Rhonda Byrne, born in Melbourne, Australia in 1951, is an Australian television writer and producer. Before her significant success, she worked in television production, with credits on shows like 'Oz Encounters: UFO's in Australia' and 'The World's Greatest Commercials'. A period of deep depression followed the death of her father in 2004. Inspired by her daughter, she read Wallace D. Wattles' 'The Science of Getting Rich' and began developing 'The Secret'.

Byrne's book, 'The Secret', published in 2006, popularizes the concept of the law of attraction, a belief that positive thoughts can directly alter one's life. She claimed historical figures and contemporary personalities understood this principle. The book and its accompanying DVD achieved massive commercial success, selling millions of copies and DVDs worldwide and generating substantial revenue. This success led to Byrne being recognized by TIME magazine as one of the most influential people and brought her significant mainstream attention, partly due to an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show. She has since written several sequels and related works, including 'The Power' and 'The Magic'.

Rhonda Byrne is primarily recognized for her work promoting the law of attraction, a concept she bases on the pseudoscientific belief that an individual's thoughts possess the power to directly influence and change their life circumstances. Byrne asserts that this principle has been understood by many influential figures throughout history, including historical leaders and artists, as well as contemporary proponents in the self-help and spiritual fields. Her seminal work, 'The Secret', delves into this philosophy, presenting it as a universal law that can be harnessed for personal transformation. The book's immense popularity brought this concept to a wide audience, sparking considerable discussion and debate about its validity and practical application.

Prior to her global success, Byrne had a career in Australian television, working as an executive producer on various programs. The death of her father in 2004 marked a turning point, leading her into a period of depression. During this time, she encountered the concept of the law of attraction through Wallace D. Wattles' book, 'The Science of Getting Rich,' a discovery that profoundly impacted her. This inspiration led to the creation of 'The Secret,' which began as a film and then a book. The publication of 'The Secret' in 2006 propelled Byrne to international fame, with the book and its related media achieving widespread sales and critical attention, including recognition from TIME magazine.