A corporate mentalist and puzzle maker specializing in mind-bending live experiences

ABOUT

Image: David at TED

  • "Kwong delivers trick after hypnotizing trick."

    - Thomas Floyd (The Washington Post)

  • "As breathtaking as a Houdini escape"

    The Los Angeles Times

  • "Who are you going to believe, David Kwong or your lying eyes?"

    Marc Vitali (PBS)

  • "I was bewitched by the processing power of his mind."

    - Charles McNulty (LA Times)

  • “Kwong creates a magical sense of togetherness.”

    The Los Angeles Times

  • "By the time Kwong finished, the room was loopy with delight.”

    The New York Times

  • "It’s like a spin class for the frontal lobe."

    The New York Times

David Kwong in a blue suit sitting on a vintage green patterned couch holding a black top hat, with a wooden-paneled wall background.

David Kwong is a mentalist, New York Times crossword constructor and puzzle creator. The star of Netflix’s The Puzzle Room, David is known for turning problem-solving into performance. David regularly speaks to companies about the science of how we think and solve problems.

David’s book Spellbound: Seven Principles of Illusion to Captivate Audiences and Unlock the Secrets of Success reveals how magicians bridge the gap between perception and reality to create focus and unforgettable moments—and how those same techniques help leaders command attention, influence opinions, and achieve their goals.

His one-man mentalism and puzzle show, The Enigmatist, has sold out theaters in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Toronto, London and The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

David has long been Hollywood’s go-to consultant for all things illusion and puzzles, designing magic and puzzles for Now You See Me, Mission: Impossible and many others.

Who is David?

Amazon logo with black text and orange arrow pointing from the 'a' to the 'z'.
Close-up of the BMW logo, with the black circle and white letters B, M, W, surrounding a blue and white quadrants
Logo of Chevrolet, featuring a gold Chevrolet bowtie emblem with a metallic border.
Logo of Delta.
Logo of Disney.
Silhouette of a boy fishing on a crescent moon with a starry night background, and the text 'DREAMWORKS' below.
EA logo on black text.
Google logo with colorful letters on a white background.
Forbes logo.
Ford logo with white script on blue oval background
Fox logo.
The GE logo, featuring a white stylized 'GE' monogram inside a blue circle with white decorative elements.
Google logo in vibrant colors.
Green and yellow John Deere logo featuring a leaping deer and the brand name.
J.P.Morgan logo.
The NBC logo with a stylized peacock featuring six colorful feathers in red, purple, blue, green, yellow, and orange.
An artistic illustration of a man and woman holding hands, riding bicycles on a path surrounded by trees.
Pixar logo.
Close-up of the Riot Games logo in red and black.
Slack logo.
Target logo with red and black concentric circles and the word 'TARGET' at the bottom.
Uber logo.
Black and white illustration of a person sitting at a desk, working on a computer. The person has short hair and is wearing glasses.
Warner Bros. logo with a blue shield and yellow outline, with 'WB' in yellow letters inside the shield, and 'WARNER BROS.' written below in blue.
YouTube logo with red play button and black text 'YouTube'.

FAQ

  • Plenty! Think smart corporate entertainment for galas and conferences, a practical keynote on attention and influence, and immersive puzzle nights like The Enigmatist where the audience helps crack the code. He also designs hands-on team experiences, intimate private-party sets, and custom magic or puzzle design for launches and special moments. For tech-forward events, ask about Mentalist vs. the Machine—human intuition vs. modern tools, with laughs and a few jaw-drops.

  • No crystal balls here. David blends sleight-of-hand, psychology, and puzzle design to create the feeling of impossibility. It’s craft, rehearsal, and audience participation - not otherworldly powers. You’ll leave amazed and fully alive to how attention can be shaped.

  • Absolutely. David can fold names, themes, and product stories into the show so the big moments feel personal, not pasted on. That might mean a bespoke reveal, a mini puzzle hunt built from your lore, or a finale tailored to your message. Quick pre-event calls keep it focused and on-tone.

  • On stage in The Enigmatist and Inside the Box. On screen consulting for films and TV like Now You See Me and Mission: Impossible. In print as a New York Times crossword constructor. If you like clever reveals and fair puzzles, you’ve probably crossed paths with his work already.

  • Yes - often! David is Los Angeles based and works all over the U.S. and abroad. He’s comfortable in theaters, hotel ballrooms, museums, campuses, and private homes, and he packs light so setup stays simple. If you’ve got a room and an audience, he can likely make it play.

  • It depends on the date, city, format (strolling, stage, immersive), run time, headcount, and any custom elements. Share a few details and we’ll get you a fast, tailored quote. Use the Contact button to start.

  • Sooner is better - prime dates go months out - but there’s often room for smart last-minute pivots. If your date is fixed, we can place a soft hold while we confirm details. Hit Contact to check availability.