Harold Camping: Who is This Guy and Who Listened to His Doomsday Prediction?

In some parts of the world, where May 22, 2011 is already over, it turned out to be a normal Sunday, as well.

Indeed, discussions about May 21, 2011 being the end of the world were met with worldwide fodder -- a bonanza for American late-night television comedians.

While few people expected the world to end, many went along for the laughable ride, oblivious to the doomsday prognosticator.

The rapture prediction was made by Harold Camping, who once predicted the event would happen in September 1994.

Camping is 89 years old, and currently resides in Oakland, and rarely leaves his home, unless to go to his media station.

A Christian-radio broadcaster, Camping was born in Colorado, but has lived in Northern California for most of his life. He graduated from the University of California at Berkeley in civil engineering in 1942, and has a strong fondness for numbers.

Helping found Family Radio in 1959, a 24-hour listener-supported radio network, Camping hosts Open Forum a TV and radio show, preaching to 150 station. He recently announced he would no longer being doing the show, as the end of the world was near. He sold his TV and radio stations and used the money to put out a $100-million worldwide advertising campaign.

Now, nobody knows where Camping is, and he has yet to make a formal statement.

Camping's followers are left with dejection and puzzlement.

I was hoping for it because I think heaven would be a lot better than this earth, said Keith Bauer, a tractor-trailer driver and Camping follower.

Bauer had some skepticism but I put it aside because he believed in God.

Robert Fitzpatrick of Staten Island, New York, famously spent his life-savings to finance a massive ad campaign for the 'Doomsday 'message.

As the clock ticked towards 6 p.m. local time on May 21st 2011 - which Camping predicted to be the beginning of 'Doomsday' - Fitzpatrick waited expectantly at Time Square, New York City.  While he waited, he was surrounded by revelers and mockers.

When 'Doomsday' failed to materialize, Fitzpatrick was stunned.

I don't understand why nothing is happening.  It's not a mistake. I did what I had to do. I did what the Bible said, he said, reported New York Post.

I didn't water my plants, I didn't do my dishes before I left. I didn't expect to go back home, said Fitzpatrick, before he headed back to his Staten Island home from Time Square.

IBTimes reporters in California caught up with two unnamed Harold Camping followers at a parking lot near Family Radio's headquarters.

They looked dejected and emotionally stunned.  When approached, they refused to comment and requested to be left alone.

There will likely be no more such predictions from Camping in the future. With limited assets after this expensive campaign, and at his elderly age, the world will not have Camping's prophecies to mock anymore.

However, he still might be banking on this one: Thus, we must realize that October 21, 2011 will be the final day of this earth's existence, Camping said.