Jack Canfield

Born 1944 · Age 81

American author, motivational speaker and co-creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series; author of The Success Principles and founder of multiple training and self-esteem organizations.

Total Events

Career Span

76 years

Peak Net Worth

$105,000,000

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Life & Career Timeline

1944Age 0

Born in Fort Worth, Texas

Jack Canfield was born in Fort Worth, Texas.

8/19/1944Source

Confidence

100%

1962Age 18

Graduated Linsly Military Institute

Completed high school at Linsly Military Institute (Wheeling, West Virginia).

1/1/1962Source

Confidence

95%

1966Age 22

Received B.A. (Chinese History) from Harvard

Earned a Bachelor of Arts in Chinese History from Harvard University.

1/1/1966Source

Confidence

98%

1967Age 23

High-school teacher in Chicago

Taught one year of high school in Chicago — start of his teaching/career in education.

1/1/1967Source

Confidence

90%

1968Age 24

Director, teacher program at Clinton Job Corps Center

Worked at the Clinton Job Corps Center in Iowa as director of the teacher program (1968–69).

1/1/1968Source

Confidence

90%

1969Age 25

Associate Director, W. Clement and Jessie V. Stone Foundation

Served as associate director of education at the Stone Foundation in Chicago (c.1969–70).

1/1/1969Source

Confidence

85%

1971Age 27

Founded New England Center for Personal & Organizational Development

Ran a residential Gestalt center (New England Center) as founder and director (1971–77).

1/1/1971Net Worth: $5,000Source

Confidence

90%

1971Age 27

Married Judith Ohlbaum

Married Judith Ohlbaum; they later had two sons, Oran and Kyle.

1/1/1971Net Worth: $5,000Source

Confidence

95%

1973Age 29

Received M.Ed. from University of Massachusetts Amherst

Completed a Master of Education degree (Psychological Education).

1/1/1973Net Worth: $10,000Source

Confidence

98%

1976Age 32

Divorced Judith Ohlbaum and left family (personal crisis)

Divorced first wife in 1976; reported to have left the family and moved in with another woman while his wife was pregnant.

1/1/1976Net Worth: $20,000Source

Confidence

85%

1976Age 32

Published 'One Hundred Ways to Enhance Self-Concept in the Classroom'

Co-authored a teachers'/parents handbook on self-concept published by Prentice-Hall (first edition 1976).

1/1/1976Net Worth: $20,000Source

Confidence

95%

1978Age 34

Married Georgia Lee Noble

Second marriage; the couple later had a son, Christopher.

1/1/1978Net Worth: $30,000Source

Confidence

95%

1978Age 34

Named one of Ten Outstanding Young Men of America (TOYA)

Received TOYA honor from the U.S. Jaycees in recognition of contributions to education/self-esteem.

1/1/1978Net Worth: $30,000Source

Confidence

90%

1978Age 34

Founded Institute for Wholistic Education

Started the Institute for Wholistic Education (director 1978–80).

1/1/1978Net Worth: $35,000Source

Confidence

85%

1981Age 37

Received honorary Ph.D. from University of Santa Monica

Awarded an honorary doctorate (often cited in bios; original citation needed).

1/1/1981Net Worth: $50,000Source

Confidence

75%

1981Age 37

Director, Insight Training Seminars

Served as director of educational services for Insight Training Seminars (c.1981–83).

1/1/1981Net Worth: $55,000Source

Confidence

85%

1983Age 39

President of Self-Esteem Seminars

Led Self-Esteem Seminars, expanding work in corporate and educational training.

1/1/1983Net Worth: $75,000Source

Confidence

85%

1986Age 42

Founded The Foundation for Self-Esteem

Established the Foundation for Self-Esteem (Culver City/Westlake Village) to provide resources and training.

1/1/1986Net Worth: $90,000Source

Confidence

90%

1986Age 42

Co-founded National Council for Self-Esteem (board member)

Served on the National Council for Self-Esteem board (co-founder, trustee 1986–96).

1/1/1986Net Worth: $90,000Source

Confidence

88%

1993Age 49

Published 'Chicken Soup for the Soul' (first volume)

Co-authored Chicken Soup for the Soul with Mark Victor Hansen; launched the anthology series and publishing phenomenon.

1/1/1993Net Worth: $500,000Source

Confidence

99%

1994Age 50

Published 'Dare to Win' (with Mark Victor Hansen)

One of his early major books with Hansen, building the self-help brand.

1/1/1994Net Worth: $600,000Source

Confidence

90%

1995Age 51

Published 'The Aladdin Factor'

Released The Aladdin Factor (1995) with Mark Victor Hansen on asking for and getting what you want.

1/1/1995Net Worth: $1,500,000Source

Confidence

95%

1995Age 51

Won ABBY and Southern California Book Publicist of the Year

Received American Booksellers Book of the Year (ABBY) and Southern California Book Publicist awards for Chicken Soup books.

1/1/1995Net Worth: $1,500,000Source

Confidence

95%

1996Age 52

Multiple Chicken Soup sequels and awards (1996)

Released additional Chicken Soup volumes and received Storytelling World and other book awards in 1996.

1/1/1996Net Worth: $2,500,000Source

Confidence

90%

1997Age 53

Published 'Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul' and other series expansions

Series expanded into teen and niche anthologies; the publishing phenomenon grew through the late 1990s.

1/1/1997Net Worth: $5,000,000Source

Confidence

90%

1997Age 53

Named Motivator of the Year (Business Digest)

Received Motivator of the Year recognition from Business Digest.

1/1/1997Net Worth: $5,000,000Source

Confidence

85%

1998Age 54

CEO, Chicken Soup for the Soul Enterprises (role noted)

Listed as Chief Executive Officer of Chicken Soup for the Soul Enterprises by bios around 1998; company oversaw publishing/licensing/licensed merchandise.

1/1/1998Net Worth: $20,000,000Source

Confidence

80%

1998Age 54

Received Chancellor's Medal, University of Massachusetts

Awarded the Chancellor's Medal from UMass in recognition of achievements.

1/1/1998Net Worth: $20,000,000Source

Confidence

90%

1998Age 54

Promise of the Earth Award (National Arbor Day Foundation)

Honored with the National Arbor Day Foundation's Promise of the Earth Award.

1/1/1998Net Worth: $20,000,000Source

Confidence

85%

1999Age 55

Divorced Georgia Lee Noble

Ended second marriage (married 1978, divorced 1999).

1/1/1999Net Worth: $22,000,000Source

Confidence

95%

1999Age 55

Oprah's Angel Network Award

Chicken Soup-related charitable efforts recognized by Oprah's Angel Network (award noted in bios for 1999).

1/1/1999Net Worth: $23,000,000Source

Confidence

85%

2000Age 56

Published 'The Power of Focus'

Co-authored The Power of Focus (2000) — one of Canfield's bestseller business/self-help works.

1/1/2000Net Worth: $30,000,000Source

Confidence

95%

2001Age 57

Married Inga Marie Mahoney

Third marriage; became stepfather to Inga's children, Travis and Riley.

1/1/2001Net Worth: $32,000,000Source

Confidence

95%

2005Age 61

Published 'The Success Principles' (with Janet Switzer)

Released The Success Principles: How to Get From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be (major bestselling guidebook and program basis).

1/1/2005Net Worth: $40,000,000Source

Confidence

98%

2005Age 61

Launched Chicken Soup for the Soul magazine

Chicken Soup group launched a magazine in summer 2005 per company bios.

1/1/2005Net Worth: $42,000,000Source

Confidence

80%

2006Age 62

Featured in film 'The Secret'

Appeared as a teacher/expert in the self-development documentary film The Secret (2006).

1/1/2006Net Worth: $45,000,000Source

Confidence

95%

2007Age 63

Published 'Jack Canfield's Key to Living the Law of Attraction'

Released a guide to applying the Law of Attraction (2007).

1/1/2007Net Worth: $48,000,000Source

Confidence

95%

2008Age 64

Published 'The Success Principles for Teens'

Published a teen-oriented version of The Success Principles.

1/1/2008Net Worth: $50,000,000Source

Confidence

90%

2013Age 69

Published 'Tapping Into Ultimate Success' and 'Coaching for Breakthrough Success'

Released Tapping Into Ultimate Success (with Pamela Bruner) and Coaching for Breakthrough Success (with Peter Chee).

1/1/2013Net Worth: $60,000,000Source

Confidence

95%

2015Age 71

Success Magazine 'Top 25 Most Influential' (Personal Development)

Named one of the 'Top 25 Most Influential' leaders in personal development by Success Magazine (2015).

1/1/2015Net Worth: $70,000,000Source

Confidence

90%

2015Age 71

Published 'The Success Principles' 10th Anniversary Edition

Released the 10th Anniversary edition of his major work The Success Principles.

1/1/2015Net Worth: $75,000,000Source

Confidence

90%

2016Age 72

Published '30-Day Sobriety Solution'

Released a book on reducing or quitting drinking (2016).

1/1/2016Net Worth: $80,000,000Source

Confidence

90%

2017Age 73

Published 'Success Affirmations'

Released Success Affirmations: 52 Weeks for Living a Passionate and Purposeful Life (2017).

1/1/2017Net Worth: $82,000,000Source

Confidence

90%

2019Age 75

Released 'The Ultimate Jack Canfield Library' (audio)

Published a compiled audio library of his works (2019).

1/1/2019Net Worth: $85,000,000Source

Confidence

90%

2020Age 76

Career milestone: 2,500+ workshops & 1,000+ media appearances (cumulative)

Company/bio milestones claim Jack conducted more than 2,500 workshops and appeared on 1,000+ TV/radio programs (cumulative career totals).

1/1/2020Net Worth: $90,000,000Source

Confidence

85%

2020Age 76

Career milestone: 500+ million books and 250+ titles (series total)

The Chicken Soup for the Soul franchise is credited with more than 250 titles and over 500 million copies sold (company/bio claim).

1/1/2020Net Worth: $100,000,000Source

Confidence

70%

2020Age 76

Trained 2,900+ Canfield Success Principles Trainers (cumulative)

Company reports having trained 2,900+ trainers in 107 countries (Canfield Training Group program milestone).

1/1/2020Net Worth: $100,000,000Source

Confidence

75%

2020Age 76

Holds Guinness World Record for seven NYT bestsellers simultaneously

Claimed Guinness World Record for having seven books on the New York Times bestseller list at the same time (date of record cited in bios).