Robert LeRoy Ripley (February 22, 1890 – May 27, 1949) was an American cartoonist, entrepreneur, and amateur anthropologist, best known for creating the "Ripley's Believe It or Not!" newspaper panel series, which featured bizarre facts, oddities, and human achievements.
Born in Santa Rosa, California, he started as a sports illustrator and became a global sensation, spawning books, radio shows, and museums. His work emphasized the extraordinary in everyday life, though he often exaggerated his own backstory.