 15-hour emergency open heart surgery, ultimately ending his football career. However, despite his impressive professional football career, Jon is now better known as a world-class magician. In fact, there was a time when he was at the top of his game in both: “I was playing in the NFL and performing magic on the #1 TV show simultaneously. At the top of my game in both professions. I played the season opener against the Cleveland Browns. Got on a jet from Philadelphia to Los Angeles and competed on the Finals of AGT the next night. So cool.”
After Jon and his sister, Kristina, moved to live with their Aunt Susan, Jon started to take interest in magic just before his 13th birthday. He instantly fell in love with it. Magic became an escape during a time of mourning and transition in his life. Jon was obsessed with the artistry and expertise involved and spent all day, every day, practicing and rehearsing in front of his mirror. His Aunt Susan also had a friend, magician Ken Sands, who became a mentor, friend and father figure for Jon. Ken didn’t just teach Jon the fundamentals of magic, he taught him how to find himself as a performer.
“On a personal note, I’m sorry if I disappoint you. I can’t levitate in the middle of Times Square or push over a palm tree in Vegas with my finger. But what I can do… is have a good time. My favorite magician and mentor, Ken Sands, is a genius. He would work with me and give me subtle hints trying to help me discover who I was as an artist. And let me tell you, it took me a long time to figure out who I was as a performer. After watching Ken perform for so many years, it finally hit me! I finally figured it out. For me, it’s not just about the magic. Magic is a tool to develop a relationship with the audience. It’s about inspiring people, having fun and rockin’ a crowd.”
Jon competed on Season 11 of America’s Got Talent where he showcased his skills as a magician, making it to the finals and placing third overall amongst over 100,000 competitors. He then put his talent on display as a guest on Ellen, who quickly became one of his biggest fans and advocates. Jon appeared on Ellen more than any other guest in the history of the show. In fact, he made an appearance on Ellen six weeks after the open-heart surgery that ended his football career. Jon has also been featured on HBO Real Sports more than any other guest in history.
On top of being a recurring guest on her show, Ellen created a game show that Jon hosted. In the show, Jon would show up at your house, giving you a chance to win money and crazy prizes. Here is one of Jon’s favorite moments hosting that show. After the episode was done filming, the cameras kept rolling as Jon surprised a little girl.
Today, Jon lives out his dream as a unique combination of a motivational speaker and entertaining magician. Known for his great sense of humor and positive outlook on life, Jon uses his skills as a magician and his incredible life story to inspire audiences around the world. These are just a few of the organizations where Jon Dorenbos has shared his story:
Find out how to hire Jon Dorenbos to appear at your next event. Contact the Mollie Plotkin Group to inquire about Jon Dorenbos’s availability and cost. When booking Jon Dorenbos for an event, we need to know the type of venue and location the event will take place. Jon Dorenbos is a popular choice for corporate events, private events, and virtual events. So, you can click the Check Availability button or contact us and an MPG Jon Dorenbos booking agent will get back to you within 48 hours.
How much to book Jon Dorenbos depends on the type of event. So, the cost to hire Jon Dorenbos for corporate or private events is available by contacting a Mollie Plotkin Group Agent. Notably, Jon Dorenbos is available for conferences, festivals, private parties and events. Just contact the Mollie Plotkin Group and tell the booking agent the proposed date, time, and location.
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Booking magician Jon Dorenbos as a keynote speaker is the easiest part of planning your conference or corporate event. Jon can work your company’s message and objectives into his custom blend of storytelling, magic and humor. For example, his speaking topics include:
Having hired many speakers and entertainers over the years for corporate audiences, I can honestly say that Jon has been the VERY BEST – Thomas Shovlin, CIWA Executive, California Insurance Wholesalers Association
He held our NECA audience of 5,000 in rapt attention as he wove his life story through magic and emotion. What an uplifitng performance! – John Grau, NECA CEO, National Electrical Contractors Association
And while most are good, very few are remembered well after the event. Our attendees still talk about Jon’s incredible performance at our corporate event as one of the best they’ve experienced. His magic was fantastic, and his time on stage had the audience laughing, tearing up, and inspired. Jon’s story goes straight to the heart, and the way he tells it is the real magic. He and his team are pleasure to work with. Jon is a true class act.” – CMO, BluJay Solutions
You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll remember what really matters in life and you’ll leave inspired to make a difference. This guy is the real deal.” – Michael Clarke, Director GSO B2B Marketing & Events, The Americas Marriott International Luxury Brands
“Jon Dorenbos is a magical person. Life Is Magic shows how we can all choose happiness in the face of overwhelming odds.” —Ellen DeGeneres
An extraordinary and empowering story of resilience, forgiveness, and living a life of purpose in the face of unfathomable obstacles.
You might recognize him as an NFL All-Pro or as an elite magician who made the finals of America’s Got Talent and regularly appears on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. But Jon Dorenbos says that what he does is not who he is. Who he is is someone forced, at the most tender of ages, to coach himself into turning tragedy to triumph.
One morning in August 1992, when Jon was twelve years old and living a seemingly idyllic childhood in suburban Seattle, he woke up for baseball camp. His dad waved good-bye. Later that day, Jon heard the news: his father had murdered his mother in the family’s three-car garage. In an instant, his life had shattered. He’d been essentially orphaned.
Thrust into foster care while his father stood trial for murder, Jon struggled. Left to himself, he discovered an unlikely escape performing magic tricks. If you found a way to alter your reality after your dad—your hero—killed your mom, wouldn’t you cling to it too? Then came football, which provided a release for all of Jon’s pent-up anger. Together, magic and football saved him, leading to fourteen NFL seasons on the gridiron and raucous sleight-of-hand performances to packed houses across the globe.
In 2017, after being traded to the New Orleans Saints, Jon was diagnosed with a life-threatening heart condition. He had a choice: break down, or—as he’d long by now taught himself—bounce back. “Talk to yourself, don’t listen to yourself,” Dorenbos advises for those moments when the inner voice of self-doubt screams.
In Life Is Magic, Dorenbos draws a road map for how to shut that voice up by choosing happiness. At his darkest times, he writes, he’s learned lessons of love, forgiveness, and perseverance. His story is poignant and powerful, told by a charismatic and optimistic man who has overcome life-or-death challenges with grace, persistence, a childlike sense of wonder...and jaw-dropping card tricks.
