Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Scott Adams, the creator of the legendary comic strip "Dilbert," passed away on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at the age of 68, after battling metastatic prostate cancer that had spread to his bones.
The sad news was confirmed by his ex-wife, Shelly Miles, during a live broadcast on Adams' personal podcast, "Real Coffee with Scott Adams," and on his personal YouTube channel.
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Before his death, Adams had revealed his prostate cancer diagnosis in May 2025 and had been hospitalized in intensive care in December 2025 due to complications, including lower-body paralysis.
On January 1, 2026, he stated that his chances of recovery were slim due to his heart failure.
Adams left a touching final message, "If you're reading this, it means things aren't going well for me," written on January 1, 2026.
In his farewell message, Scott Adams reflected on his life with gratitude, stating, "I've had an extraordinary life. I've given it everything I've got."
He also advised that his work should continue to benefit others, "If you have benefited in any way from my work, I ask that you pass it on to others as best you can. That is the legacy I want. Be of service. And know that I love you all to the end."
Remembering the Man Behind 'Dilbert'
Scott Raymond Adams was born on June 8, 1957, in Windham, New York, United States.
He is widely known as a cartoonist, writer, and political commentator whose work has inspired many.
Adams earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Hartwick College in 1979 and then went on to earn a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1986.
Before pursuing a full-time career as a cartoonist in 1995, Scott Adams had been involved in the corporate world.
He worked at Crocker National Bank in San Francisco from 1979 to 1986, and then at Pacific Bell in San Ramon, California, from 1986 to June 1995.
In 1989, while still working at Pacific Bell, Adams launched the comic strip "Dilbert."
The comic quickly gained popularity for its sharp satirical humor about office life, criticizing corporate culture and bureaucracy in a witty and relevant way.
The main character, Dilbert, a competent engineer frustrated by his dysfunctional work environment and incompetent management.
The Dilbert Phenomenon and the Controversy
At its peak, the "Dilbert" comic strip was published in over 2,000 newspapers in 65 countries and translated into 25 languages, making it a global pop culture phenomenon.
This success was not limited to the comic strip, but was also adapted into various other media such as books, animated TV series, and even video games.
For his outstanding contributions, Scott Adams was awarded the Reuben Award from the National Cartoonists Society in 1997, as well as the Newspaper Comic Strip Award.
However, Scott Adams' career has not been without controversy.
In February 2023, "Dilbert" was dropped by numerous newspapers and its distributor, Andrews McMeel Syndication, after Adams made comments deemed racist on his YouTube channel, "Real Coffee with Scott Adams."
In his remarks, Adams called African Americans a "hateful group" and advised white Americans to "stay away from Black people."
In response to a wave of criticism, Adams defended his comments, stating that he had used hyperbole and that media coverage had ignored the context of his remarks.
Nevertheless, the incident significantly impacted his career, with many newspapers suspending publication of "Dilbert."
After the controversy, Adams relaunched his comic strip as a webcomic on the website Locals under the name "Dilbert Reborn."
Scott Adams' Legacy and Final Message
Besides "Dilbert," Scott Adams is also a prolific author, producing non-fiction books on business, commentary, and satire.
Some of his most famous works include "The Dilbert Principle," "God's Debris," "How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big," "Win Bigly," and "Loserthink."
These works reflect his unique perspective on the corporate world and society.
In his personal life, Adams was married to Shelly Miles from 2006 to 2014, and then to Kristina Basham from 2020 to 2022.
He was also known as a trained hypnotist and a vocal supporter of Donald Trump, often sharing his political views through his blog and podcast.
Adams was also a known coffee drinker, believing that coffee helped him think more clearly and productively.