Ever wondered how life coaching became such a vibrant profession? Though it might seem like it’s been around forever, life coaching as we know it only emerged in the 1980s alongside the self-help movement. What started as coaching people on mindset, purpose, and relationships quickly evolved into a transformative industry.
Today’s most influential coaches didn’t just write books or give speeches—they worked directly with clients, creating real change in people’s lives. Some built their reputation over decades, while others leveraged social media to make their mark in record time.
Ready for some serious inspiration? Let’s explore some of the world’s best life coaches who are making waves globally. These standouts don’t just talk the talk—they walk alongside their clients every step of the way, helping them turn dreams into reality.
The Best Life Coaches Who Are Also Bestselling Authors
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These coaches work in various fields, from relationships to wealth creation. They’ve gained international fame through their revolutionary views in their area of expertise, which they published in a bestselling book.
Esther Perel
Esther Perel is a Belgian psychotherapist and the bestselling author of Mating With Captivity and The State of Affairs. Her provocative views on sex and relationships have inspired new perspectives on marriage and infidelity, and her viral TED talk received more than 10 million views online. She’s one of the most well-known couples therapists in the world.
Rich Litvin
Rich Litvin is the co-author of the iconic life coaching book Prosperous Coach, who runs a leadership consultancy for world leaders, based in Los Angeles and London. His clients include Olympic athletes, Presidential candidates, Hollywood film directors, Special Forces operatives, and serial entrepreneurs. Rich is also the founder of The Four Percent Club, a private club for the top 4% of the world’s most extraordinary consultants and coaches.
Steve Chandler
Steve Chandler is the author of 30 books that have been translated into over 25 languages. He’s been coaching for more than 20 years and has been named “the most powerful public speaker in America today” by the media. He’s also the creator of the Coaching Prosperity School, a life coaching program that helps other coaches build a strong coaching practice and create their dream clientele.
Bob Proctor
Bob Proctor is a Canadian self-help author who identifies himself as a philosopher. He’s best known for his New York Times best-selling book You Were Born Rich and as one of the speakers on the internationally acclaimed film The Secret.
Michael Neill
Michael Neill is an internationally renowned transformative coach and the best-selling author of five books, including The Inside-Out Revolution and The Space Within. His books have been translated into 17 languages. He’s been a coach for over 25 years, and he also works as an adviser to celebrities, CEOs, and royalty.
Tony Robbins
Anthony Robbins is perhaps the most famous American author, coach, and speaker in the world today. His seminars have impacted over 50 million people from 80 countries and have been turned into a Netflix documentary film called I Am Not Your Guru. His most well-known books are Unleash The Giant Within and Money Master The Game. He also has a popular certification with Cloe Madanes called the Robbins-Madanes Life Coach Certification.
Robin Sharma
Robin Sharma is the author of the #1 International Bestseller: The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari. He’s a consultant amongst rockstars, royalty, billionaires, and celebrity CEOs, who was named one of the world’s top five authorities in his field. He has had clients from NASA, Microsoft, Nike, and Yale University.
The Best Life Coaches Who Are Also Top Educators
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Besides their coaching practice, these professionals are the instructors of major educational programs in the space of personal development and coaching businesses.
Ajit Nawalkha
Ajit Nawalkha is the former Co-Founder of the #1 Transformational Platform, Mindvalley, and the Founder of Evercoach, the world’s largest educational platform for coaches. He’s an instructor on Evercoach himself, helping coaches start and grow their coaching businesses. He’s also the author of the books Live Big and The Book of Coaching.
Marisa Peer
Marisa Peer was named the #1 British Therapist by Tatler and Men’s Health magazines. She’s spent over 30 years working with clients, including royalty, Hollywood actors, Olympic athletes, CEOs, and political leaders. She’s a hypnotherapist and the creator of the technique called Rapid Transformational Therapy. She teaches her signature methodology to coaches around the world, and she has two programs on Mindvalley: Uncompromised Life and Rapid Transformational Hypnotherapy for Abundance.
Christine Hassler
Christine Hassler is a best-selling author, keynote speaker, master coach, podcast host, and TV host. She has appeared as an expert on the Today Show, CNN, ABC, CBS, and FOX. She’s a member of Northwestern University’s Council of 100 and the Young Entrepreneur Council. Her course Unleashed on Evercoach is one of the most searched-for programs for coaches online.
[ Read: Real Coach Reviews: Christine Hassler’s Unleashed by Evercoach]
Jason Goldberg
Jason Goldberg is an award-winning entrepreneur, TEDx Speaker, international bestselling author, former rapper, and transformational coach. He has coached hundreds of individuals, groups, and businesses in the areas of mindset, impact, and abundance. His popular course, Creating Transformations, teaches coaching professionals how they can launch their first online course.
Marie Forleo
Marie Forleo is a Business Coach, online entrepreneur, and motivational speaker. She’s the founder of B-School, a sought-after online business training program that has helped thousands of people launch and grow their businesses. She was featured in some of the top publications in the world including Oprah Magazine, Forbes, and Inc. Magazine. Besides her unique education program, she’s also known as the bestselling author of the book “Everything is Figureoutable.”
Dr. Shefali Tsabary
Dr. Shefali Tsabary is a renowned clinical psychologist, international speaker, and bestselling author. With her profound insights and compassionate approach, Dr. Shefali has touched the lives of many, inspiring personal transformation and healing. Her expertise in conscious parenting and mindfulness has earned her global recognition and a loyal following.
Dr. Shefali’s work has resonated with countless parents, empowering them to raise emotionally intelligent and authentic children. She was featured in Oprah’s SuperSoul Sessions and spoke on the stage of TEDx. Through her engaging talks and workshops, she continues to impact diverse audiences worldwide, guiding them on a journey of self-awareness and growth.
Gabrielle Bernstein
Gabrielle Bernstein is a renowned life coach, motivational speaker, and #1 New York Times bestselling author known for her empowering teachings on personal growth, spirituality, and self-awareness. As an educator, she goes beyond life coaching to provide valuable insights and practical tools for transformation through her books, online courses, workshops, and public speaking engagements.
Gabrielle’s educational approach blends spirituality with modern psychology, making her teachings accessible to a wide audience seeking inner healing and personal development. In her popular podcast “Dear Gabby” she shares wisdom and inspiration to uplift and empower listeners on their journey towards self-discovery and meaningful living.
The Best Life Coaches Who Are Also Influencers
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Influencers and life coaches often have something in common: they have a lifestyle and philosophy that they’re not just preaching, but living. This is how they inspire us. Here are some of the biggest influencers today who are also coaching professionals.
Nora Dekeyser (@noradekeyser)
Nora Dekeyser is a former matchmaker, turned relationships and dating coach, mentor, speaker, and author. She was rated as a top Female Life Coach in 2020 and was featured in Business Insider, Forbes, and ABS News. She promotes self-love to her 18,000 followers on Instagram and helps singles create healthy and fulfilling relationships.
Alyssa Nobriga (@alyssanobriga)
Alyssa is a licensed Clinical Somatic Psychotherapist, coach, speaker, entrepreneur, and an Instagram influencer with over 150,000 followers. She’s the Founder and CEO of The Institute of Coaching Mastery, a life coaching certification program that helps leaders become masterful facilitators and run successful businesses.
Alyse Parker (@alyse)
Alyse Parker is a Certified Health Coach and a YouTuber with over 600,000. She’s worked with hundreds of women through her retreats and coaching programs, to help them build confidence in themselves. Her vision is to help create a world where we all have the courage to pursue what elevates our souls.
Eva Redpath (@evaredpath)
Eva Redpath is a Co-Active® Life Coach, Award-Winning Wellness Leader, Host, and Keynote Speaker. She’s recognized as Canada’s first Nike Master Trainer and an Equinox Signature Program Presenter. She’s also an influencer with an almost 24,000-strong follower base on Instagram.
Rebecca Lynn Pope (@rebeccalynnpope)
Rebecca Lynn Pope is a serial entrepreneur and the CEO of multiple global six and seven-figure businesses and brands. She is also an author, motivational speaker, the Founder of the Abundant Life Path Coaching Certification, and an Instagram influencer with over 60,000 followers.
Brooke Castillo
Brooke Castillo transformed her Life Coach School into a coaching industry powerhouse, creating a multimillion-dollar business that’s caught attention far beyond coaching circles.
Her certification program, though coming with a $18,000+ investment, continues to attract both coaching newbies and veterans alike. Why? Because coaches aren’t just buying education; they’re investing in a proven model that’s helped countless practitioners build thriving businesses.
What sets Brooke apart isn’t just what she teaches, but how effectively she’s packaged her own methodology into something coaches can implement with their own unique spin.
Amanda Frances
Amanda Frances has transformed herself from coach to empire builder, creating an eight-figure brand that serves clients worldwide. Her specialty? Helping women break through money blocks and create genuine financial abundance.
With a powerful mix of mindset work, digital courses, and business coaching, Amanda has connected with hundreds of thousands of followers—over 536,000 on Instagram and 35,000 YouTube subscribers tune in regularly for her straight-talking money wisdom.
[ Read: How Much do Life Coaches Actually Make? (And Are You Undercharging?) ]
How To Choose The Best Life Coach For You
Although these coaches (and many more) have achieved extraordinary success in their careers, choosing a life coach is deeply personal and it’s not just dependent on publicity and fame. At the end of the day, you have to work with someone whose story you resonate with, someone who shares your values, and of course, someone you have the budget for. It’s not about finding the most well-known author or the coach with the most certifications (though these achievements are great proof of their expertise), it’s about opting for someone you feel is right for your needs.
There are coaching training centers like Evercoach or the ICF (International Coaching Federation) where you can find a database of coaches with their professional details in order to pick the one that suits you. We also recommend CoachCompare, a free coaching directory where you can find vetted coaching profiles in all specializations — or get listed yourself if you’re a coach.
You can also ask around among your friends, to see if they had any positive experiences with a coach and ask them to refer them to you. Think through your pros and cons, but don’t overthink it: if you have a hunch someone’s right for you, they probably are.
How To Become The Best Life Coach In Your Niche
One of the attributes of successful coaches, like the ones we listed above, is that they never stop learning. Throughout their career, they continue to seek out new educational programs, certifications, and mentors who are a few steps ahead of them. They do anything to create a massive impact in the lives of their clients, and they’re ready to become a student over and over again, in order to continue growing.
You don’t necessarily have to be a part of the best life coaching programs to be successful in this field but advancing your skills can never hurt. If you feel inspired to continue your education, here’s some further reading on…
The other thing that makes these coaches the best is that they don’t settle. They always work on growing their coaching business and challenging themselves with bigger clients in their niche. Some of the names we listed in this article have worked with athletes, celebrities, and even royalty. In other words, with people who probably carry the biggest aspirations and struggles in the world on their shoulders. It’s being ready to challenge themselves and having the humility to work with such powerhouses that made them the brilliant coaches that they are.
If you’re a coach yourself, apply your own methodology and set bold goals for yourself in your field. Instead of chasing publicity, be determined to solve bigger challenges with every client you meet, and commit to always learning. If you do that, success is guaranteed to follow in your pursuit of being the best life coach you can ever be.
Best Life Coaches FAQ
Who is the most successful life coach?
Tony Robbins stands out with 30+ years of coaching, 40+ million books sold, and an estimated net worth of over $600 million. However, “success” can be measured differently—some coaches have a profound impact with smaller audiences.
How do I choose the right life coach for me?
Look for coaches who specialize in your specific challenge, offer a connection call, show clear evidence of results, and whose communication style resonates with you. The right coach should make you feel both supported and challenged.
What qualifications should I look for in a life coach?
While certification isn’t mandatory, look for coaches with ICF credentials, relevant experience, testimonials from real clients, and ongoing education. Most importantly, they should practice what they preach in their own lives.
How can I grow my coaching business like these top coaches?
Start by developing a signature methodology, create content that showcases your unique perspective, invest in your own visibility, and focus on generating remarkable results for clients who will become your best marketing asset.
What marketing strategies do successful coaches use?
Top coaches typically use a mix of content marketing (podcasts, blogs, social media), public speaking, strategic partnerships, and leveraging client success stories. Most importantly, they’re consistent with their chosen channels.
How can I differentiate myself in a crowded coaching market?
Focus on solving a specific problem for a specific audience, develop your unique coaching methodology, share your personal journey authentically, and create a client experience beyond just your coaching sessions.
Your Path to Coaching Excellence
The world’s best coaches didn’t build their empires overnight. Each started with a passion, developed a unique approach, and consistently showed up for their clients while growing their visibility one step at a time. What’s most inspiring about these coaching powerhouses isn’t just their impressive follower counts or income—it’s how they’ve created transformational methodologies that genuinely change lives.
If you’re building your own coaching practice, remember that every coach on this list started somewhere. Focus first on delivering exceptional client results, refining your unique approach, and making your business processes as smooth as possible. With the right systems in place to handle the admin side, you’ll have more energy and time to focus on what you do best: creating transformations that make clients eager to share their success stories with others.
Ready to streamline your coaching business like the pros? Try Paperbell free with your first client and experience how the right tools can help you build a coaching business you love.
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in August 2021 and has since been updated with new information in March 2025.
