Scott Adams

Scott Raymond Adams was born on June 8, 1957, in Windham, New York. He developed an early interest in comics, drawing from the age of six and winning a competition at age 11. Adams pursued a Bachelor of Arts in economics from Hartwick College in 1979, followed by an MBA from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1986. Before becoming a full-time cartoonist, Adams held various corporate positions at Crocker National Bank and Pacific Bell, experiences that profoundly influenced the themes and characters in his most famous creation. His diverse roles, including management trainee, computer programmer, budget analyst, commercial lender, and product manager, provided him with a comprehensive understanding of the corporate environment.

While working at Pacific Bell in 1989, Adams launched the “Dilbert” comic strip, initially drawing it in the early morning hours to supplement his income. The strip’s popularity grew steadily, leading him to become a full-time cartoonist in 1995. By 1991, “Dilbert” was syndicated in 100 newspapers, expanding to 400 by 1994, and reaching 2,000 newspapers in 57 countries and 19 languages by 2000. This widespread success led to his first business book, “The Dilbert Principle,” in 1996, which further solidified his reputation as a commentator on workplace dynamics. In 1997, Adams received the National Cartoonists Society’s Reuben Award for Outstanding Cartoonist and Best Newspaper Comic Strip, and also earned an Orwell Award for his satirical writing in the San Jose Mercury News West Magazine.

Beyond “Dilbert,” Adams has authored several non-fiction books on business, commentary, and satire, including “God’s Debris” (2001) and “Loserthink” (2019). He also ventured into other entrepreneurial endeavors, founding Scott Adams Foods, Inc. in 1999, which produced the Dilberito. Adams also co-founded WhenHub, a service providing live chats with subject-matter experts. In recent years, Adams has gained a following through his daily video program “Real Coffee with Scott Adams,” where he discusses current events and political commentary. His career reflects a transition from a corporate employee to a celebrated cartoonist, author, and media personality, consistently offering his distinctive viewpoint on society and the workplace.