author
Percy Ross
Best known as the millionaire behind the long-running “Thanks a Million” advice-and-giveaway column, this larger-than-life figure mixed business success with a very public style of generosity. His books reflect the same direct, plainspoken voice that made him a familiar name to newspaper readers across the country.
1 Audiobook
A Mock Idyl
by Percy Ross
About the author
Born in Laurium, Michigan, in 1916, Percy Ross built his fortune through auctions and the plastics business before becoming nationally known for philanthropy. He was especially associated with his syndicated newspaper column Thanks a Million, which invited readers to write in with their problems and sometimes received personal cash help in return.
Ross wrote in the same accessible, conversational style that shaped his public image. Rather than presenting himself as a distant expert, he came across as a blunt, energetic storyteller who liked practical advice, memorable one-liners, and real-life examples.
He died in 2001 in Edina, Minnesota. Even now, he is remembered less as a conventional literary figure than as a colorful American personality whose writing grew out of his unusual mix of wealth, showmanship, and generosity.