Chris Gardner

Awards & Honours

Awards Won

Honours

Rankings

Covers

Records

Chris Gardner's life story has earned him some of the most prestigious honors in American civic life. The NAACP awarded him its Spingarn Medal in 2011, recognizing him as a figure of extraordinary achievement. That same year, President Barack Obama presented him with the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award for his volunteer work fighting poverty and supporting fatherhood. He has received honorary doctorates from several universities and holds a Guinness World Record for the most book signings in 24 hours. These accolades reflect not just his financial success, but his impact as a symbol of resilience and hope.

AwardsChris Gardner has won the NAACP Image Award President's Award (2007) and the NAACP Spingarn Medal (2011), the organization's highest honor. He received the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award from President Barack Obama in 2011 for his volunteer service. He also holds multiple honorary doctorates from institutions including Shaw University.

Honours & Distinctions

Spingarn Medal

NAACP·2011

Highest honor from the NAACP for outstanding achievement.

Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award

President Barack Obama·2011

Awarded for volunteer service and work to end poverty.

Guinness World Record

Guinness World Records·2006

Most book signings in 24 hours for The Pursuit of Happyness.

Honorary Doctorate

Shaw University·2007

Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters for humanitarian work.

Rankings & Lists

#Top 10

Most Inspiring Stories of the Year

TIME Magazine·2006

#Top 20

Top Motivational Speakers

Forbes·2019

Magazine Covers

TIME

2006-12-11

From Homeless to Wall Street: The Real Story Behind The Pursuit of Happyness

Success Magazine

2007-03-01

The Power of Persistence: Chris Gardner on Creating Your Own Luck

Records & Feats

Most book signings in 24 hours

Publishing·2006

Signed copies of The Pursuit of Happyness at a record pace to promote the book.