Age is just a number, and these famous older people prove that you're never too old to achieve greatness. With the former Prince Charles starting his new role as King Charles III of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth a at the age of 74, we thought it would be interesting to take a look at some other inspiring individuals who achieved great things after the age of 60.
1. Laura Ingalls Wilder - Author Laura is best known for her Little House on the Prairie series, but she didn't start writing until later in life. She published her first book at the age of 64 and went on to publish seven more books in the series.
2. Nikos Kazantzakis - Writer Nikos was a Greek writer and philosopher known for his novels, including Zorba the Greek and The Last Temptation of Christ. He didn't achieve widespread success until his 60s, and continued to write and travel extensively until his death at the age of 74.
3. Helena Rubinstein - Businesswoman Helena was a Polish-born businesswoman who founded a cosmetics empire in the early 20th century. She didn't start her business until her 40s and continued to run it until her death at the age of 93.
4. Antonín Dvořák - Antonín is a Czech composer known for his symphonies, concertos, and chamber music. He didn't achieve international fame until his 40s, but continued to compose music until his death at the age of 62.
5. Julia Child - Chef and Author Julia is credited with bringing French cuisine to American households through her television show, The French Chef. She didn't start cooking professionally until the age of 40 and didn't achieve national recognition until her 50s. Her first cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, was published when she was 50 years old.
6. Colonel Harland Sanders - Entrepreneur Colonel Sanders is the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken. He didn't become successful until later in life when he was 62 years old. He travelled around the country promoting his recipe and franchising his business, eventually becoming a multimillionaire.
7. Doris Lessing - Doris was a British author who wrote novels, short stories, and essays. She won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2007, becoming the oldest person ever to receive the award at the age of 88. She continued to write until her death at the age of 94.
8. Taikichiro Mori - Real Estate Investor Taikichiro was a Japanese real estate investor who became one of the richest men in the world. He didn't start investing in real estate until he was in his 60s and was worth $1 billion by the time he died at the age of 88.
9. Louise Bourgeois - Louise was a French-American artist known for her sculptures, installations, and prints. She didn't achieve widespread recognition until her 70s and continued to create art until her death at the age of 98.
10. Charles de Gaulle - Statesman de Gaulle was a French statesman who played a significant role in the country's history, including leading the French Resistance during World War II and serving as president of France. He was 68 years old when he founded the Fifth Republic, and 75 years old when he retired from politics.
At URBANAGE we are inspired by the achievements of so many, and these are only a handful of the famous individuals in the world who prove it's never too late to achieve greatness. Age should not be a barrier to pursuing your dreams, starting a new chapter in your life, or contributing to society. Experience, hard work and dedication, show that anything is possible, no matter your age. This is why we are working hard to ensure cities and governments work to include the thoughts, opinions and needs of older members of society in urban design and planning.