Clifford Irving

Date of Birth: November 5, 1930

Zodiac Sign: Scorpio

Date of Death: December 19, 2017

Biography

Clifford Michael Irving was an American writer known for his controversial and imaginative works. Born in New York City, he began his career as a novelist, but he is best known for his role in one of the most infamous literary hoaxes of the 20th century. In the early 1970s, Irving claimed to have co-written an authorized autobiography of the reclusive billionaire Howard Hughes. The book was later exposed as a fraud, leading to Irving’s conviction for conspiracy and fraud. Despite the scandal, Irving continued to write and publish novels, demonstrating his enduring talent and resilience. His works often explored themes of deception, identity, and the human condition.

5 Interesting Facts about Clifford Irving

1. Clifford Irving’s hoax autobiography of Howard Hughes was nearly published by McGraw-Hill, and it wasn’t until Hughes himself denounced it as a fake that the truth came out.

2. Irving served 17 months in prison for his role in the Howard Hughes autobiography hoax.

3. He wrote several other novels, including “The Hoax,” which detailed his involvement in the Hughes scandal.

4. Clifford Irving once worked as a copyboy for The New York Times before embarking on his writing career.

5. Despite his controversial past, Irving continued to write and publish novels up until his death in 2017.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Clifford Irving

1. “Reality is not always probable, or likely.”

2. “Fiction writing is great. You can make up almost anything.”

3. “The truth is always the strongest argument.”

4. “My life has always been a series of adventures followed by regrets.”

5. “In the end, we all become stories.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the peak of his career, Clifford Irving’s net worth was estimated to be around $2 million, largely due to the advance he received for the fraudulent Hughes autobiography.