Rick Riordan
A former middle-school teacher who reignited global fascination with mythology by creating a dyslexic demigod hero and a billion-dollar publishing empire.
Born 1964 (age 62)·American author·Birthday: June 5·Baby Boomers
Biography
Rick Riordan's journey to literary fame began not in a writer's garret, but in a San Antonio classroom. For over a decade, he taught English and history, specializing in mythology, while writing adult mystery novels on the side. The spark for his world-altering series came from a bedtime story for his son Haley, who struggled with ADHD and dyslexia. Riordan invented Percy Jackson, a modern-day son of Poseidon who saw his learning differences as battle reflexes. The result was a phenomenon. 'Percy Jackson & the Olympians' didn't just sell millions; it created a new gateway for young readers, blending ancient myths with contemporary humor, heart, and a powerful message of inclusivity. Riordan's insistence on authentic representation expanded his universe to include diverse heroes, and his hands-on role as a producer for the recent television adaptation ensured his vision finally reached the screen correctly. He transformed from a teacher sharing stories to the architect of a modern mythological age.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Rick was born in 1964, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Rick Was Born
The biggest hits of 1964
#1 Movie
Mary Poppins
Best Picture
My Fair Lady
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
Rick's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1964Born
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1969Started school
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1977Became a teenager
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1980Could drive
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1982Could vote
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1985Turned 21
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1994Turned 30
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2004Turned 40
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2014Turned 50
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 60
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 62 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Authored the 'Percy Jackson & the Olympians' series, which has sold over 180 million copies worldwide and spawned multiple sequel series.
- Founded the 'Rick Riordan Presents' publishing imprint to champion middle-grade fantasy novels by authors from underrepresented cultures and backgrounds.
- Served as an executive producer and creative force behind the 2023 Disney+ television adaptation of 'Percy Jackson and the Olympians.'
- His works have been translated into 42 languages and have consistently topped bestseller lists for over a decade.
Did You Know?
He wrote the first Percy Jackson novel as a bedtime story for his son, who was diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia.
He is a former middle school English and history teacher.
He won the Edgar Award for Best Mystery Novel for his first adult book, 'Big Red Tequila,' in 1998.
He initially turned down the film rights for Percy Jackson because he didn't believe the books could be properly adapted.
“I think the best way to teach kids about mythology is to make them laugh.”
