David Chilton (businessman)

David Chilton is a Canadian author, investor and television personality from Waterloo, Ontario. As a venture capitalist, he appeared on television in the Canadian version of Dragons’ Den.

David Chilton
Born
Sarnia, Ontario
OccupationBusinessperson

Personal life

Chilton enrolled in Wilfrid Laurier University, but postponed his education in order to pursue prospective business ventures.[1] He returned to Wilfrid Laurier University in 1995 to complete his BA in Economics.[1] Chilton currently resides outside of Waterloo, Ontario.[2] He is a divorced father to a son and a daughter.[2]

Business life

Chilton began his career by self-publishing his book The Wealthy Barber in 1989.[3] The Wealthy Barber was written in 26 months, and specifically targeted those with little investment experience, in order to develop positive money-spending habits.[3] The Wealthy Barber investigates the lives of three young individuals who regularly visit a local barber for financial advice.[3] The Wealthy Barber is one of the best selling Canadian books of all time, selling over two million copies since its release.[3] Chilton also collaborated with authors Greta and Janet Podleski as publisher to many best selling cookbooks, including Looneyspoons, Crazy Plates and Eat, Shrink and Be Merry!.[2]

Chilton left his role in the publishing industry in 2007, primarily due to the guilt of not contributing to the development of the industry, while taking a third of all profits.[2] In 2011, Chilton released a sequel to The Wealthy Barber in response to the 2008 financial crisis, titled The Wealthy Barber Returns.[3] The novel eliminates the use of narrative, instead opting for his own advice to provide guidance to readers, and help them recover financially.[4] Chilton has stated that it is unlikely he will publish another financial guide book, as the writing process proved to be too strenuous due to his business and personal commitments.[3] Since joining the cast of Dragons' Den, Chilton has substantially increased his investment and business presence, though claiming to have only spent a small percentage of his net worth.[5] One of Chilton's recent investments is the purchase of a 25% share in the card company Hand and Beak, that partnered with greeting card publisher Hallmark, in order to market and distribute the product to consumers.[6]

Television career

Chilton has made numerous guest appearances throughout his career, with his first being on The Hour (George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight) in 2010. Chilton gave a total of six guest appearances on The Hour between 2010 and 2013. He has also appeared as himself on the Royal Canadian Air Farce New Year's Eve episode in 2012, and appeared once on The Lang and O'Leary Exchange in 2013 as the host. Chilton's most recent guest appearance was on Arctic Air in 2013, appearing as himself. Chilton also landed a role on the hit TV series Dragons' Den in 2012, replacing Robert Herjavec for the seventh season. Chilton was contracted to stay with Dragons’ Den until the ninth season,[7] after which he announced he was leaving the show to "focus on his deals full-time."[8] As a "Dragon", Chilton incorporated his personal philosophies and financial expertise into the investments he made on the show.[9] He appeared in an episode of Murdoch Mysteries, in 2015, playing a wealthy barber named, "Mr. Chilton".

Awards
  • Chilton won the H.L. Gassard Memorial Award for the highest mark on the Canadian Securities Course in 1985[1]

References
  1. "David Chilton Profile". Laurier Development & Alumni Relations and Wilfrid Laurier University. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
  2. "David Chilton". CBC. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
  3. "In conversation: David Chilton". Maclean's. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
  4. "The Wealthy Barber Returns". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
  5. "David Chilton, of The Wealthy Barber fame, newest Dragons' Den member". The Star. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
  6. "Being a Dragon pays off for Wealthy Barber author". The Record. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
  7. "Dragons' Den's Bruce Croxon on his favourite deals, why he's leaving the Den and what's next". Financial Post. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
  8. "Wealthy Barber author David Chilton leaving CBC's Dragons' Den". Globe and Mail. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  9. "David Chilton's rise from The Wealthy Barber to The Wealthy Dragon". Globe and Mail. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
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