Mad Men

Don Draper was the Creative Director at the Sterling Cooper advertising agency, where his ad campaigns and client relations earned him partnership. He's now a Founding Partner at Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce.

Don now lives in New York City after separately from his wife Betty. They have three children: Sally, Bobby and Gene. Over the years, he's had a number of extramarital affairs, most notably with Midge Daniels, a freelance illustrator; Rachel Menken, a Sterling Cooper client; and Bobbie Barrett, the wife and manager of a comedian who starred in a Sterling Cooper campaign; and Suzanne Farrell, Sally's former teacher.

Don is also harboring a secret: Namely, that he was born Dick Whitman, the son of a prostitute who died during childbirth. Don is now assuming the identity of Donald Draper, an officer he served under during the Korean War. One day Pete Campbell, a subordinate co-worker at Sterling Cooper, discovers this information and tries to blackmail Don, but the revelation makes little impression on Bertram Cooper. The company founder later uses the knowledge, however, to compel Don to sign an employment contract with Sterling Cooper.

Shortly after baby Gene's birth, Betty comes across evidence of her husband's identity switch and confronts him. He explains that he divorced the real Donald Draper's wife, Anna, shortly before Don and Betty's own marriage (though he continues to provide Anna financial assistance). Don sobs when he reveals his half-brother Adam’s suicide. "I turned him away," he says. "He just wanted to be part of my life and I couldn't risk all of this."

"What would you do if you were me? Would you love you?" Betty asks after Don’s disclosure. He was surprised that she ever loved him, Don replies. Soon thereafter, Betty demands a divorce.

Read the Ad Age interview with Don Draper »
View Don Draper's three-year contract for Sterling Cooper from Season 3 »