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J.K. Rowling is the world’s richest author of 2017

It must be magic!

04.08.2017

By Gwen Ong

J.K. Rowling is the world’s richest author of 2017

After topping Forbes’ list of the world’s highest paid authors almost a decade ago, J.K. Rowling is once again back on top. Thanks in part to her play script, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and the cinematic release of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. This year also marks the 20th anniversary of the first publication of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Bloomsbury celebrated the occasion with new illustrated releases of the novel, thus setting off a renewed interest in the boy who lived.


Forbes estimates that J.K. Rowling earned $95 million in the year to 31 May. In second place is thriller writer James Patterson—who led the list for the last three years, and third is Jeff Kinney of the Wimpy Kid series. Dan Brown came in fourth with an earning estimated to have doubled in the last year thanks to an eight-figure advance for his upcoming Robert Langdon book.

 

The Forbes list is compiled based on a mix of print, e-book and audio sales data, television and film earnings as well as expert industry opinion.

 

Here are Forbes’ top 10 highest paid authors of 2017:

 

  1. 1. J.K. Rowling ($95 million)
  2. 2. James Patterson ($87 million)
  3. 3. Jeff Kinney ($21 million)
  4. 4. Dan Brown ($20 million)
  5. 5. Stephen King ($15 million)
  6. 6. John Grisham ($14 million)
  7. 7. Nora Roberts ($14 million)
  8. 8. Paula Hawkins ($13 million)
  9. 9. E.L. James ($11.5 million)
  10. 10. Danielle Steel ($11 million); Rick Riordan ($11 million)

 

 

 

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