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Penn Jillette

Penn Jillette is the loud, tall, opinionated half of Penn & Teller, the longest-running comedy-magic act in Las Vegas history and a relentless advocate for atheism and free speech.

By · datastats · Updated June 15, 2026
Penn Jillette

Who is Penn Jillette?

Penn Fraser Jillette was born on March 5, 1955, in Greenfield, Massachusetts. He is the talking half of the legendary duo Penn & Teller, which he has performed with since the 1970s alongside the silent Raymond Joseph Teller. Together they built one of the most durable acts in American entertainment, debunking psychics, exposing magic tricks, and somehow making it all hilarious.

Beyond the stage, Penn is a prolific author, podcaster, and television personality. He co-hosted the long-running Showtime series Penn & Teller: Bullshit!, hosted Penn & Teller: Fool Us on The CW, and has appeared in dozens of films and TV shows. He’s also a committed libertarian and one of the most prominent public atheists in the United States.

Penn made massive headlines around 2015–2016 when he lost over 100 pounds in a dramatic, documented weight-loss journey that drew as much media attention as any of his magic stunts. He’s been characteristically outspoken about exactly how he did it, making the story as much a philosophical statement as a health one.

He lives large, literally and figuratively, and has cultivated a public persona that is impossible to ignore: 6’7”, silver ponytail, painted pinky nail, and opinions delivered at full volume. That combination of spectacle, intellect, and controversy keeps him a perennial search subject.

People also ask

Penn Jillette is publicly known to be based in the **Las Vegas, Nevada** area, where Penn & Teller have had their residency at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino for decades. He has spoken openly about Las Vegas being his home base, though the specific address of his private residence is not public information and won't be shared here.

Penn Jillette is **American**, born and raised in Greenfield, Massachusetts. He is about as archetypally American as it gets, a self-made entertainer who turned libertarian atheism and carnival showmanship into a decades-long career.

Penn Jillette was born on **March 5, 1955**, making him **70 years old** as of 2025. He has shown no signs of slowing down, continuing to perform with Teller and appear on television and podcasts.

Penn Jillette stands **6 feet 7 inches tall (approximately 2.01 meters)**. His height is a core part of his stage presence, towering over most people, including his partner Teller, it makes him physically as impossible to ignore as he is verbally.

The most dramatic thing that "happened" to Penn Jillette in recent public memory was a serious health scare around 2016: he was diagnosed with a severely blocked coronary artery and underwent a procedure to address it. That health crisis was a direct catalyst for his famous 100+ pound weight loss. He has continued performing and remains publicly active.

Penn Jillette's net worth is not officially confirmed by him or any verified financial disclosure. Various entertainment media outlets have estimated it in the range of **$175 million to $400 million**, reflecting decades of Las Vegas residencies, television, books, and licensing, but treat those figures as informed estimates, not verified fact. He is undeniably wealthy by any measure.

Penn Jillette is a **committed atheist** and makes no secret of it, it's practically a cornerstone of his public identity. He has written an entire book on the subject (*God, No!*), co-hosted a show dedicated to debunking pseudoscience and superstition, and has stated repeatedly that he sees no credible evidence for any god or supernatural force.

Penn Jillette's wife is **Emily Zolten Jillette**, whom he married in 2004. She has largely stayed out of the spotlight compared to her husband, but Penn has spoken warmly and publicly about her on numerous occasions. She is sometimes credited as a co-author on family-related projects.

Penn Jillette is married to **Emily Zolten Jillette**. They wed in 2004 and have two children together. Penn has described their relationship in glowing terms in interviews and his podcast.

Penn and Emily Jillette have two children: a daughter named **Moxie CrimeFighter Jillette** (born 2005) and a son named **Zolten Penn Jillette** (born 2006). Penn gave both children deliberately unusual names, a very on-brand move for someone who has built a career on provocation and spectacle.

Same answer as before: no verified figure exists. Entertainment industry estimates place his net worth **somewhere between $175 million and $400 million**, built on four-plus decades of Penn & Teller performances, TV deals, book royalties, and other ventures. Until Penn himself confirms a number, any specific figure should be taken as an estimate.

**Penn Fraser Jillette** is his real, legal name, there's no stage alias at play here. He was born with it in Greenfield, Massachusetts, and has always performed under it. The mystery-sounding name is entirely genuine.

Penn Jillette practices no religion, he is a **vocal atheist**. He grew up in a household where religion was present but later rejected belief entirely, and he has spent much of his public career arguing that atheism is a rational, honest position. His 2011 book *God, No!* is essentially a love letter to non-belief.

Penn Jillette's dramatic weight loss occurred primarily in **2015–2016**. He dropped over **100 pounds** during that period, going from roughly 330 lbs down to around 225 lbs. The transformation was so striking that it became a major media story in its own right.

The immediate trigger was a **serious health crisis**: Penn was found to have a dangerously blocked coronary artery and required a procedure. Facing a genuine life-or-death wake-up call, he decided to overhaul his diet and health completely. He has said the goal was not vanity but survival, and the results were undeniable.

Penn lost weight through an extreme but clearly effective approach he's described in detail publicly. He started with a **two-week "potato diet"**, eating nothing but plain potatoes to reset his palate and cravings, followed by a shift to a **whole-food, plant-based diet** with very low calorie intake. He worked with a doctor throughout the process and later co-wrote the book *Presto!* (2016) documenting the entire journey.

Penn Jillette is **6 feet 7 inches** tall. That's not a stage trick, the man is genuinely enormous, which has always been part of what makes Penn & Teller's physical contrast so visually arresting on stage.

Yes. Penn Jillette has been married to **Emily Zolten Jillette** since 2004. He married relatively late in life (he was 49 at the time) but has been consistently and publicly devoted to his family ever since.

Yes. As of 2025, Penn Jillette remains married to Emily Zolten Jillette. There is no credible public reporting of any separation or divorce.

Yes. Penn Jillette has two children with his wife Emily: **Moxie CrimeFighter Jillette** (born 2005) and **Zolten Penn Jillette** (born 2006). The names raised eyebrows worldwide, which Penn clearly considered a feature, not a bug.

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