Chris Guillebeau is the New York Times bestselling author of eight books, including The $100 Startup, The Art of Non-Conformity, and The Happiness of Pursuit. His books have sold over one million copies in the US alone and have been translated into 30 languages worldwide. He is also the founder of the World Domination Summit, a transformative cultural gathering that drew more than 10,000 attendees to Portland, Oregon, from 2011 to 2022.
By the age of 35, Guillebeau had visited every country in the world – 193 countries in total. Since then, he has launched Side Hustle School, a daily podcast that offers practical advice and resources to business owners and independent workers.
Before becoming a bestselling author, Guillebeau volunteered with Mercy Ships, a medical charity providing free healthcare in West Africa, from 2002 to 2006. In 2008, he started The Art of Non-Conformity blog, which led to the publication of his first book. The Art of Non-Conformity was released with part of the proceeds dedicated to the nonprofit organisation Charity: Water, helping to bring clean water to villages in Ethiopia. The book has remained highly regarded in the self-help and business genres, currently ranked in the top 100 on Amazon. Guillebeau’s second book, The $100 Startup: Reinvent the Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love, and Create a New Future, was released in May 2012 and quickly became a New York Times bestseller, reaching #6 in its category. In support of the book, he embarked on a nationwide book tour, visiting 63 cities across the US and Canada.
In addition to his writing, Guillebeau has spoken at numerous high-profile events, including those organised by Google, Facebook, Udemy, LeWeb, SXSW, Evernote, The Motley Fool, Hallmark, GrowCo, and Carnegie Mellon University. In 2025, Guillebeau launched Neurodiversion, an event focused on neurodivergence. He plans to continue hosting this annual gathering in the future.
Guillebeau holds a Master of Arts degree in International Studies from the University of Washington.
