Michael’s Story
Michael Griffin is a two-time World Magic Award-winning escape artist and one of the world’s most recognized and respected performers in the art of survival and transformation. His life story of resilience, personal conviction, and self-reliance now powers a new mission: helping audiences break free from the toughest straitjacket of all—negative thinking.
Griffin’s daring career has spanned stages across the globe and earned him acclaim on television shows like America’s Got Talent, Penn & Teller: Fool Us, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, and Masters of Illusion. But behind the spotlight lies a personal journey few know.
Early in his career, Griffin was lured to Hollywood with the promise of fame and big opportunities. What he encountered instead was a culture of compromise. Industry figures—some whose names you’d recognize—pressured him to take paths he wasn’t willing to take.
"You’ll never make it in this town," one of them told him, after Michael refused to do drugs or “the other thing” required to fit in. Griffin’s reply:
"Did you really just use that cliché? I’ll make it. It may take 30 years, but I’ll do it my way."
And he did.
Griffin walked away from Hollywood and built his career on his own terms. To this day, he has never used drugs or alcohol. Instead, he channels discipline, focus, and integrity into everything he does—from record-setting escapes to life-affirming keynotes.
That same philosophy now drives Michael Griffin Inspires. Having defied death on stage—escaping locked coffins, underwater traps, straitjackets, even a live public hanging—Griffin knows that the hardest escapes happen in the mind.
Key Highlights:
Two-time World Magic Award-winning escape artist
Featured on America’s Got Talent, Penn & Teller: Fool Us, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, and Masters of Illusion
Only escape artist to survive a public hanging on stage
Walked away from Hollywood deals rather than compromise values
Never used drugs or alcohol; teaches mindset, focus, and resilience
Built a global career inspiring others to overcome mental barriers and self-doubt
Griffin has worked with schools, corporate leaders, law enforcement, and personal growth groups, blending unforgettable live experiences with actionable life lessons. His story resonates with anyone who’s been told you can’t—and proves that you can.
Michael’s mission today is simple: help others unlock courage, embrace possibility, and write their own story of escape and triumph.
