Rick Warren (born January 28, 1954) is an American pastor, author, and philanthropist best known for founding Saddleback Church, a Southern Baptist megachurch in Lake Forest, California. He gained international fame with his 2002 book The Purpose Driven Life, which sold tens of millions of copies and became one of the best-selling nonfiction books in history. Warren grew up in California, attended California Baptist University, and earned theological degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Fuller Theological Seminary. He founded Saddleback in 1980 with a small group meeting in his condo, growing it into one of the largest churches in the United States. Beyond the church, Warren launched initiatives like the PEACE Plan to fight global problems such as poverty and disease. He’s known for his efforts to bridge religious and political divides, including giving the invocation at President Barack Obama’s inauguration in 2009. Warren has also spoken openly about personal struggles, notably after the suicide of his son Matthew in 2013, advocating for better mental health awareness in churches. Today, Warren is recognized as one of the most influential Christian leaders in the world.