• Quick note - the problem with Youtube videos not embedding on the forum appears to have been fixed, thanks to ZiprHead. If you do still see problems let me know.

So what does James Randi do for a living?

MinnesotaBrant

Philosopher
MinnesotaBrant
Joined
Apr 20, 2011
Messages
5,827
Is he a carpenter like Jesus, or does he make his entire living by being a sceptic? If he is not working, how long has it been since he has had a real job? Personal response only please.
 
MNBrant said:
Is he a carpenter like Jesus, or does he make his entire living by being a sceptic? If he is not working, how long has it been since he has had a real job? Personal response only please.
Click to expand...

Personal response? This is hardly the best way to contact him.
 
He's in his 80s, so most people would consider him "retired." For decades he was a working magician earning his living in show business. He probably now receives pensions from the various performing unions to which he belongs. I assume he also receives social security. I don't know what kind of speaking fees he gets, but he could probably command a pretty high price. Perhaps he was financially smart and made good investments that are paying off.

After giving up the presidency of JREF, it seems like he's living in semi-retirement. I hope that explains things. I don't speak for Randi or the JREF. It just seemed pretty obvious.

Ward
 
jasonpatterson said:
No more or less than I'm curious about what Mr. Norbert von Winkle of Dogbone, IA is doing.
Click to expand...

I am not familiar with him. Can you give me particulars? Let me google the name Von Winkle and see if I can come up with anything interesting.


Edited by Darat: 
Breach of Rule 4 removed.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
MNBrant,

Thanks for reminding me about the books he wrote, some of which are still in print and making money. I assume that TAM makes money and other conferences like TAM UK and TAM Australia and there are skeptical cruises. So, yes he makes money by being a professional skeptic now that he's retired from work-a-day showbiz. But I'm guessing that he still gets much of his income from the same places as other retirees.

Ward
 
wardenclyffe said:
MNBrant,

Thanks for reminding me about the books he wrote, some of which are still in print and making money. I assume that TAM makes money and other conferences like TAM UK and TAM Australia and there are skeptical cruises. So, yes he makes money by being a professional skeptic now that he's retired from work-a-day showbiz. But I'm guessing that he still gets much of his income from the same places as other retirees.

Ward
Click to expand...

Randi's on social security???? I wouldn't mind going on a sceptical cruise to go see him sometime.
 
wardenclyffe said:
He probably now receives pensions
(...)
I assume he also receives social security.
Click to expand...
In another thread it was said that Randi lifts a salary of some 150,000 a year (or how much was it) from JREF organization. On top of that, he might get revenues from some book copyrights etc. Donating to JREF is no alms to the poor actually, it is a lucrative business.
 
JJM 777 said:
In another thread it was said that Randi lifts a salary of some 150,000 a year (or how much was it) from JREF organization. On top of that, he might get revenues from some book copyrights etc. Donating to JREF is no alms to the poor actually, it is a lucrative business.
Click to expand...

Yep, I should have guessed that. If he can grab that much from JREF it must be doing well. I can see why he not doing magic acts for cruise ships then.
 
MNBrant said:
Randi's on social security???? I wouldn't mind going on a sceptical cruise to go see him sometime.
Click to expand...

I'm not 100% sure how social security works, but I think once you reach a certain age, you start receiving it no matter how rich you are. I think Randi's well past that age. This, of course, assumes that you paid into SS, which I think Randi must have with his many jobs over the years before his retirement.

Ward
 
MNBrant said:
Aren't you a bit curious as to what James Randi is up to? He could have written a book or is hosted a conference or something. How can we know if nobody is curious?
Click to expand...

He's a retired minor celebrity. I rarely care what even A-list celebrities do when they're not retired. I've not read his books. I've not seen him perform. I rarely visit the JREF homepage. I do like his forum, but I've not seen any evidence that he has much to do with it other than his name at the top of the page.

I'm actually more curious about you than I am about him, since as of today I've had considerably more personal contact with you than I have with him. ;)
 
Prometheus said:
He's a retired minor celebrity. I rarely care what even A-list celebrities do when they're not retired. I've not read his books. I've not seen him perform. I rarely visit the JREF homepage. I do like his forum, but I've not seen any evidence that he has much to do with it other than his name at the top of the page.

I'm actually more curious about you than I am about him, since as of today I've had considerably more personal contact with you than I have with him. ;)
Click to expand...

I wonder if he has the satchel of money delivered to him once a week, or does he personally go get it himself.
 
MNBrant said:
I said like. I suppose you could say like some godlike celebrity instead.
Click to expand...

Hardly, he's just this guy, you know? At least so he seemed when I spent some time with him in October last year. A very charming and well-informed guy, though.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top Bottom