Jorge Cruise: 13X New York Times best-selling wellness author
Jorge Cruise, 54, father of two sons, is a 13-time New York Times bestselling wellness author, renowned fitness trainer, television personality, and podcast host known for his revolutionary approaches to wellness. His journey took a global turn in 1998 when Oprah Winfrey invited him onto her show, establishing him as a worldwide wellness authority. Over three decades into his groundbreaking career, the pinnacle has already arrived: the realization that minerals are the key to regulating hunger and doubling energy and lifespan.
You wouldn’t know it now from his shirtless selfies, but Jorge Cruise’s journey to fitness fame didn’t start with fitness. In fact, he’ll be the first to tell you he was a self-proclaimed “fat Colombian kid,” more interested in fried plantains than push-ups while growing up in San Diego. “For me, food was love,” he recalls, explaining how a childhood clouded by confusion about his identity turned him into an emotional eater hooked on sugar and carbs.
A fateful encounter in his early twenties set Jorge on a new path. About to graduate college as a political science major, he met self-help guru Tony Robbins at a seminar—a meeting that ignited his passion for wellness. Inspired by Robbins’ mantra of “make your vocation your vacation,” Jorge pivoted to study exercise science and nutrition. He began working as a trainer at an elite health club in La Jolla, honing his craft and even coaching members of Robbins’ family. But just as his new career was taking off, tragedy struck at home. In 1998, Jorge’s beloved mother Gloria fell ill. On her deathbed, she challenged him to write a book and share his fitness message with the world—and made him promise he’d one day meet Oprah Winfrey, the icon they’d long admired.
A Journey of Transformation
Determined to honor her wish, Jorge poured his heart into his mission. Only months later, Oprah herself invited him onto The Oprah Winfrey Show, giving him the national spotlight he needed. By 2001, he had fulfilled his mother’s dream by publishing his first book, 8 Minutes in the Morning, complete with a foreword by Tony Robbins. The book became an instant New York Times bestseller, the first of an astonishing 39 books Jorge would author over the next two decades, with 13 landing on the Times bestseller list. Today, with over 8 million copies of his books in print worldwide, Jorge Cruise is a household name in health and fitness.
Yet, Jorge’s most profound transformation came internally. For much of his life, he grappled privately with his identity, feeling constrained by cultural expectations. The turning point arrived when Jorge read two pivotal books: Me by Ricky Martin and Gay, Straight, and the Reason Why by neuroscientist Simon LeVay. His first spouse, a devoted Ricky Martin fan, had ask Jorge to arrange a personal meeting with the Latin pop icon years earlier, making Ricky’s brave and candid coming-out story deeply personal for Jorge. Simon LeVay’s scientific insights complemented Ricky’s emotional narrative, empowering Jorge at age 39 to courageously embrace his truth and come out to his family, marking a liberating new chapter and deepening his commitment to authenticity in all aspects of life.
Celebrity supporters continued to endorse Jorge’s work, including Oprah Winfrey, who remained a cherished mentor, and Steve Harvey, with whom Jorge spent five years collaborating on Emmy-winning national weight-loss specials, forging a lasting friendship. Khloé Kardashian tapped Jorge as a featured trainer on her series Revenge Body, and rapper-entrepreneur Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson became an unlikely source of inspiration after the two met backstage on The View. 50 Cent urged Jorge to think bigger and scale his impact—a pep talk that spurred Jorge to expand his publishing output and wellness empire.
Yet at the height of outward success, Jorge confronted personal struggles no bestseller could solve: the death of his father, the collapse of his second marriage and a struggle with alcohol. Seeking healing, he turned to a 12-step recovery program and rediscovered his faith, reciting the Serenity Prayer daily—“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change…”—finding solace in surrender. This spiritual awakening became the cornerstone of his resurgence.
Let Go and Let God
One evening, he watched Oprah share her favorite Bible verse, Psalm 37:4, on television. Its promise—that if he delighted in the Lord, he would receive the desires of his heart—gave Jorge permission to dream anew with a purpose greater than fame. Invigorated by renewed faith, Jorge founded Zero Hunger Water, launching in 2025 as the culmination of his life’s learnings. Part cutting-edge nutrition, part spiritual mission, Zero Hunger Water is proprietary mineral blend that naturally suppresses hunger, helping users eat less without feeling deprived. Each can and packet bears the words of Psalm 37:4—a reminder of the promise that reshaped Jorge’s outlook.
Now 54 and driven by renewed purpose, Jorge Cruise has come full circle. Three decades ago, he was a young man seeking fulfillment. Today, he remains globally recognized, yet sincerely open about the battles he’s faced and the faith that sustains him. Radiating enthusiasm, he quotes Psalm 37:4: “Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires.” For millions touched by his books, appearances, podcast and soon Zero Hunger Water, Jorge Cruise’s remarkable journey proves it’s never too late to transform your life—if you follow your passion, help others, and keep the faith.
