James Patterson

James Patterson holds the Guinness World Record for the most #1 New York Times bestsellers and has sold over 400 million copies of his books globally. Beyond writing, he is known for his philanthropic efforts, particularly in promoting literacy and supporting independent bookstores and education initiatives.

James Patterson came from a very humble beginning.

• Born on March 22, 1947, in Newburgh, New York.
• Grew up in a working-class family. His father was an insurance broker, and his mother was a homemaker and teacher.
• Attended and graduated from Manhattan College, where he majored in English.
• Earned a Master's degree in English from Vanderbilt University.
• Began his professional career in the advertising industry. He worked as an advertising executive at J. Walter Thompson, eventually becoming the company's North American CEO.
• While working in advertising, Patterson wrote his first novel, "The Thomas Berryman Number," which was published in 1976 and won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel.
• Developed a love for reading and storytelling at a young age, influenced by classic literature and contemporary novels.

Patterson is very close to his family and is very proactive with his children in their authoring endeavors.

• James Patterson is married to Susan Patterson, whom he met while they both worked at J. Walter Thompson, an advertising agency.
• They have one son, Jack Patterson, who was born in 1998.
• The Patterson family resides in Palm Beach, Florida.
• Patterson is known to be a devoted family man and has often mentioned how his family influences his work and charitable activities.
• Together with his wife Susan, Patterson has been involved in numerous philanthropic efforts, particularly focusing on education and literacy. They have donated millions to support reading programs, school libraries, and independent bookstores.
• His wife Susan has also co-authored books with him, and their son Jack has inspired some of his children's books.