Apollo Robbins

Apollo Robbins is an American sleight-of-hand artist, security consultant, and self-described "gentleman thief", renowned for his exceptional skills in pickpocketing and misdirection. Born on May 23, 1974, in Plainview, Texas, Robbins began his career as a magician before transitioning into a performer and consultant specializing in human attention and deception. He has been featured in prominent publications such as The New Yorker, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal, and has delivered a widely acclaimed TED Talk titled "The Art of Misdirection" .

Robbins first gained national attention in 2001 when he demonstrated his pickpocketing abilities by relieving several Secret Service agents of their belongings during a performance attended by former President Jimmy Carter. This incident led to increased interest in his expertise, and he subsequently founded Whizmob Inc., a collective of misdirection experts that trains military and law enforcement personnel in fraud and scam tactics . His unique approach combines elements of performance art with psychological insights, making him a sought-after speaker and consultant.

In his TED Talk, Robbins emphasizes the power of human attention and perception, stating, “When we think of misdirection, we forget that the things you see every day are the things we are most blinded to” . Through his performances and consulting work, Robbins continues to explore the intricacies of human behavior, offering audiences a deeper understanding of how attention can be manipulated and how easily our perceptions can be deceived.