Charles Duhigg

Born 1974 · Age 51

American investigative journalist and non-fiction author; former New York Times reporter, Pulitzer Prize winner, and author of The Power of Habit, Smarter Faster Better, and Supercommunicators.

Total Events

Career Span

50 years

Peak Net Worth

$10,000,000

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Life & Career Timeline

1974Age 0

Born in New Mexico

Charles Duhigg was born in New Mexico.

1/1/1974Source

Confidence

99%

1996Age 22

Graduated Yale University (BA) (estimated)

Graduated from Yale University with a bachelor's degree (exact year not listed; estimated based on birth year).

1/1/1996Net Worth: $20,000Source

Confidence

40%

1999Age 25

Worked as a bike messenger (one day)

Worked for one day as a bike messenger in San Francisco (described as 'one terrifying day').

1/1/1999Net Worth: $30,000Source

Confidence

95%

2001Age 27

Co-founded SWPA Education Management Group, L.L.C. (approx.)

Co-founded SWPA Education Management Group, L.L.C., which developed education programs for medically underserved areas (exact year not specified; placed prior to 2003).

1/1/2001Net Worth: $50,000Source

Confidence

35%

2002Age 28

Analyst at American Property Global Partners (approx.)

Worked as an analyst for American Property Global Partners, a private equity firm (stated as prior to becoming a full-time journalist in 2003; exact year not given).

1/1/2002Net Worth: $70,000Source

Confidence

40%

2003Age 29

Graduated Harvard Business School (MBA '03)

Earned a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School (explicitly listed as MBA '03).

1/1/2003Net Worth: $80,000Source

Confidence

98%

2003Age 29

Became full-time journalist

Transitioned to full-time journalism career (noted as 'before becoming a full-time journalist in 2003' for prior roles).

1/1/2003Net Worth: $90,000Source

Confidence

90%

2003Age 29

Joined Los Angeles Times as staff writer (approx.)

Worked as a staff writer at the Los Angeles Times (text identifies him as a former Los Angeles Times staff writer; timeframe prior to NYT role).

1/1/2003Net Worth: $100,000Source

Confidence

75%

2003Age 29

Reported from Iraq while at Los Angeles Times

Reported from Iraq on American military operations during his tenure at the Los Angeles Times (exact dates unspecified).

1/1/2003Net Worth: $105,000Source

Confidence

70%

2006Age 32

Joined The New York Times as reporter

Became a reporter at The New York Times (explicit: 'Between 2006 and 2017, he was a reporter at The New York Times').

1/1/2006Net Worth: $130,000Source

Confidence

98%

2007Age 33

Received George Polk Award

Received the George Polk Award (listed among awards).

1/1/2007Net Worth: $160,000Source

Confidence

95%

2007Age 33

Published 'Golden Opportunities' series (NYT)

Authored the 'Golden Opportunities' series for The New York Times (series noted on Wikipedia and tied to later award mentions).

1/1/2007Net Worth: $150,000Source

Confidence

85%

2007Age 33

Received Heywood Broun Award

Received the Heywood Broun Award (listed among awards).

1/1/2007Net Worth: $165,000Source

Confidence

95%

2008Age 34

Received Hillman Prize

Received the Hillman Prize (listed among awards).

1/1/2008Net Worth: $180,000Source

Confidence

95%

2008Age 34

Gerald Loeb Award Honorable Mention for 'Golden Opportunities'

Received honorable mention from the Gerald Loeb Awards for Beat Writing for 'Golden Opportunities'.

1/1/2008Net Worth: $185,000Source

Confidence

95%

2009Age 35

Published 'Toxic Waters' series (NYT)

Authored the 'Toxic Waters' investigative series for The New York Times (series is listed on Wikipedia; year inferred from award timing).

1/1/2009Net Worth: $230,000Source

Confidence

70%

2009Age 35

Received Scripps Howard National Journalism Award

Received the Scripps Howard National Journalism Award (listed among awards in 2009).

1/1/2009Net Worth: $240,000Source

Confidence

95%

2009Age 35

Received Investigative Reporters and Editors Medal

Received the IRE Medal (listed among awards in 2009).

1/1/2009Net Worth: $250,000Source

Confidence

95%

2009Age 35

Gerald Loeb Award for Large Newspapers for 'The Reckoning'

Part of the reporting that won the 2009 Gerald Loeb Award for Large Newspapers for 'The Reckoning' series.

1/1/2009Net Worth: $260,000Source

Confidence

95%

2010Age 36

National Academies Communication Award

Received the United States National Academies National Academies Communication Award (listed for 2010).

1/1/2010Net Worth: $300,000Source

Confidence

95%

2010Age 36

Society of Environmental Journalists Investigative Reporting Award

Received SEJ Investigative Reporting Award (listed for 2010).

1/1/2010Net Worth: $305,000Source

Confidence

95%

2012Age 38

Book translations milestone: The Power of Habit translated into 40 languages

The Power of Habit was translated into approximately 40 languages (publisher-reported milestone).

1/1/2012Net Worth: $1,500,000Source

Confidence

90%

2012Age 38

Published NYT excerpt 'How Companies Learn Your Secrets'

An extract from The Power of Habit was published in The New York Times as 'How Companies Learn Your Secrets.'

2/16/2012Net Worth: $1,200,000Source

Confidence

95%

2012Age 38

NPR Morning Edition interview on The Power of Habit

Appeared on NPR's Morning Edition to discuss The Power of Habit.

2/27/2012Net Worth: $1,500,000Source

Confidence

95%

2012Age 38

Published book 'The Power of Habit'

Released The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business (Random House / National Geographic Books).

2/28/2012Net Worth: $1,500,000Source

Confidence

99%

2013Age 39

Won Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Reporting (iEconomy)

Led a New York Times team that won the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Reporting for a 10-article series on the business practices of Apple and other technology companies ('iEconomy').

4/15/2013Net Worth: $2,000,000Source

Confidence

99%

2014Age 40

Television appearance: The Colbert Report

Appeared on The Colbert Report to discuss his work and books.

1/22/2014Net Worth: $2,300,000Source

Confidence

95%

2015Age 41

The Power of Habit: three-year bestseller milestone

The Power of Habit spent over three years on The New York Times bestseller lists (milestone concluded around 2015).

1/1/2015Net Worth: $3,000,000Source

Confidence

90%

2016Age 42

Published book 'Smarter Faster Better'

Released Smarter Faster Better: The Secrets of Being Productive in Life and Business (Random House).

3/8/2016Net Worth: $3,800,000Source

Confidence

99%

2016Age 42

Appearance on CBS Mornings / NYT 'The Life Biz' piece

Appeared on CBS Mornings and authored/appeared in related New Yorker/NYT interviews around March 21, 2016 (promotion and media coverage of his book/work).

3/21/2016Net Worth: $4,050,000Source

Confidence

90%

2016Age 42

Smarter Faster Better reached NYT Best Seller list

Smarter Faster Better became a New York Times Best Seller on March 27, 2016.

3/27/2016Net Worth: $4,000,000Source

Confidence

98%

2016Age 42

Guest on Freakonomics podcast

Appeared on the Freakonomics podcast to discuss productivity and habits (April 20, 2016).

4/20/2016Net Worth: $4,100,000Source

Confidence

95%

2017Age 43

Began writing for The New Yorker (approx.)

Transitioned to writing for The New Yorker magazine (text: 'he currently writes for The New Yorker'; timing inferred after leaving NYT).

1/1/2017Net Worth: $4,700,000Source

Confidence

80%

2017Age 43

Ended tenure at The New York Times

Concluded his period as a reporter at The New York Times (tenure stated as 'between 2006 and 2017').

1/1/2017Net Worth: $4,500,000Source

Confidence

98%

2019Age 45

Host of 'How To! with Charles Duhigg' podcast (approx. start)

Listed as host of the podcast 'How To! with Charles Duhigg' on publisher materials; exact start date not provided (placement estimated).

1/1/2019Net Worth: $5,200,000Source

Confidence

50%

2020Age 46

Published article 'How Venture Capitalists Are Deforming Capitalism' (The New Yorker)

Published an article in The New Yorker on November 23, 2020 titled 'How Venture Capitalists Are Deforming Capitalism.'

11/23/2020Net Worth: $6,200,000Source

Confidence

95%

2021Age 47

Guest on Brené Brown podcast

Appeared on Brené Brown's podcast (July 12, 2021) to discuss habits/productivity related topics.

7/12/2021Net Worth: $7,000,000Source

Confidence

95%

2024Age 50

Published book 'Supercommunicators'

Published Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection (released in early 2024).

1/1/2024Net Worth: $9,000,000Source

Confidence

99%

2024Age 50

Supercommunicators bestseller weeks milestone

Supercommunicators spent over 30 weeks on The New York Times bestseller lists (publisher and Wikipedia report varying week counts; conservative figure used).