Deepak Chopra
Born 1946 · Age 79
Indian–American physician, author, New Age guru and alternative medicine advocate, founder of the Chopra Center and Chopra Foundation, prolific author and public speaker.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in New Delhi, British India
Deepak Chopra born to Krishan Lal Chopra and Pushpa Chopra in New Delhi.
Primary education began at St. Columba's School (New Delhi)
Completed primary schooling at St. Columba's School in New Delhi (exact years not stated; included as early-education milestone).
Worked as a rural doctor in India
Spent first months after graduation working in rural India, including six months in a village with intermittent electricity.
Graduated All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)
Completed medical degree at AIIMS, New Delhi.
Clinical internship at Muhlenberg Hospital (NJ)
Began clinical internship as overseas physician recruit replacing doctors serving in Vietnam.
Married Rita Chopra
Married Rita in India prior to emigrating to the United States.
Emigrated to the United States for medical training
Traveled (after taking required US licensing exam in Sri Lanka) to begin a clinical internship at Muhlenberg Hospital, Plainfield, NJ.
Started residencies in internal medicine (1971–1977)
Undertook residency training at Lahey Clinic, VA Medical Center, St Elizabeth's, and Beth Israel Deaconess (Boston area).
Licensed and board certified in Massachusetts
Earned Massachusetts medical license (1973) and board certification in internal medicine, specializing in endocrinology.
Completed residencies (end of 1971–1977 period)
Finished multiple residency programs in internal medicine and related training in the Boston area.
Became Chief of Staff at New England Memorial Hospital (NEMH)
Served as chief of staff at NEMH (later Boston Regional Medical Center) in Stoneham, Massachusetts; later established private endocrinology practice in Boston.
Met Brihaspati Dev Triguna and began investigating Ayurveda
Visit to New Delhi and meeting with Ayurvedic physician Brihaspati Dev Triguna prompted investigation of Ayurvedic practices.
Maharishi Ayur-Veda Health Center pricing announced
The center charged clients US$2,850–$3,950 per week for Ayurvedic cleansing rituals; TM lessons cost about US$1,000 extra.
Met Maharishi Mahesh Yogi; joined Transcendental Meditation movement
Met Maharishi and was asked to establish an Ayurvedic health center; involvement led to leaving NEMH and launching Maharishi-linked ventures.
Founded/led Maharishi Ayur-Veda initiatives
Left NEMH; became founding president of the American Association of Ayurvedic Medicine, co‑founder of Maharishi Ayur-Veda Products International and medical director of Maharishi Ayur-Veda Health Center (Lancaster, MA).
Became friends with Michael Jackson
First met singer Michael Jackson in 1988; friendship remained for about 20 years and Jackson became a clinic client in later years.
Published Quantum Healing
Authored Quantum Healing: Exploring the Frontiers of Mind/Body Medicine, a seminal book establishing his public profile in alternative medicine.
Awarded title 'Dhanvantari of Heaven and Earth' by Maharishi
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi bestowed the honorary title referencing the Hindu physician to the gods.
Published Perfect Health: The Complete Mind/Body Guide
Continued publishing career with books promoting Ayurveda, meditation and mind–body healing.
JAMA article on Ayurvedic medicine and TM published (controversy)
Journal of the American Medical Association published an article coauthored by Chopra; later erratum and criticism over undisclosed financial interests led to dispute and legal actions.
Moved to California to run Sharp HealthCare mind–body center
Clinic charged approximately US$4,000 per week for programs.
Published Ageless Body, Timeless Mind
Book that significantly raised his public profile and sales following the Oprah appearance.
Left the Transcendental Meditation movement
Left the TM movement around the time of his move to California; relations with Maharishi became strained.
Sued for copyright by Robert Sapolsky (settled)
After publication of Ageless Body, Chopra was sued by Sapolsky for unattributed material; case settled out of court with proper attribution added.
Defamation lawsuit related to JAMA article dismissed
Chopra and two TM groups sued Andrew Skolnick and JAMA for defamation seeking US$194M; case dismissed in March 1993.
Interview on The Oprah Winfrey Show
Reportedly sold 137,000 copies within 24 hours and ~400,000 by the end of the week.
Published The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success
One of Chopra's most popular books; a New Age/success philosophy bestseller (editions and publication year have small-source variance).
Toastmasters 'International Top Five Outstanding Speakers' award
Recognized by Toastmasters International as one of the top five outstanding speakers.
Co-founded the Chopra Center for Wellbeing
Left Sharp HealthCare after ownership change and co‑founded the Chopra Center for Wellbeing with neurologist David Simon; later located at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa (Carlsbad, CA).
Received Toastmasters Golden Gavel Award
Honored by Toastmasters with the Golden Gavel Award for excellence in public speaking.
Awarded Ig Nobel Prize in Physics (satirical)
Received the satirical Ig Nobel Prize 'for his unique interpretation of quantum physics as it applies to life, liberty, and the pursuit of economic happiness'.
Named by Time magazine among 20th-century heroes and icons
Time included Chopra on a list of influential public figures and referred to him as the 'poet-prophet of alternative medicine' later.
Published The Chopra Center Herbal Handbook (with David Simon)
Published a practical handbook of herbal approaches associated with the Chopra Center.
Chopra Center moved to La Costa Resort & Spa (Carlsbad)
The Chopra Center relocated to the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, CA (land move completed in 2002).
Received California medical license
Was granted a California medical license in 2004; as of later years affiliated with Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla.
Appointed to the board of Men's Wearhouse
Became a board member of the Men's Wearhouse clothing distributor (appointment began in 2004).
Became Senior Scientist at The Gallup Organization
Typical per-lecture fee reported (US$25k–30k) around this time.
Co‑founded Virgin Comics
Launched Virgin Comics with son Gotham Chopra and entrepreneur Richard Branson, expanding into multimedia and comics.
Named to Carnegie Corporation 'Great Immigrants' inaugural class; Ellis Island Medal later reported
Recognized by the Carnegie Corporation among Great Immigrants (2006); also received Ellis Island Medal of Honor that year per some sources.
Founded the Chopra Foundation (501(c))
Established the Chopra Foundation to raise funds for research and promotion of mind–body–spirit approaches; sponsors Sages & Scientists conferences.
Received Oceana Award
Reported recipient of the Oceana Award in 2009 (source: various profiles and press accounts).
Debated Sam Harris and Michael Shermer at Caltech
March 2010 debate at the California Institute of Technology on 'Does God Have a Future?'; part of public profile debating skepticism.
Multiple awards (Cinequest, Humanitarian Starlite, GOI Peace Award)
Reported awards in 2010 include Cinequest Life of a Maverick Award, Humanitarian Starlite Award and a GOI Peace Award (sources vary).
Published War of the Worldviews (with Leonard Mlodinow)
Book framed as a debate between Chopra and a theoretical physicist on cosmology, life, mind and God.
Joined board of advisors at State.com
Became an advisor to the tech startup State.com, a browsable network of structured opinions.
Business revenue milestone reported
Paul Offit reported in 2013 that Chopra's business reportedly grosses ~US$20 million annually from products, courses and speaking.
Net worth estimate reported (>US$80M)
Multiple profiles and reporting (cited by Offit and others) estimated Chopra's personal net worth at over US$80 million as of ~2014.
Founded ISHAR (Integrative Studies Historical Archive and Repository)
Started ISHAR to preserve and study integrative and historical scholarship (reported founding in 2014).
Co‑founded JUST Capital with Paul Tudor Jones II
Partnered with financier Paul Tudor Jones II to create JUST Capital, ranking companies on socially just business practices.
Promoted to voluntary full clinical professor at UC San Diego
Promoted from voluntary assistant clinical professor to voluntary full clinical professor in Department of Family Medicine and Public Health (UCSD).
Reported residence in Manhattan health‑centric condominium
Profiles reported Chopra living in a 'health-centric' condominium in Manhattan (2019).
Published Total Meditation and The Healing Self
Released Total Meditation (2020) and coauthored The Healing Self (with Rudolph E. Tanzi, 2020).
Published Living in the Light: Yoga for Self‑Realization
Coauthored Living in the Light: Yoga for Self‑Realization (2023) with Sarah Platt‑Finger.
Co‑hosted 'We the Future' event with Kenneth Cole
Chopra and the Chopra Foundation co‑hosted 'We the Future' (July 2023), exploring AI's future and global peace and featuring speakers from varied fields.
Ongoing public speaking, publications and roles
Continues to publish books, lecture widely, serve on advisory boards and run the Chopra Foundation and Chopra Center activities.
Key Achievement Ages
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