On March 23, 2006, Jordan disclosed in a statement that he had been diagnosed with cardiac amyloidosis, and that with treatment, his median life expectancy was four years, though he said he intended to beat the statistics. In his own words, 'no man in this country should feel in danger because of his beliefs.'

However, 'like his father and grandfather,' he preferred not to advertise, possibly because of the negative propaganda against Freemasonry. Responding to queries on the similarity of some of the concepts in his Wheel of Time books with Freemasonry concepts, Jordan admitted that he was a Freemason. He lived with his wife Harriet McDougal, who works as a book editor (currently with Tor Books she was also Jordan's editor) in a house built in 1797. He described himself as a 'High Church' Episcopalian and received communion more than once a week.

He was a history buff and enjoyed hunting, fishing, sailing, poker, chess, pool, and pipe collecting. After graduating he was employed by the United States Navy as a nuclear engineer. After returning from Vietnam he attended The Citadel where he received an undergraduate degree in physics. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with bronze oak leaf cluster, the Bronze Star with 'V' and bronze oak leaf cluster, and two Vietnamese Gallantry Crosses with palm. He served two tours in Vietnam (from 1968 to 1970) with the United States Army as a helicopter gunner. Jordan was born in Charleston, South Carolina. He also wrote under the names Reagan O'Neal and Jackson O'Reilly. Robert Jordan was the pen name of James Oliver Rigney, Jr., under which he was best known as the author of the bestselling The Wheel of Time fantasy series. Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

The great hunt by robert jordan