Rick Riordan

Awards & Honours

Awards Won

Honours

Rankings

Covers

Records

Rick Riordan has been recognized as one of the most influential authors in children's literature. He was named to Time magazine's list of the 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2013 and appeared on Forbes' list of top-earning authors multiple times. Publishers Weekly called The House of Hades the fastest-selling children's book of all time in 2013. His Percy Jackson series spent over 400 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. In 2024, he received a Disney Legend Award and the Library of Congress Literary Award for his contributions to children's literature.

AwardsRiordan has won multiple major awards. In 2024, he earned two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Children's Program and Outstanding Writing for a Children's Program for the Disney+ series. His adult mystery novel Big Red Tequila won the Shamus and Anthony Awards in 1998. He has also won numerous Goodreads Choice Awards for middle-grade books, including for The Son of Neptune (2011), The Mark of Athena (2012), The House of Hades (2013), The Blood of Olympus (2014), The Sword of Summer (2015), The Hammer of Thor (2016), and The Sun and the Star (2023). The House of Hades won the Children's Book of the Year Award at the Australian Book Industry Awards in 2014.

Honours & Distinctions

Disney Legend Award

The Walt Disney Company·2024

Honored for his contributions to Disney's storytelling through the Percy Jackson franchise.

Library of Congress Literary Award

Library of Congress·2024

Honored for his contributions to children's literature.

Key to the City of San Antonio

City of San Antonio·2014

Awarded by Mayor Julián Castro for his literary achievements and community impact.

Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters

University of Texas at Austin·2015

Honorary doctorate for his contributions to literature and education.

Rankings & Lists

100 Most Influential People in the World

Time Magazine·2013

Top 10 Highest-Paid Authors

Forbes·2014

Top 10 Highest-Paid Authors

Forbes·2015

Top 10 Highest-Paid Authors

Forbes·2016

Fastest-Selling Children's Book of All Time

Publishers Weekly·2013

Magazine Covers

Time Magazine

March 18, 2013

The Next J.K. Rowling?

Entertainment Weekly

August 2011

Percy Jackson: The Man Behind the Myth

People Magazine

June 2014

The Author Who Changed Kids' Lives

Publishers Weekly

October 2015

Rick Riordan: The King of Middle Grade

Records & Feats

Fastest-selling children's book of all time

Book Sales·2013

The House of Hades sold over 1 million copies in its first week in the US, setting a record at the time.

Most weeks on the New York Times bestseller list for a children's series

Chart Record·2023

The Percy Jackson series spent over 400 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list.

First author to win an Emmy for a children's program based on their own book series

Awards·2024

Riordan won the Emmy for Outstanding Children's Program in 2024 for Percy Jackson and the Olympians.