Jeff Kinney
The creator of 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid,' who transformed simple cartoons into a global publishing phenomenon for young readers.
Born 1971 (age 55)·American author·Birthday: February 19·Generation X
Biography
Jeff Kinney didn't set out to write children's books; he aimed to create a comic for adults. The result, however, became a cornerstone of middle-grade literature. While working as a developer for the family website PopTropica, Kinney began sketching the misadventures of Greg Heffley, a scheming, self-absorbed but ultimately relatable middle-schooler. Published in 2007, 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid' struck a nerve with its hybrid of handwritten text and simple line drawings, perfectly capturing the awkward humor of adolescence. The series exploded in popularity, selling hundreds of millions of copies worldwide and spawning major motion pictures. Kinney's genius lay in his authentic, unflinching, and hilarious portrayal of school life, free from moralizing. He built a literary empire not by talking down to kids, but by remembering exactly how it felt to be one, making reading irresistible to a generation.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Jeff was born in 1971, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jeff Was Born
The biggest hits of 1971
#1 Movie
Fiddler on the Roof
Best Picture
The French Connection
#1 TV Show
Marcus Welby, M.D.
Jeff's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1971Born
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1976Started school
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1984Became a teenager
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1987Could drive
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1989Could vote
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Turned 21
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2001Turned 30
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2011Turned 40
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 50
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 55 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Authored the 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid' series, which has sold over 290 million copies globally.
- Named one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2009.
- Founded the independent bookstore 'An Unlikely Story' in Plainville, Massachusetts.
- Received multiple Children's Choice Book Awards and Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards.
- His creation led to a successful film franchise, with the first movie grossing over $75 million.
Did You Know?
He originally published Greg Heffley's stories incrementally on the website FunBrain starting in 2004.
Kinney studied computer science at the University of Maryland and worked in tech before writing full-time.
He spent eight years working on the first 'Wimpy Kid' book before it was published.
Kinney is a board member of the National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance.
The inspiration for Greg's character came from Kinney's own childhood journals and comics.
“I think we all have a little Greg Heffley inside of us.”
