Fee Range for David Chilton
$15,001 - $20,000
David Chilton's Videos
Videos & Resources
Investment Tips from The Wealthy Barber
Interview: The Wealthy Barber Returns
Startup Advice: Bruce Croxon & David Chilton
Speaker Sheet (2026):
LATEST BOOKS:
The Wealthy Barber - Fully Updated All-Time Canadian Classic
The book David Chilton has been working on for the past 16 months. Finally! Thirty-six years after "The Wealthy Barber" first burst on the scene and helped millions of Canadians to manage their money wisely, a fully updated version is here! The book's unique blend of understandable financial education, humour and a compelling story takes the intimidation out of this normally dry subject. Packed with fresh insights for these challenging times, you'll have trouble putting The Wealthy Barber down.
The Wealthy Barber
David Chilton's book The Wealthy Barber has accomplished a “publishing impossible” by selling over 2 million copies in North America. More than ten years after it was first published it still appears regularly on bestseller lists. The reason for its sustained popularity? It provides financial education in an entertaining and understandable format.
David Chilton
Former "Dragon" on CBC's Dragons' Den;
The Wealthy Barber Author
About David Chilton
David Chilton is the Canadian author of The Wealthy Barber, one of the bestselling books in Canadian history, and a former Dragon on CBC's Dragons' Den.
For nearly 40 years he has made personal finance understandable for everyday Canadians, combining humour, storytelling and common sense in books, broadcasts and roughly 3,000 presentations across the country.
In 2025 he released The Wealthy Barber: The Fully Updated All-Time Canadian Classic, a complete rewrite that quickly reached the top of national bestseller lists, and he hosts The Wealthy Barber Podcast.
His keynotes cover saving, investing, debt, entrepreneurship and the perspective that leads to lasting success.
David Chilton's Expertise
- Personal Finance — Common-sense money management principles that have helped millions of Canadians reach their financial goals
- Financial Literacy — Making saving, investing and planning understandable through humour, storytelling and plain language
- Saving and Investing — Paying yourself first, automating savings and building wealth with low-cost, diversified investing
- Retirement and Tax-Advantaged Accounts — Prioritizing RRSPs, TFSAs and FHSAs in today's high-cost-of-living environment
- Debt Management — Avoiding the easy-credit and impulse-spending traps that undo good savings habits
- Entrepreneurship — Lessons from self-publishing a national bestseller and building businesses from the ground up
- Investing in Startups — Evaluating ventures and founders, with behind-the-scenes stories from Dragons' Den
- Success Strategies — Hard work, clear vision and clever marketing as a repeatable recipe for results
- Perspective and Resilience — How a healthy perspective on success and failure leads to better decisions and a happier life
- Self-Publishing and Marketing — Taking The Wealthy Barber and the Looneyspoons cookbooks from idea to bestseller
- Humour and Storytelling — Engaging, laugh-out-loud delivery that turns a dry subject into an audience favourite
David Chilton's Bio
Renowned keynote speaker David Chilton is the Canadian author of The Wealthy Barber, one of the bestselling books in Canadian history, a former Dragon on CBC's Dragons' Den, and one of the country's most trusted voices on personal finance.
In June 2026 he announced that he was stepping back from public life, but moving into 2027 he will continue to deliver a select number of keynote presentations for conferences and corporate events.
Over nearly 40 years, Chilton estimates he has delivered roughly 3,000 presentations across Canada, from major conferences to small-town community events, and he calls speaking the highlight of his career.
His keynotes blend timeless money principles, behind-the-scenes stories from Dragons' Den and four decades of real-world business experience, delivered with the humour and warmth that have made him a favourite with corporate, association and community audiences. +
Born in Sarnia, Ontario, Chilton became interested in investing as a teenager and won a Reach for the Top scholarship to Wilfrid Laurier University, where he co-founded a GIC agency while still a student. In 1985 he earned the H.L. Gassard Memorial Award for the highest mark in Canada on the Canadian Securities Course. While teaching financial planning to teachers, he noticed that humour and a casual delivery made the lessons stick, and he turned that approach into a book.
Chilton self-published The Wealthy Barber in 1989. Its story of Roy, a small-town barber who teaches his customers to pay themselves first, sold more than two million copies and changed how a generation of Canadians manages money. He returned to Laurier to complete his BA in Economics in 1995, and the university awarded him an honorary Doctor of Letters in 2006. He also published the bestselling Looneyspoons, Crazy Plates and Eat, Shrink & Be Merry! cookbooks with Janet and Greta Podleski, and in 2011 released The Wealthy Barber Returns, written in his own voice after the 2008 financial crisis.
From 2012 to 2015, Chilton was a Dragon on CBC's Dragons' Den, investing in Canadian entrepreneurs and bringing his practical, plain-spoken judgment to national television. In 2024 he launched The Wealthy Barber Podcast, interviewing leading Canadian personal finance voices.
In November 2025 he released The Wealthy Barber: The Fully Updated All-Time Canadian Classic, a complete rewrite he wrote by hand over 16 months of full-time work. The new edition covers TFSAs, FHSAs, low-cost investing, debt and today's housing pressures, and it quickly reached the top of national bestseller lists.
SPECIAL OFFER FOR 2027
All of Dave Chilton's speeches booked in 2027 include a free copy of the new, updated The Wealthy Barber for each attendee (up to a maximum of 1,000 copies; larger events can purchase more books at heavily discounted prices). --
Contact Us for David Chilton's speaker fees, and date availability.
David Chilton's Presentation Topics
David Chilton travels from Waterloo, Ontario, Canada and delivers keynote presentations, fireside chats and moderated Q&A. Each presentation is unique, personalized for audiences, conferences and corporate event formats.
A Truly Unique Perspective +
"A Truly Unique Perspective” has become speaker, bestselling author, entrepreneur, financial guru, and former “dragon” David Chilton’s most sought-after presentation.
As someone who has experienced both success and failure, Chilton humorously illustrates how a healthy perspective can lead to positive results, despite what life throws at you, using examples from both his professional and private life, including “behind the scenes” stories from Dragons’ Den. --
Success Strategies +
David Chilton’s recipe for success is hard work, a clear vision and some clever marketing. Whether it’s helping thousands of Canadians achieve personal financial success or investing in low-fat cookbooks, David has always had a knack for recognizing great ventures from the get-go.
Famously known for his all-time bestselling book The Wealthy Barber, David has in recent years partnered up with the Podleski sisters to take on the multi-national, billion-dollar food industry.
As their company president and publisher, David has helped the Podleskis turn their idea of low-fat cookbooks into an award-winning food company. The Podleski cookbook, Looneyspoons, is now one of the fastest selling books in Canadian publishing history. Hear this true David versus Goliath story from the inspiring, funny and entertaining David Chilton. --
The Common Sense Guide to Successful Financial Planning +
The book The Wealthy Barber has accomplished a “publishing impossible” by selling over two million copies in North America. More than ten years after it was first published, it still appears regularly on bestseller lists. The reason for its sustained popularity? It provides financial education in an entertaining and understandable format.
The Wealthy Barber is not full of new techniques, complex strategies, nor get-rich-quick-or-even-semi-quick schemes. Instead, it focuses on the financial planning basics that, over time, have proven to be effective. It’s primarily common sense—common sense that, unfortunately, in our society is not common knowledge. By using a “novel” format and strong doses of humour, Dave has taken the intimidation and boredom out of the financial-education experience.
Dave’s speech delivery does not fit the stereotype of a dry financial expert. The Chicago Sun-Times said it most succinctly when they stated “Chilton is charming, unpretentious, and funny." --
Book David Chilton to speak at your next conference or corporate event.
Frequently Asked Questions About David Chilton
Is David Chilton retiring? Is he still available for keynote speaking? +
David Chilton announced in June 2026 that he is stepping back from public life, but he is continuing to accept speaking engagements in 2027. Contact K&M Productions Speakers & Shows to check his availability for your conference or corporate event. --
Who is David Chilton? +
David Chilton is a Canadian author, investor and personal finance educator best known for The Wealthy Barber, one of the bestselling Canadian books of all time. He is a former Dragon on CBC's Dragons' Den and the host of The Wealthy Barber Podcast. --
What does David Chilton speak about? +
David Chilton speaks about personal finance, saving and investing, debt, entrepreneurship, success strategies and perspective, with behind-the-scenes stories from Dragons' Den and lessons from The Wealthy Barber. --
What are David Chilton's most popular keynotes? +
His keynotes are A Truly Unique Perspective, his most requested presentation; Success Strategies; and The Common Sense Guide to Successful Financial Planning. --
What is the updated edition of The Wealthy Barber? +
The Wealthy Barber: The Fully Updated All-Time Canadian Classic, released in November 2025, is a complete rewrite of the 1989 original. It covers TFSAs, FHSAs, low-cost investing and today's financial pressures, and it quickly reached the top of national bestseller lists. --
Do attendees receive a copy of The Wealthy Barber? +
Speeches booked in 2027 include a free copy of the updated Wealthy Barber for each attendee, up to 1,000 copies. Larger events can purchase additional books at heavily discounted prices. --
Was David Chilton on Dragons' Den? +
Yes. David Chilton was a Dragon on CBC's Dragons' Den from 2012 to 2015, investing in Canadian entrepreneurs. --
What formats does David Chilton offer? +
David Chilton delivers keynote presentations, fireside chats and moderated Q&A sessions, tailored to each audience and event. --
How much does it cost to book David Chilton? +
David Chilton's speaking fee range is $15,001 to $20,000 CAD. Final pricing is confirmed through K&M Productions Speakers & Shows based on event format, location, audience size and customization. --
Is David Chilton represented by a speakers bureau in Canada and how is the contract handled? +
David Chilton is represented by K&M Productions Speakers & Shows for conference keynotes and corporate events. They coordinate bookings and handle the contract-agreement with the client. Keynote speakers in Canada often work through a bureau to take care of their contracts and payments while they look after the creative and content aspects of their topics and presentations. Bureau representation ensures consistent communication between the client and the speaker as well as an "insurance policy" for your conference in the unlikely occurrence of speaker illness or cancellation. --
How do I book David Chilton? +
David Chilton is booked through K&M Productions Speakers & Shows. Submit an event inquiry to check his availability and arrange a pre-event call. --
This speaker profile was last updated by K&M Productions on October 20, 2026.
What Clients are Saying About David Chilton
David Chilton was AMAZING! The positive comments from our post-conference survey were exceptional and everyone said he was the "icing on the cake" for the whole conference. All in all, truly amazing presentation.
–Scotiabank
Everyone LOVED David's presentation. We have received nothing but rave reviews.
–Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd.
David was fantastic and such a nice man. He was amazing with the attendees and such a fun, informative and inspiring speaker.
–Toronto Business Development Centre
A world-class speaker! Our audience was highly impressed and in our follow-up surveys the vast majority gave him our highest rating.
–Grain Farmers of Ontario
Chilton has probably motivated more people to take actual control of their personal-financial lives than any other speaker or writer has in this decade.
–Your Money
Dave's speech is the best I've ever heard - the audience reaction was nothing short of amazing.
–United Way
Chilton is charming, unpretentious and funny.
–The Chicago Sun-Times