Publishers are the individuals traditionally engaged in the business of publishing of books, periodicals, and engravings, while in the modern sense the term also refers to the ones who publish computer software. They are usually the owners or the business head of a newspaper organization or publishing house. Publishers work to release books, novels, magazines, newspapers, textbooks and other printed works to the public. Publishing has a long history—Babylonian clay tablet, the Egyptian papyrus roll, and the medieval vellum codex have all served as publishing media at some points in history. The Sumerians, the Egyptians, and the Chinese were also known to produce books on an extensive scale. In more recent history, William Collins, a 19th century Scottish publisher produced the first Collins English Dictionary and founded William Collins, Sons, now part of HarperCollins. American publisher Bennett Alfred Cerf co-founded the publishing firm Random house along with Donald Simon Klopfer. Also counted amongst the best known publishers of the 20th century, Richard Simon and Max Schuster were the ones to publish the first book of crossword puzzles. Browse on to learn more about the life and works of famous publishers from all over the world.
This ranking is based on an algorithm that combines various factors, including the votes of our users and search trends on the internet.
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Famous As: Computer programmer
Birthdate: July 3, 1971
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Townsville, Australia
Julian Assange made headlines all over the world in 2010 when WikiLeaks, a non-profit organization founded by him, gained international attention after publishing leaks, such as the Afghanistan war logs and Iraq war logs. After dodging arrest for several years, he was finally arrested in 2019 and is currently imprisoned in HM Prison Belmarsh.
Famous As: Founder of Playboy Magazine
Birthdate: April 9, 1926
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Died: September 27, 2017
As the founder of Playboy magazine, Hugh Hefner changed the way people viewed nudity. Known for his enviable lifestyle, he resided in luxury mansions along with his Playboy Playmates. Also a well-known philanthropist, Hefner made significant donations to various causes. He also supported freedom of expression and sexual liberation.
Famous As: Businesswoman
Birthdate: August 3, 1941
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Jersey City, New Jersey, United States
The founder of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Martha Stewart has found success with several business ventures. She is also the publisher of a magazine called Martha Stewart Living and has written many bestselling books. Although she was convicted of charges pertaining to the ImClone stock trading case, she made a comeback and became chairwoman of her company.
Celebrities Born On My Birthday?
Famous As: Writer
Birthdate: November 30, 1835
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Florida, Missouri, United States
Died: April 21, 1910
Mark Twain, “the father of American literature,” was one of the world’s greatest 19-th century humorists and authors. His novels The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn were drawn from his childhood experiences in Missouri. In his later life, he sunk into bankruptcy and also recovered.
Famous As: Newspaper Baron
Birthdate: April 29, 1863
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: San Francisco, California, United States
Died: August 14, 1951
William Randolph Hearst was an American newspaper publisher, businessman, and politician. He is credited with developing America's largest newspaper chain, Hearst Communications. Today, Hearst Communications has grown into a multinational business information and mass media conglomerate. William Randolph Hearst’s life and work inspired the creation of Charles Foster Kane, the main character in the 1941 drama film, Citizen Kane.
Famous As: Inventor
Birthdate: 1400 AD
Birthplace: Mainz, Germany
Died: February 3, 1468
Credit goes to Johannes Gutenberg for transforming book-making from manuscripts to the printed form as he introduced the movable-type printing press in the 15th century. The German printer and publisher’s invention contributed to mass communication during the Renaissance. He was not successful in his business and was exiled during the later years of his life. He was also a goldsmith.
Famous As: English columnist
Birthdate: March 13, 1989
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Westminster, London, England
Died: April 7, 2014
Peaches Geldof, daughter of singer Bob Geldof and TV presenter Paula Yates, wrote for publications such as Elle Girl and The Guardian. She later presented her own TV shows, such as Peaches Geldof: Teen America, and modeled. Geldof was a Scientologist. She died of a heroin overdose at age 25.
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Birthdate: November 1, 1942
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Lakeville, Kentucky, U.S.
Died: February 10, 2021
Larry Flynt, owner of Larry Flynt Publications and editor of Hustler magazine, gained fame after publishing some photos of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis sunbathing naked on a vacation. He was paralyzed from the waist down after an assassination attempt in 1978. He has also faced many legal battles related to obscenity.
Famous As: Publisher
Birthdate: June 16, 1917
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: New York City
Died: July 17, 2001
Famous As: politician, publisher, journalist
Birthdate: July 18, 1947
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Morristown
Famous As: Journalist & Publisher
Birthdate: April 10, 1847
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Makó
Died: October 29, 1911
Joseph Pulitzer was a newspaper publisher who became a national figure in the Democratic Party after crusading against corruption and big business. Pulitzer is also credited with founding the Columbia School of Journalism. The world-renowned Pulitzer Prizes, which are awarded annually to reward excellence in various fields, are named in his honor.
Famous As: Businessman
Birthdate: December 21, 1950
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: New York City, New York, USA
Famous As: Historian
Birthdate: December 19, 1875
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: New Canton, Virginia, United States
Died: April 3, 1950
Historian Carter Woodson was is remembered for pioneering Black studies in schools and colleges. He began the Negro History Week, which is now celebrated as the Black History Month. Poverty had pushed him to work in the coal mines initially, and he couldn’t join high school before 20.
Famous As: Publisher
Birthdate: May 25, 1898
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Manhattan, New York
Died: August 27, 1971
Famous As: Founded the adult magazine Penthouse in 1965
Birthdate: December 17, 1930
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: New York City, United States
Died: October 20, 2010
Famous As: Publisher and Chief Creative Officer of DC Comics
Birthdate: August 11, 1964
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Seoul, South Korea
Korean-American comic-book artist Jim Lee began his career with Marvel and then soared to fame with his X-Men series. Though initially trained in psychology, he skipped medical school and became a comic writer instead. Apart from co-founding Image Comics, he also created WildStorm, which he sold to DC later.
Famous As: Publisher
Birthdate: January 7, 1946
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: New York City, United States
Jann Wenner is an American magazine mogul best known as the co-founder and publisher of Rolling Stone magazine. He is also credited with co-founding the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and other popular publications like Outside. During the 1970s and 1980s, Wenner played a key role in popularizing several writers like Greil Marcus, Hunter S. Thompson, and Cameron Crowe.
Famous As: Writer
Birthdate: 1969 AD
Birthplace: Los Angeles County, California, USA
Alison Tyler is the pen name of an American writer, editor, and publisher. The publisher of erotica, Tyler is credited with writing over 20 explicit novels. She has also edited over 60 erotic anthologies and is credited with founding her own publishing company called Pretty Things Press. Her work, which focuses on erotic themes, has been translated into many languages.
Famous As: Publisher
Birthdate: July 18, 1915
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Terry, South Dakota, United States
Died: August 3, 1963
Famous As: Comics artist, Writer
Birthdate: October 17, 1914
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Cleveland
Died: January 28, 1996
Famous As: Writer
Birthdate: July 7, 1968
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, United States
Jeff Vandermeer is an American author, literary critic, and editor. Dubbed the King of Weird Fiction by The New Yorker, VanderMeer's works are renowned for eluding genre classifications as he often incorporates elements of postmodernism, New Weird, eco-fiction, and post-apocalyptic fiction into his writing. He has won many prestigious awards like World Fantasy Awards, Locus Award, and Nebula Award.
Famous As: Songwriter
Birthdate: December 19, 1925
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: New York, US
Died: March 6, 2012
Famous As: Comics artist, Publisher, Screenwriter
Birthdate: May 30, 1962
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Portland, Maine, United States
Famous As: Businessperson
Birthdate: August 19, 1919
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, United States
Died: February 24, 1990
Famous As: 1st Mayor of Toronto, Member of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada (1851–1858)
Birthdate: March 12, 1795
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Dundee, Scotland
Died: August 28, 1861
Born in Scotland, William Lyon Mackenzie moved to Canada as a merchant but soon got involved in the country’s politics. He later stepped into journalism and launched his own newspaper, the Colonial Advocate. He spearheaded the Canadian Rebellion of 1837, a failed uprising against the Canadian government.
Famous As: Newspaper publisher
Birthdate: May 25, 1879
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Maple, Vaughan, Canada
Died: June 9, 1964
Famous As: Cartoonist
Birthdate: March 16, 1917
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, United States
Died: January 3, 2005
Famous As: Writer
Birthdate: February 2, 1970
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Not known
Famous As: Business People
Birthdate: December 2, 1915
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: New York, United States
Died: December 18, 2000
Famous As: Media Tycoon
Birthdate: March 11, 1931
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Melbourne, Australia
Rupert Murdoch’s company News Corp owns hundreds of publishing outlets and TV channels around the world, including The Sun, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Post and Fox News. His media houses have been accused of hacking the phones of celebrities and public citizens. He has also had to face allegations of bribery and corruption in the UK and the US.
Famous As: Novelist
Birthdate: December 17, 1873
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Merton, Surrey, England
Died: June 26, 1939
Best remembered for his novel The Good Soldier, author Ford Madox Ford was the grandson of Pre-Raphaelite painter Ford Madox Brown. He had been part of World War I. He spent his final years in France and the US, mostly authoring criticism. The tetralogy Parade's End remains one of his best-known works.
Famous As: Writer
Birthdate: October 11, 1913
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Rochester, New York, United States
Died: December 14, 2011
Famous As: Actor
Birthdate: March 6, 1949
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Watts, California, United States
Famous As: Writer
Birthdate: June 19, 1856
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Bloomington, Illinois, United States
Died: May 7, 1915
Famous As: Businessman
Birthdate: March 13, 1908
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
Died: October 1, 2002
Famous As: Writer
Birthdate: August 2, 1950
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Copenhagen, Denmark
Jussi Adler-Olsen is a Danish writer, editor, publisher, and entrepreneur. Apart from being a popular figure in Denmark, Adler-Olsen has also enjoyed success in countries like the Netherlands, Germany, and Norway. His novels have been sold in over 40 languages and some of his works have been adapted into successful films.
Famous As: Businessman
Birthdate: September 13, 1949
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Quincy, Illinois, United States
Famous As: Politician
Birthdate: May 10, 1837
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Macon, Georgia, United States
Died: December 21, 1921
Famous As: Inventor
Birthdate: August 16, 1884
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
Died: August 19, 1967
Famous As: Journalist, Publisher
Birthdate: April 3, 1898
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Dengzhou
Died: February 28, 1967
Famous As: Publisher, Writer
Birthdate: November 8, 1836
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Vienna, Maine, United States
Died: May 30, 1911
Famous As: Entrepreneur
Birthdate: 1957 AD
Birthplace: Pakistan
Famous As: Writer
Birthdate: October 2, 1943
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: United States
Writer, editor, and publisher, George DiCaprio, is known for his work in the underground comix world. He was a popular figure in the 1970s and published comics like Greaser Comics and Forbidden Knowledge. His son, Leonardo DiCaprio, is a famous actor. George played a significant role in his son’s early career and used to screen scripts for him.
Famous As: Entrepreneur, Writer
Birthdate: January 7, 1890
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Greeneville, Tennessee, United States
Died: September 21, 1965
Famous As: Author
Birthdate: November 26, 1919
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: New York City, New York, United States
Died: September 2, 2013
Famous As: Broadcaster
Birthdate: July 15, 1962
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Cambridge ,England
Famous As: Publisher, Autobiographer, Businessperson
Birthdate: December 8, 1951
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Hampstead
Famous As: Comic book writer
Birthdate: December 28, 1922
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Manhattan, New York, United States
Died: November 12, 2018
Stan Lee was one of the most popular comic book writers, thanks to his appearances in several Marvel movies. He is well-known as the co-creator of many famous superheroes, including Iron Man, Spider-Man, and the Hulk. He pioneered a naturalistic method to writing superhero comics and challenged the Comics Code Authority, which ultimately led to changes in its policies.
Famous As: Publisher, Writer, Socialite, Poet, Memoirist, Journalist
Birthdate: April 20, 1891
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: New York City
Died: January 26, 1970
Famous As: Publisher, Entrepreneur
Birthdate: January 19, 1918
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Arkansas City, Arkansas, United States
Died: August 8, 2005