The 15 Richest Authors in the World 2023 are listed below
1. J.K. Rowling – $1 Billion
J.K. Rowling is a British novelist and film producer who has an estimated net worth of over $1 billion. She is best known for writing the Harry Potter fantasy series, which has become the best-selling book series in history and has been adapted into a popular film series.
She also wrote the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and The Casual Vacancy series. Rowling has also written several non-fiction books and is the founder of the charitable organization Lumos.
2. James Patterson – $850 Million
James Patterson is an American author and philanthropist. He is one of the most successful authors in the world, having sold over 350 million books worldwide. His net worth is estimated to be around $850 million.
Patterson has written books in a variety of genres, including romance, mystery, thriller, science fiction, and non-fiction. He is best known for his Alex Cross, Women’s Murder Club, and Michael Bennett series.
He has also written children’s and young adult books, including the Maximum Ride and Witch & Wizard series. In addition to his writing, Patterson is also a philanthropist and has donated millions of dollars to various organizations and causes.
3. Stephen King – $434 Million
Stephen King is one of the most successful authors of all time, having sold more than 350 million copies of his books worldwide. In total, his estimated net worth is $434 million dollars. He has written over 60 novels, as well as numerous short stories, screenplays, and non-fiction works.
He has won numerous awards, including the Bram Stoker Award, the World Fantasy Award, and the British Fantasy Award. He is considered to be one of the greatest horror authors of all time.
4. Jeff Kinney – $218 Million
Jeff Kinney is an American author, cartoonist, and game designer. He is best known for creating the comic strip “Diary of a Wimpy Kid.” He has written and illustrated twelve Wimpy Kid books, all of which have been bestsellers, and has achieved worldwide fame and recognition.
In 2016, Forbes estimated Kinney’s wealth at $218 million, making him one of the world’s highest-paid authors.
5. Danielle Steel – $396 Million
Danielle Steel is one of the world’s most successful and prolific authors, with over 800 million books sold worldwide. She has written over 180 books, many of which have become bestsellers. In 2020, she was estimated to have a net worth of $396 million.
Her most popular books include the “Dangerous” series, the “Vanity Fair” series, and the “Crossings” series. Steel has also written a number of children’s books, including “Max and Martha’s Secret” and “The Ghost Ship”.
6. Nora Roberts – $165 Million
Nora Roberts is an American author of romance novels and one of the most successful authors of all time. She has sold more than 500 million copies of her books worldwide and has been published in 35 languages.
She has written more than 200 novels, including over 150 bestsellers. Her books have won numerous awards, including the RITA Award, Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award, and Goodreads Choice Award. She is estimated to have a net worth of $165 million.
7. John Grisham – $128 Million
John Grisham is an American author, lawyer, and politician best known for his legal thrillers. He has sold over 300 million copies of his books and has an estimated net worth of $128 million.
His works have been adapted into popular films such as The Firm, The Pelican Brief, and A Time to Kill. Grisham is also the author of the children’s book series Theodore Boone. He has also written several non-fiction books, including The Innocent Man and The Last Juror.
8. Ken Follett – $97 Million
Ken Follett is a multi-millionaire and one of the world’s best-selling authors. He has sold more than 160 million books worldwide and has earned a net worth of an estimated $97 million.
He is best known for his historical thriller novels, such as The Pillars of the Earth and World Without End. He has also written several best-selling non-fiction books, such as The Century Trilogy and Fall of Giants.
9. E.L. James – $84 Million
E.L. James is an English author and screenwriter best known for her best-selling erotic romance novel series, Fifty Shades of Grey. She has earned a net worth of $84 million through her novels and several film adaptations of her books.
She has also written another series called The Mister, which is a modern romance novel set in Europe. She has also written several short stories and is currently working on a new book.
10. George R.R. Martin – $80 Million
George R.R. Martin is an American novelist, screenwriter, and television producer who has an estimated net worth of $80 million. He is best known for his series of fantasy novels, A Song of Ice and Fire, which has been adapted into the hugely successful HBO series Game of Thrones.
He has also written several other popular fantasy series, including the series Wild Cards, and has written scripts for the HBO series The Twilight Zone. Martin has also written several science fictions and horror novels, as well as numerous short stories. In addition to his writing, Martin is also a producer for the HBO series Westworld.
11. Dan Brown – $68 Million
Dan Brown has an estimated net worth of $68 million. He has earned his wealth through the sales of his books, which have been adapted into several films, video games, and other media.
His most successful novel, The Da Vinci Code, has sold more than 80 million copies worldwide and was the basis of the 2006 film starring Tom Hanks. Brown is also the author of other best-selling books such as Angels & Demons, The Lost Symbol, Inferno, and Origin.
He has also written several non-fiction works, including the Digital Fortress, Deception Point, and The Bald Book. In addition to his writing, Brown has also earned income from book signings and public speaking engagements.
12. Dean Koontz – $60 Million
Dean Koontz is an American author best known for his horror, suspense, and science fiction novels. He is estimated to have a net worth of approximately $60 million. His books have sold over 400 million copies worldwide and have been translated into 38 languages.
He has written over 100 novels and numerous novellas and short stories, many of which have been adapted into films, television series, and comic books. He has also written non-fiction books about the craft of writing and his own life experience.
13. Stephenie Meyer – $54 Million
Stephanie Meyer is an American author best known for her Twilight series of books, which have sold over 155 million copies and were adapted into five major motion pictures. She also wrote several other books, including The Host, The Chemist, and The Seeker.
Meyer has an estimated net worth of $54 million. She made most of her money from the Twilight franchise, including the film adaptations and related merchandise. She also earned income from her other books, as well as public speaking engagements.
14. J.R.R. Tolkien – $48 Million
J.R.R. Tolkien earned an estimated $48 million in the years after his death in 1973. This is largely due to the success of the movie adaptations of his books, The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.
The films, which were released in 2001, 2003, and 2012, earned over $6 billion at the box office. Other sources of income for Tolkien include the sale of books, merchandise, and royalties from the films. His estate is managed by his son, Christopher Tolkien.
15. Michael Connelly – $37 Million
Michael Connelly is an American author with an estimated net worth of around $37 million. He is best known for writing crime fiction and detective novels, with over 50 books published to date. His writing style has often been praised for its accuracy and attention to detail.
Connelly has won numerous awards for his work, including the Edgar, Shamus, and Anthony Awards. He is also the creator of the popular character Harry Bosch.
