David Chilton (businessman)

David Chilton
Born	1961 Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Occupation(s)	Writer, investor, television personality
Years active	1989–present
Known for	Dragons' Den (Canadian edition), The Wealthy Barber

David Chilton is a Canadian writer, investor, and television figure originating from Waterloo, Ontario. He gained recognition through his participation on the Canadian edition of Dragons' Den.

Personal life

Chilton initially attended Wilfrid Laurier University but paused his academic pursuits to focus on entrepreneurial activities. He later resumed his studies and earned a BA in Economics in 1995. Presently, Chilton lives in the vicinity of Waterloo, Ontario. He is a father of two and has gone through a divorce.

Business life

Chilton launched his professional journey by independently publishing The Wealthy Barber in 1989. Developed over a period of 26 months, the book is designed for individuals with minimal investment knowledge, encouraging sound financial practices via the narrative of three young characters seeking advice from a barber. It stands as one of Canada’s top-selling titles, with sales exceeding two million copies. Additionally, Chilton co-authored popular cookbooks with Greta and Janet Podleski, including Looneyspoons, Crazy Plates, and Eat, Shrink and Be Merry!

He exited the publishing industry in 2007 due to concerns regarding profit allocation. In response to the 2008 economic downturn, Chilton published a follow-up titled The Wealthy Barber Returns in 2011, providing straightforward financial advice without storytelling elements. Chilton has expressed that further financial publications are unlikely because of his ongoing business and personal obligations.

After joining Dragons' Den, Chilton broadened his investment ventures but notes that only a minor fraction of his wealth is deployed in investments. A significant acquisition includes a 25% ownership in greeting card enterprise Hand and Beak, which partners with Hallmark for marketing and distribution purposes.

Television career

Early in his career, Chilton made multiple guest appearances, debuting on The Hour in 2010 and appearing six times through 2013. He portrayed himself on the Royal Canadian Air Farce New Year's Eve special in 2012 and served as host for The Lang and O'Leary Exchange in 2013. Chilton joined the business reality show Dragons' Den in 2012 during its seventh season as a replacement for Robert Herjavec. Under contract until season nine, he departed to concentrate fully on his investment ventures. Throughout his tenure on the program, he applied his financial acumen to evaluate investment opportunities, enhancing his reputation as an astute investor.
His television appearances also include roles on the web/TV series Smart Associates, a guest role on Arctic Air in 2013, and portraying "Mr. Chilton," a wealthy barber, in a 2015 episode of Murdoch Mysteries.

Awards

• In 1985, Chilton was honored with the H.L. Gassard Memorial Award for achieving the highest score on the Canadian Securities Course