Scott Adams, the American cartoonist and writer behind the iconic comic strip Dilbert, has died at 68. Since its debut in 1989, Dilbert has become one of the most popular workplace satires in the world, though Adams himself has become a controversial figure in recent years due to his statements on race.
Adams revealed in May that he had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer. Now, at age 68, the comic strip creator has passed away, with the news shared via social media.
At 8:40 a.m. PST, Scott Adams’ X account posted a message titled “A Final Message From Scott Adams,” featuring images of a letter he typed on January 1, 2026, intended to be shared after his death. In the letter, Adams said his final goodbye and took time to share his final reflections and “explain something about [his] life.”
Friends, Family, and Fans Honor Scott Adams in Heartfelt Tribute
Final Messages and Memories Celebrate a Life Lived Well and a Lasting Legacy
In addition to the X post, Adams’ ex-wife Shelly Miles announced his death on Tuesday’s episode of the livestream Real Coffee with Scott Adams, which he hosted daily until his passing. The episode became an emotional tribute, with Miles reading his letter aloud for his fans. The livestream was then followed by a virtual gathering of friends and family.
During the gathering, attendees raised their Scott Adams doodle mugs and sipped coffee in honor of their “best friend, our internet dad, our uncle, our mentor, our sage.” Friends and family shared heartfelt testimonies about the impact Adams had on their lives, describing his journey as “a life lived well” and reflecting on his lasting influence and warmth.
While many fans will mourn Scott Adams’ death, the heartfelt tribute offers some comfort. Additionally, his final words to the world and his fans were full of lightness and positivity: “I had an amazing life. I gave it everything I had. If you got any benefits from my work, I’m asking that you pay it forward as best as you can. That’s the legacy I want. Be useful, and please know, I loved you all to the very end.”
From Banker to Comic Legend: The Life and Career of Scott Adams
Scott Adams, a native of New York, worked as a bank teller from 1979 to 1986, the same year he earned his MBA from the University of California, Berkeley. He launched Dilbert in 1989 while employed as an engineer at Pacific Bell, drawing inspiration from the company’s sterile offices and eccentric coworkers.
In recent years, Adams has become known for his extreme political beliefs. In a YouTube livestream in February 2023, Adams branded black Americans a “hate group,” stating “it makes no sense whatsoever as a white citizen of America to try and help black citizens anymore… the best advice I would give to white people is to get the hell away from black people.”
The comments led to Dilbert being dropped by hundreds of newspapers, including The Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe and The Cleveland Plain Dealer. Adams later described his remarks as “hyperbole” and claimed that he “disavowed racists.”
Adams continued creating the comic for decades but stopped drawing Dilbert in November 2025 due to hand cramping and partial paralysis. Despite this, he remained involved by writing the strips, ensuring the humor and insight that made the series famous continued even as physical challenges prevented him from illustrating Dilbert himself.