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George Samuel Clason (November 7, 1874 – April 5, 1957) was an American author best known for his book The Richest Man in Babylon, published in 1926. Born in Louisiana, Missouri, Clason attended the University of Nebraska and served in the United States Army during the Spanish-American War.

Clason began his career as a businessman, founding the Clason Map Company in Denver, Colorado, which was notable for publishing the first road atlas of the United States and Canada. However, the company did not survive the Great Depression. In 1926, he started writing a series of financial pamphlets that used parables set in ancient Babylon to convey lessons on thrift and financial success. These pamphlets were widely distributed by banks and insurance companies, leading to the compilation of his most famous work, The Richest Man in Babylon.

Clason is credited with coining the phrase “Pay yourself first,” emphasizing the importance of saving and financial discipline. He moved to Napa, California, in 1949 and passed away there on April 5, 1957. His writings have had a lasting impact on personal finance literature, making him a significant figure in financial education.