Marcus Buckingham Biography: Wife, Age, Children, Net Worth, Height, Parents, Books, Company

Marcus Buckingham is a British-American author, motivational speaker, and business consultant best known for his work on strengths-based development and leadership. Born on January 11, 1966, in High Wycombe, England, he studied Social and Political Sciences at Cambridge University.

He began his career at Gallup, where he co-authored the bestseller First, Break All the Rules. He later founded The Marcus Buckingham Company, which was acquired by ADP.

Profile

• Full Name: Marcus Wilfrid Buckingham
• Stage Name: Marcus Buckingham
• Born: January 11, 1966
• Age: 59 (as of 2025)
• Birthplace: High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England
• Nationality: British-American
• Occupation: Author, Motivational Speaker, Business Consultant
• Height: 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm)
• Parent: Mr and Mrs Buckingham
• Siblings: Neil Buckingham
• Spouse: Jane Ruth Buckingham
• Children: Lilia Buckingham, Jack Buckingham
• Relationship: Divorced
• Net Worth: $2 million

Early Life and Education

Marcus Buckingham was born on January 11, 1966, in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England, he is 59 years old. He was raised in a supportive family by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Buckingham.

His father worked as the Personnel Director at Allied Breweries, a role that likely influenced Marcus’s interest in organizational development and leadership from an early age.

He grew up alongside his brother, Neil Buckingham, and has a cousin named Alex. Marcus struggled with a severe stammer during his childhood, which made communication difficult, but he overcame this challenge by the age of 13—a turning point that helped build his confidence and later shaped his public speaking career.

Marcus Buckingham is of White British ethnicity and follows Christianity. For his education, he attended Pembroke College, University of Cambridge, where he earned a degree in Social and Political Sciences.

His time at Cambridge laid the foundation for his future work in business consulting, leadership development, and strengths-based management.

Career

Marcus Buckingham began his professional journey at The Gallup Organization, where he spent 17 years honing his expertise in employee engagement, leadership, and strengths-based development.

During his time at Gallup, he played a key role in analyzing vast amounts of survey data and co-authored the groundbreaking book First, Break All the Rules in 1999. The book, based on Gallup’s research, became a bestseller and positioned him as a leading voice in modern management.

He followed this success with another influential book, Now, Discover Your Strengths, which introduced the StrengthsFinder assessment tool and emphasized the idea that individuals and organizations thrive when they focus on building strengths rather than fixing weaknesses.

In 2006, Marcus left Gallup and founded The Marcus Buckingham Company (TMBC), a consulting and coaching firm dedicated to helping people and organizations unlock their full potential through strengths-based tools and strategies. TMBC developed performance management solutions and coaching systems used by companies worldwide.

In 2017, TMBC was acquired by ADP, a global provider of human resources management software and services. Following the acquisition, Marcus continued his work through ADP Research Institute, where he contributes to research on workplace engagement and performance.

Throughout his career, Marcus has authored several bestsellers, including The One Thing You Need to Know, StandOut, StandOut 2.0, Nine Lies About Work, and Love + Work. He is also a sought-after keynote speaker and consultant for Fortune 500 companies, empowering leaders and employees to discover and leverage their unique strengths for success.

Awards and Nominations

• Ranked #38 in Thinkers50 in 2019, with previous rankings including #18 (2013), #8 (2011), and #25 (2009)
• Shortlisted for the Thinkers50 2011 Leadership Award

Social Media

• Instagram: @marcusbuckingham
• Facebook: Marcus Buckingham

Personal Life

Marcus Buckingham, the British-American author, motivational speaker, and business consultant, was previously married to Jane Ruth Buckingham, an American author and businesswoman.

The couple got married in 1996 and remained together for over two decades before separating in 2017. During their marriage, they welcomed two children—Lilia Buckingham, a well-known actress and digital personality, and Jack Buckingham.

Information regarding Marcus Buckingham’s current romantic relationship is not publicly available. He has kept his personal life relatively private since his divorce.

Marcus Buckingham stands at a height of 5 feet 9 inches (approximately 175 cm).

Publications

Marcus Buckingham has authored several influential books focusing on strengths-based leadership and personal development:

• First, Break All the Rules (1999)
• Now, Discover Your Strengths (2001)
• The One Thing You Need to Know (2005)
• Go Put Your Strengths to Work (2007)
• The Truth About You (2008)
• Find Your Strongest Life (2009)
• StandOut (2011)
• StandOut 2.0 (2015)
• Nine Lies About Work (2019)
• Love + Work (2022)

Net Worth

Marcus Buckingham’s estimated net worth is approximately $2 million. His wealth stems from a multifaceted career as an author, motivational speaker, business consultant, and entrepreneur.

Buckingham gained prominence during his 17-year tenure at The Gallup Organization, where he co-authored the best-selling book First, Break All the Rules. His subsequent publications, including Now, Discover Your Strengths, StandOut, and Nine Lies About Work, have further solidified his reputation in the field of leadership and personal development.

In 2006, he founded The Marcus Buckingham Company (TMBC), which focused on strengths-based management training and tools. The company’s success led to its acquisition by ADP, LLC in January 2017.

Post-acquisition, Buckingham continued his work as the head of the ADP Research Institute – People + Performance, contributing to research on employee engagement and performance.

In addition to his writing and consulting endeavors, Buckingham is a sought-after keynote speaker, delivering talks at various conferences and corporate events worldwide. His insights into strengths-based leadership and employee engagement have made him a valuable resource for organizations aiming to enhance performance and productivity.