Napoleon Hill
Born 1883 · Age 142
American self-help author best known for Think and Grow Rich (1937). Prolific publisher and lecturer whose career included successful books, many short-lived businesses, repeated fraud allegations, high-profile associations (often disputed), and creation of the Napoleon Hill Foundation.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Pound (Wise County), Virginia
Oliver Napoleon Hill born in a one-room cabin near Pound, Wise County, Virginia.
Mother died
Hill's mother, Sarah Sylvania (Blair), died when he was nine; father remarried two years later.
Stepmother Martha influences education
His father remarried to Martha; stepmother (widow of a principal) encouraged Hill to attend school and church.
Became a 'mountain reporter'
At 13 Hill began writing as a reporter for his father's local newspaper and other small-town papers.
Early marriage (annulled)
Reported first marriage at age 15 to a local girl who accused him of fathering her child; later annulled when claim recanted.
Graduated high school; moved for business school
Graduated high school at 17 and moved to Tazewell, Virginia, to attend business school.
Hired by Rufus A. Ayers (coal magnate)
Accepted a job working for lawyer/coal magnate Rufus A. Ayers; later worked as clerk/manager in a coal mine.
Alleged promotion to mine manager
Biography claims Hill was promoted to manager of a coal mine (responsible for ~350 men) at about 19; claim is disputed by some historians.
Enrolled then withdrew from law school
Enrolled in law school but withdrew due to lack of funds; later used the title 'Attorney of Law' though no record of legal practice exists.
Married Edith Whitman (second marriage)
Married Edith Whitman in 1903; marriage later troubled and ended in divorce in 1908.
Daughter Edith Whitman Hill born
Child (Edith Whitman Hill) born to Napoleon Hill and Edith Whitman.
Co‑founded Acree-Hill Lumber Company (Mobile, AL)
Relocated to Mobile, Alabama, and co-founded the Acree-Hill Lumber Company.
Claimed meeting with Andrew Carnegie (origin story)
Hill later claimed a pivotal 1908 meeting with Andrew Carnegie who gave him a 20-year challenge to study success; many historians doubt this meeting occurred.
Divorce filed by Edith Whitman
Wife Edith filed for divorce in 1908; proceedings included testimony about affairs and misconduct.
Fled Alabama; began using name 'Napoleon Hill'
Following business exposures in Alabama, Hill left for Washington, D.C., dropped 'Oliver' and began going by Napoleon Hill.
Pensacola Journal reports bankruptcy & mail-fraud allegations
October 1908 report that Acree-Hill faced bankruptcy proceedings and mail fraud accusations related to lumber purchases/sales.
Founded Automobile College of Washington
Established the Automobile College of Washington which assembled cars for Carter Motor Corporation and later pivoted to selling courses.
Married Florence Elizabeth Horner
Married Florence Elizabeth Horner in June 1910; they had three sons (James 1911, Napoleon Blair 1912, David 1918).
Son James born
James Hill (son) born in 1911 to Napoleon Hill and Florence Horner.
Son Napoleon Blair born; Carter Motor bankruptcy
Napoleon Blair born in 1912. Carter Motor Corporation declared bankruptcy early in 1912; students at Hill's college were unpaid.
Automobile College pivoted to course‑selling (MLM-like)
After Carter Motor bankruptcy, Hill pivoted to training/selling courses and incentivized students to recruit/sell courses—resembled multi-level marketing.
Automobile College closed; moved to Chicago
Automobile College closed in 1912; Hill moved to Chicago, briefly worked at La Salle Extension University and co-founded a Betsy Ross Candy Shop (was forced out).
Motor World exposes Automobile College as scam
April 12, 1912 Motor World article derided Automobile College's marketing and accused it of being a scam.
Established George Washington Institute of Advertising
In September 1915 Hill launched the George Washington Institute to teach principles of success and self-confidence; later accused of fraud.
Threatened Illinois Central Railroad lawsuit
Reportedly threatened suit over poor lighting on Illinois Central Railroad cars (odd claim during the period of troubled ventures).
Claimed White House involvement (Wilson) — disputed
Hill later claimed President Woodrow Wilson personally contacted him in 1918 to help with WWI efforts (claims lack documentary support).
George Washington Institute closed after fraud allegations
The unaccredited institute closed in 1918 following student fraud allegations; Florence and children lived with her family during this period.
Illinois issues warrants for securities fraud (GWI capitalization)
June 4, 1918 Chicago Tribune reported Illinois had issued warrants charging Hill with violating blue-sky laws attempting to sell shares of his school at $100,000 capitalization despite assets appraised at only $1,200.
FTC brought charges for fraudulent advertising/laundering
In 1919 the Federal Trade Commission charged Hill and Hill's Golden Rule with fraudulent advertising and laundering funds meant for a veterans' charity into an oil stock scheme.
Published Hill's Golden Rule magazine
Started Hill's Golden Rule magazine (publication, lecture and promotional vehicle for his courses).
Opened Intra‑Wall Correspondence School (prison outreach)
Opened charitable Intra-Wall Correspondence School to provide educational materials to prisoners in Ohio; directed by controversial associates including ex-con Butler Storke.
Lost control of Hill's Golden Rule
Hill lost control of Hill's Golden Rule magazine to a group of disgruntled employees (early 1920s).
Intra‑Wall exposed as scam
Local newspapers exposed the Intra-Wall Correspondence School as a scam in 1923.
Founded Peptomists and Co‑Operative Club
Formed Peptomists and the Co-Operative Club—business/social clubs styled like rotary clubs (early/mid-1920s activities).
Completed 1925 manuscript of The Law of Success (study course)
Compiled the original 1925 manuscript that became the multi-volume study course 'The Law of Success'.
Public endorsements claimed for The Law of Success (disputed)
Hill listed endorsements/acknowledgements from many famous figures (Carnegie, Ford, Edison, Rockefeller); historians find little evidence for many of these personal interviews.
Published The Law of Success (multi-volume, 1928)
Persuaded a publisher to release his eight-volume The Law of Success (sometimes cited as 16 or 17-volume course); it became his first major commercial success.
Catskills property foreclosed (Great Depression impact)
With the onset of the Great Depression Hill's Catskills property went into foreclosure before the end of 1929; he went broke and relied on wife's family for support.
Purchased Rolls‑Royce and Catskill estate
By 1929 Hill had acquired a Rolls-Royce and a 600-acre Catskill property—indicative of substantial (but leveraged) wealth before the Depression.
Published The Magic Ladder to Success
Released The Magic Ladder to Success (1930), which was a commercial failure.
Involved in Corianton film production (collapsed)
Reported involvement in production of 'Corianton: A Story of Unholy Love' (a Mormon film); production collapsed amid investor accusations of malfeasance (early 1930s).
Claimed advisor to President Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933–1936)
Hill later claimed he advised FDR during 1933–36; historians find little evidence to support this claim.
Married Rosa Lee Beeland (approx.)
Hill married Rosa Lee Beeland (mid- to late-1930s); she contributed substantially to Think and Grow Rich and later took much of his royalties in divorce (around 1940).
Think & Grow Rich sales milestone (claimed)
Hill and some biographers claimed Think and Grow Rich sold ~20 million copies over 50 years; various sources offer different totals (estimates 1M initially, 20–30M over decades).
Purchased Mount Dora, Florida estate; lavish lifestyle resumed
Following success of Think and Grow Rich, Hill bought a new estate in Mount Dora, Florida and resumed a lavish lifestyle (later partly lost in divorce).
Think and Grow Rich cited as cornerstone of modern self‑help
Think and Grow Rich became widely influential in the self-help genre and inspired later works (e.g., Norman Vincent Peale, Rhonda Byrne).
Published Think and Grow Rich
Released Think and Grow Rich (1937), Hill's best-known book; widely cited best-seller that re-established his wealth and reputation.
Divorce from Rosa Lee Beeland (around 1940)
Hill and Rosa divorced around 1940; much of book royalties reportedly went to Rosa as part of the split (disputed specifics).
Involvement with Royal Fraternity of the Master Metaphysicians
Napoleon and Rosa became involved with a cult-like group led by James Bernard Schafer; the cult adopted a child claimed to be 'immortal'—the child was returned to her mother in 1941.
Published Mental Dynamite (17‑volume course)
Published the Mental Dynamite study course in 17 volumes (1941); it was a commercial failure and discontinued with WWII paper rationing.
James B. Schafer arrested and convicted; cult scandal
In 1942 Schafer was arrested and convicted; Schafer later tried to blame Hill for the group's actions (claims disputed).
Married Annie Lou Norman
Met Annie Lou Norman (age 47 when they met), married in 1943; she remained his wife until his death and later was involved in estate disputes with the Napoleon Hill Foundation.
Resumed lecture circuit
Throughout the 1940s and after Hill resumed lecturing widely, selling courses and giving talks on the 'Philosophy of Achievement.'
Hosted KFWB radio show in Los Angeles
Briefly hosted a show on Los Angeles radio station KFWB in 1947, returning to lecture and media work.
Association with W. Clement Stone expands reach
Collaboration with W. Clement Stone amplified distribution of Hill's courses and message (Success Unlimited magazine / courses / radio/TV programs).
Launched Missouri 'success' course scam; collapsed
In 1952 Hill launched a new course-selling operation in Missouri described as a scam; it collapsed and he later formed Napoleon Hill Associates with W. Clement Stone.
Began teaching 'Philosophy of Personal Achievement' with Stone
From 1952 to 1962 Hill taught his Philosophy of Personal Achievement / Science of Success in association with W. Clement Stone.
Formed Napoleon Hill Associates with W. Clement Stone
Partnered with insurance magnate W. Clement Stone to sell courses and teach the 'Science of Success'; association ran through the 1950s into the 1960s.
Published How to Raise Your Own Salary
Published How to Raise Your Own Salary (1953), part of his mid-late career publications.
Published Success Through A Positive Mental Attitude (with W. C. Stone)
Co-authored Success Through A Positive Mental Attitude with W. Clement Stone (1959); widely circulated and influential in self-help circles.
Published PMA Science of Success course
Published / marketed a PMA (Positive Mental Attitude) Science of Success course around 1961 (foundation timeline lists 1961).
Founded the Napoleon Hill Foundation
Established the Napoleon Hill Foundation (nonprofit) to preserve and promote his teachings; the foundation later became involved in estate litigation after his death.
Spiritual claims in Grow Rich! noted
Grow Rich!: With Peace of Mind (1967) openly described spirit visitations and 'Masters' guiding Hill, a controversial element in his later philosophy.
Published Grow Rich!: With Peace of Mind
Published Grow Rich!: With Peace of Mind (1967), in which he discusses 'spirit visitations' and the 'Master' (controversial spiritual claims).
Published Succeed and Grow Rich Through Persuasion
Published Succeed and Grow Rich Through Persuasion in 1970 (published the same year as his death).
Estimated net worth at death (reported)
At death (1970) Hill's net worth was reported at about $1,000,000 (equivalent roughly to $8.1M in 2024 dollars).
Died in Greenville, South Carolina
Napoleon Hill died on November 8, 1970 at age 87. Estimated net worth at time of death: about $1 million (1970).
Posthumous publication: You Can Work Your Own Miracles
You Can Work Your Own Miracles published posthumously in 1971.
Estate litigation between widow and Napoleon Hill Foundation
After Hill's death his widow Annie Lou and the Foundation were embroiled in a protracted court battle over the estate that lasted into the 1980s.
Napoleon Hill Foundation maintains archive and annual award
The Napoleon Hill Foundation preserves Hill's papers, continues to sell his works and awards the annual Napoleon Hill Award (foundation activity documented in later decades).
Posthumous title: Think & Grow Rich, A Black Choice (edited/associated)
Think & Grow Rich, A Black Choice was published in 1991 (posthumous edition associated with Dennis Kimbro); foundation timeline notes this edition.
Authorized biography A Lifetime of Riches released
A Lifetime of Riches, an authorized biography by Michael J. Ritt Jr. and Kirk Landers, was released in 1995 and contained controversial revelations about Hill's life.
Outwitting the Devil (written 1938) published posthumously
Outwitting the Devil (written in 1938) was published posthumously in 2011, decades after it was written.
Key Achievement Ages
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