Oz Pearlman
Oz Pearlman | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 19, 1982 Israel |
| Occupation(s) | Mentalist, magician, endurance athlete |
| Known for | Third place on Season 10 of America's Got Talent (2015), world record for distance run in Central Park |
Oz Pearlman (born July 19, 1982) is a distinguished American mentalist, magician, and endurance athlete, known professionally as "Oz the Mentalist." He achieved widespread acclaim by securing third place on Season 10 of America's Got Talent in 2015.
In addition to his performance career, Pearlman competes as a long-distance runner, focusing on marathons and ultramarathon events.
Early years
Originally from Israel, Pearlman relocated to the United States at the age of three when his father embarked on a career in engineering.
Academic background
He graduated in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan, simultaneously earning income through magic performances. Beginning at 14 years old, he entertained audiences at restaurants, children's parties, and corporate gatherings.
Shift to full-time performance
While initially working full-time in Merrill Lynch’s global technology services division, Pearlman pursued magic on a part-time basis. After presenting a corporate entertainment act for company executives, he decided to leave Merrill Lynch and dedicate himself entirely to mentalism.
Notable marathon accomplishments
On April 4, 2022, Pearlman established a world record for the greatest distance run within Central Park by covering over 116 miles in 17 hours and 40 minutes. This event received significant media attention and served as a fundraiser for Ukrainian humanitarian aid. Later that year, on August 5, he completed a 130-mile run from Montauk to Manhattan in less than 22 hours, an achievement documented by The Audacious Report and The New York Times.
Pearlman has claimed victory in the New Jersey Marathon four times and won the 50-mile Chicago Ultra Marathon in 2015 with a finishing time of 5:25:26. He ranks among the top 30 fastest American runners over the 50-mile distance and has participated in elite endurance competitions including the Hawaii Ironman World Championship, Western States 100 Mile Run, Spartathlon (153 miles), Leadville 100 Mile Run, and Badwater 135 Mile Run.
Media appearances
On June 4, 2025, Oz Pearlman appeared on the Joe Rogan Experience, where he famously deduced Joe Rogan's ATM PIN. The following week featured his guest spot on the FLAGRANT podcast. Throughout 2023 and 2024, Pearlman performed for various NFL franchises such as the Dallas Cowboys, Cincinnati Bengals, Philadelphia Eagles, Las Vegas Raiders, Green Bay Packers, and Buffalo Bills during ESPN broadcasts. His entertainment extended to collegiate teams including the Alabama Crimson Tide, Michigan Wolverines, Texas A&M Aggies, and Duke Blue Devils across multiple ESPN appearances. In December 2024, he also performed for the Los Angeles Lakers.
A December 2024 article in Forbes highlighted Pearlman's expanding influence within sports entertainment. His work has been widely covered by leading outlets like Sports Illustrated, ESPN, and USA Today. Notably, his August 2023 performance on HBO's Hard Knocks for the New York Jets garnered extensive media coverage from sources including Sports Illustrated and Esquire.
Pearlman earned third place on Season 10 of America's Got Talent (2015) and returned for America's Got Talent: The Champions in 2020. His television appearances include multiple high-profile shows such as The Ellen Show in 2022, Fox & Friends in 2024, and numerous ESPN programs featuring NFL teams.
His travel series Oz Knows aired nationally on NBC Television in 2018 and received an Emmy Award that same year. Other significant media spots include CNBC's Squawk Box (with a return appearance in December 2022), Fox Business' Varney & Co., as well as several ESPN segments involving NFL teams like the Seattle Seahawks, Baltimore Ravens, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Additionally, he has been featured on popular podcasts such as The School of Greatness and appeared on shows including Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, NBC's Today Show, and Bravo's Million Dollar Listing.
In December 2024, Pearlman was invited to The Howard Stern Show, where he impressively guessed a secret code word linked to a historic agreement between Harry Houdini and his wife—showcasing his distinctive combination of mentalism skills and narrative artistry.
Pearlman's business approach capitalizes on prominent sports collaborations and media engagements to broaden his brand exposure across profitable sectors like sports entertainment, television broadcasting, and corporate events. This multi-channel visibility reinforces his status as a leading mentalist with a strong presence both on stage and across media platforms.
Teaching
Pearlman developed a wide range of educational video lessons specializing in card magic for the magic supplier Penguin Magic. In 2003, he released the instructional DVD Born to Perform Card Magic, which was recorded in Las Vegas. This DVD achieved sales exceeding 100,000 units and earned some of the top ratings ever recorded by Penguin Magic.
