They’re the authors whose work millions of us consume before going to sleep, on vacation, or during the daily commute.
Across genres, these authors have consistently topped bestseller lists for decades, including romance and horror.
Adding profitable television and film adaptations can make authors extremely wealthy.
We took a look at who has made the most money in the publishing industry.
For the purposes of this list, we’ve chosen people who are best known for being authors, rather than those who write books in addition to other successful careers – so Amazon co-founder MacKenzie Scott ($36 billion) and entrepreneur Grant Cardone ($600 million) are not included.
Here are the top 10 richest authors in the world in 2024, as per CelebrityNetWorth.
1. J.K. Rowling
Edinburgh novelist J.K. Rowling is thought to be the world’s wealthiest author, with a fortune of over $1 billion. It’s a far cry from the struggling and impoverished single mother who began her world-changing Harry Potter series of novels in a cafe in Scotland’s capital. Her Cormoran Strike crime fiction novels have increased her wealth.
2. James Patterson
James Patterson is one of the world’s most prolific and wealthy writers, having written over 200 novels in thriller, romance, crime, and nonfiction genres. With over 425 million books sold, he’s made almost $800 million.
3. Danielle Steel
Danielle Steel, an American romance author, is the world’s best-selling writer, with over 800 million copies sold of her 190 books. She is famous for her ability to write up to five novels at once, a capacity that has earned her around $600 million.
4. Paulo Coelho
The Alchemist, the best-known work by Brazilian author Paulo Coelho, has sold over 65 million copies, and he is the living author with the most languages translated. It has helped him build a fortune of approximately $500 million.
5. Stephen King
Being the maestro of horror pays a frightening sum of money. Stephen King has made approximately $500 million from his library of horrific stories, many of which have been adapted into Hollywood films.
6. John Grisham
John Grisham, a legal thriller specialist, is reported to be worth $400 million after writing 37 straight number-one bestsellers, including The Firm, The Client, and The Pelican Brief.
7. Nora Roberts
Nora Roberts, an American romantic fiction writer, has written more than 200 novels under the pen names J.D. Robb, Jill March, and Sarah Hardesty. They have earned her around $400 million.
8. Barbara Taylor Bradford
Barbara Taylor Bradford’s debut novel, A Woman of Substance, sold more than 30 million copies, and she went on to create 38 other bestsellers that topped the book charts on both sides of the Atlantic. Her achievement has boosted her net worth to almost $300 million.
9. Dean Koontz
American novelist Dean Koontz has published over 105 novels in the genres of horror, fantasy, science fiction, and mystery, selling over 450 million copies and earning around $200 million.
10. Jeffrey Archer
Former Conservative MP Jeffrey Archer may have gone close to bankruptcy after a financial scandal, and he served time in prison for perjury and perverting the course of law, but his streak of successful books has been extremely profitable. Kane and Abel alone have sold more than 34 million copies. He is reported to be worth approximately $200 million.