Behind every multimillion-dollar business empire, viral speaking career, or global training brand, there’s often a single book that started it all. These are the rare business books that didn’t just inspire readers, they made their authors rich.
These authors transformed pages into profits, building companies, movements, and personal brands worth millions (and in some cases, billions).
In this list, we’ll explore 20 business books that made their authors millions of dollars, uncovering:
- How each book’s core idea resonated with readers worldwide
- The business empires and speaking careers they spawned
- And the financial impact that turned authors into entrepreneurs
Whether you’re an aspiring author, a business founder, or just curious how words become wealth, this is your inside look at the books that proved intellectual property can be the most powerful form of capital.
20 Business Books That Made Millions
Here are 20 business books that made their authors rich.
Rich Dad Poor Dad – Robert Kiyosaki (1997)
Copies sold: 40+ million worldwide; translated into over 50 languages.
Core idea: Kiyosaki contrasts the money mindsets of his two “dads”, one educated but poor, the other financially savvy but without formal schooling.
Impact: Rich Dad Poor Dad teaches the difference between working for money and having money work for you through assets, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy.
Empire built: The book led to the Rich Dad seminar business, a best-selling series of spin-off books, and even a Cashflow board game.
Estimated author revenue: Tens of millions from books + business ventures.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People – Stephen R. Covey (1989)
Copies sold: Over 40 million; still on bestseller lists decades later.
Core idea: Covey distills timeless principles of personal and professional effectiveness into seven habits, from “Be Proactive” to “Sharpen the Saw.”
Impact: The book influenced leaders, managers, and individuals globally and is widely used in corporate and educational training.
Empire built: Covey’s principles became the foundation of FranklinCovey Co., a public company offering productivity and leadership training.
Estimated author revenue: Covey reportedly earned tens of millions; FranklinCovey’s training programs continue to generate hundreds of millions annually.
Think and Grow Rich – Napoleon Hill (1937)
Copies sold: Estimated over 100 million, making it one of the top-selling books in history.
Core idea: Hill interviewed successful men like Andrew Carnegie and distilled their philosophies into 13 principles of wealth and success.
Impact: It is considered the foundational self-help/business book that inspired countless others.
Legacy: The book continues to sell strongly after nearly a century; Hill’s ideas laid the groundwork for modern motivational speaking and self-development industries.
Estimated author revenue: Hill made a fortune from the book and speaking tours in his lifetime; the brand still generates revenue today.
How to Win Friends and Influence People – Dale Carnegie (1936)
Copies sold: Over 30 million; consistently sells hundreds of thousands of copies yearly.
Core idea: The book teaches the art of communication, persuasion, and empathy. Essentially, it’s about how to win people over without manipulation.
Impact: This book transformed business and personal relationships and is regularly used by salespeople, leaders, and anyone seeking interpersonal mastery.
Empire built: Formed the Dale Carnegie Training organization, which now operates in over 90 countries.
Estimated author revenue: The training empire and book sales generated well over $100 million across decades.
The Millionaire Next Door – Thomas J. Stanley & William D. Danko (1996)
Copies sold: 4+ million.
Core idea: The book debunks stereotypes about the wealthy, showing that most millionaires are frugal, self-employed, and live below their means.
Impact: It changed perceptions about wealth accumulation, highlighting discipline and savings over flashiness.
Empire built: The book led to several follow-up books and a lucrative speaking and consulting career for Stanley.
Estimated author revenue: Millions from book royalties, consulting, and corporate speaking engagements.
The 4-Hour Workweek – Tim Ferriss (2007)
Copies sold: Over 2.5 million; translated into 40+ languages.
Core idea: The 4-Hour Workweek challenges the traditional 9–5 lifestyle by teaching automation, outsourcing, and “lifestyle design” that frees time while maintaining income.
Impact: The book helped to spark the digital nomad and online passive-income movements.
Empire built: This book catapulted Ferriss into fame. He launched a massively successful podcast and wrote follow-up bestsellers.
Estimated author revenue: $20M+ from books, podcast sponsorships, and investments.
Atomic Habits – James Clear (2018)
Copies sold: Over 20 million globally; one of the best-selling nonfiction books of the 21st century.
Core idea: The book focuses on small, consistent behavior changes (tiny habits) that compound into massive results.
Impact: Atomic Habits is used in corporate training, sports psychology, and personal development programs worldwide.
Empire built: Clear earns from speaking engagements (reportedly $100k+ per keynote), brand partnerships, and online courses.
Estimated author revenue: Likely $10–15M+ and growing rapidly.
Start With Why – Simon Sinek (2009)
Copies sold: 10+ million copies.
Core idea: Great leaders inspire action by focusing on why they do something rather than how they do it.
Impact: The book has become a staple in leadership and marketing strategy and has influenced companies like Apple, Southwest Airlines, and countless startups.
Empire built: Led to TED Talks with hundreds of millions of views, books, speaking tours, and a leadership consultancy.
Estimated author revenue: Tens of millions from speaking, consulting, and training programs.
The Lean Startup – Eric Ries (2011)
Copies sold: Around 4–5 million.
Core idea: The Lean Startup advocates for rapid experimentation, validated learning, and agile product development, which is the “build-measure-learn” feedback loop.
Impact: The book revolutionized startup culture and corporate innovation.
Empire built: Ries launched Lean Startup Co., a global training and conference brand; he also advises major tech companies.
Estimated author revenue: Multi-million-dollar range from book + consulting.
Good to Great – Jim Collins (2001)
Copies sold: Over 10 million copies.
Core idea: The book is based on research into why some companies transition from good to truly great performance and introduces “Level 5 Leadership” and the “Hedgehog Concept.”
Impact: Good to Great is one of the most influential management books ever. It is studied in MBA programs and executive courses.
Empire built: Collins runs a successful management lab and commands premium speaking fees.
Estimated author revenue: Tens of millions from sales and consulting.
The E-Myth Revisited – Michael E. Gerber (1995)
Copies sold: Over 5 million.
Core idea: Most small businesses fail because their owners work in the business, not on the business. Systems and processes are the key to scaling.
Impact: This book is a bible for small business owners and franchise builders.
Empire built: Gerber created a global coaching business and training programs under The E-Myth brand.
Estimated author revenue: Multi-million-dollar range from book + seminars.
Crushing It! – Gary Vaynerchuk (2018)
Copies sold: Estimated 1–2 million.
Core idea: The book shows how individuals can use social media and personal branding to build powerful online businesses.
Impact: Crushing It encouraged millions to monetize their passions through content creation and authenticity.
Empire built: The book strengthened Gary Vee’s media empire (VaynerMedia, VeeFriends, NFT and venture projects).
Estimated author revenue: Hundreds of millions overall from his companies; millions directly from books and media deals.
Awaken the Giant Within – Tony Robbins (1991)
Copies sold: 15+ million copies.
Core idea: Personal power comes from mastering your emotions and actions. The book provides psychological tools for massive personal change.
Impact: Established Robbins as the world’s leading motivational coach.
Empire built: Robbins’ empire spans seminars, coaching, real estate, and business investments (valued over $600M).
Estimated author revenue: Hundreds of millions from combined ventures.
The 10X Rule – Grant Cardone (2011)
Copies sold: Over 3 million copies.
Core idea: Success requires 10 times the effort and ambition you think it does. Massive action = massive results.
Impact: This book became the foundation of Cardone’s motivational empire and real estate business.
Empire built: Cardone Capital manages over $4B in real estate; his books and conferences fuel his brand.
Estimated author revenue: Hundreds of millions in net worth.
Girl, Wash Your Face – Rachel Hollis (2018)
Copies sold: Around 5 million copies.
Core idea: The book encourages women to overcome self-doubt and pursue personal growth and authenticity.
Impact: It empowered millions of female entrepreneurs and influencers.
Empire built: The book led to live events, a podcast, and a multimedia company.
Estimated author revenue: Tens of millions before public controversies slowed her brand momentum.
Zero to One – Peter Thiel (with Blake Masters) (2014)
Copies sold: Over 4 million copies.
Core idea: Successful startups don’t copy existing ideas (“going from 1 to n”) — they create something truly new (“0 to 1”).
Impact: A must-read for founders, investors, and innovators.
Empire built: The book reinforced Thiel’s reputation as a visionary investor (PayPal, Palantir, Facebook).
Estimated author revenue: Thiel is a billionaire; the book amplified his influence more than his net worth.
Daring Greatly – Brené Brown (2012)
Copies sold: 5+ million.
Core idea: Vulnerability and courage are strengths, not weaknesses, and are crucial for authentic leadership and connection.
Impact: The book redefined corporate culture and personal development frameworks around empathy and openness.
Empire built: Daring Greatly spawned Netflix specials, TED Talks (60M+ views), corporate training, and further bestsellers.
Estimated author revenue: Tens of millions from publishing and speaking.
Tools of Titans – Tim Ferriss (2016)
Copies sold: 1–2 million copies.
Core idea: This is a curated playbook of tactics, routines, and habits from world-class performers interviewed on Ferriss’s podcast.
Impact: The book is widely used by entrepreneurs, athletes, and executives seeking practical optimization tools.
Empire built: The book strengthened Ferriss’s podcast brand and speaking platform.
Estimated author revenue: Additional millions beyond The 4-Hour Workweek fortune.
Blue Ocean Strategy – W. Chan Kim & Renée Mauborgne (2005)
Copies sold: 4+ million copies.
Core idea: Businesses should create uncontested market space (“blue oceans”) rather than compete in saturated markets (“red oceans”).
Impact: The Blue Ocean Strategy was adopted by companies and MBA programs worldwide.
Empire built: The authors launched a consulting firm and global training programs under the Blue Ocean brand.
Estimated author revenue: Tens of millions from consulting and licensing.
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck – Mark Manson (2016)
Copies sold: 15+ million copies; translated into 60+ languages.
Core idea: Reject constant positivity; embrace struggle and limitation as paths to meaning.
Impact: The book redefined modern self-help with a raw, humorous, brutally honest tone.
Empire built: It led to a Netflix film, a follow-up book, and a robust online coaching business.
Estimated author revenue: $10–20M+ from books, film rights, and online ventures.
You Could Have the Next Million Dollar Business Book
If there’s one thing these stories prove, it’s that a single book can change everything. The right idea, paired with the right strategy, can launch a business and create income streams that last for years.
Every author on this list started where you are now, with an idea worth sharing. What set them apart wasn’t just their insight, it was their decision to take action and publish.
At selfpublishing.com, we help entrepreneurs, coaches, and thought leaders turn their knowledge into best-selling books that grow their businesses and their brands. From developing your concept to launching a book that drives real revenue, our team has helped thousands of authors publish successfully and profitably.
If you’re ready to write the next business book that inspires millions (and maybe earns millions), we’d love to help you make it happen.
Start your journey today at selfpublishing.com and turn your ideas into impact and income.
