For nearly four decades, David Chilton has helped Canadians think about money differently. The Wilfrid Laurier University graduate and Waterloo Region resident became a household name after publishing The Wealthy Barber in 1989. The book, written as a fictional story about a barber who shares financial advice with his clients, went on to become one of Canada’s best-selling personal finance books. More than two million copies of the original version have been sold in the country. The idea wasn’t an immediate hit with everyone, including his father. “He said, ‘I think it’s really stupid,’ and that was a good indicator,” Chilton recalled. Chilton took the chance anyway. The book launched a career spanning business, investing, television and entrepreneurship. He later became a familiar face on CBC’s Dragons’ Den, where he appeared as an investor. “...really ahead of his time with that book” CTV chief financial correspondent Amanda Lang said Chilton helped make personal finance more accessible to Canadians. “David was really ahead of his time with that book,” Lang said. “He was among the very first to really popularize the notion that you can take control of your own finances.” Chilton said he has long considered Waterloo Region home. “I absolutely love it here. It’s like an oasis,” he said. And while his first book became a phenomenon, Chilton remains humble. “I’ve often joked that I’ve only had one good idea in my life. Thank God I had it when I was young,” he said. Chilton went on to release The Wealthy Barber Returns in 2011, a revised take on the financial lessons from his original book. “It took me longer to do the revised version than to write the original,” he said. What’s next? Now, Chilton is preparing for a major change. He plans to retire at the end of 2026 and is making arrangements to wind down his businesses. The decision came as somewhat of a surprise, even to Chilton himself. “Even six, eight months ago, if someone would have said that, ‘You’re going to retire soon,’ I would have said, ‘You’re crazy. I’m never going to retire. Literally never,’” he said. But seeing several friends around his age deal with illness changed his perspective on how he wants to spend the years ahead. “There are some other projects I’ve always wanted to pursue. I want to write a play,” Chilton said. As he prepares to close this chapter, Chilton leaves behind a philosophy that has become almost as recognizable as the man himself. “Spending less than you make doesn’t just have financial benefits, it tends to lead to happiness,” he said. With a grandchild on the way, Chilton said his next chapter will focus less on building wealth and more on enjoying life. “I might end up miss being The Wealthy Barber,” he said. But after a lifetime of helping Canadians build their financial futures, Chilton is ready to invest in some of the things money can’t measure.
