Joanne Kathleen Rowling is a British author with a $1 billion fortune. Rowling is the richest novelist in the world and is best known for creating the hugely popular Harry Potter series. When Rowling was a single mother receiving welfare, she penned the first Harry Potter books. The first Harry Potter book’s manuscript, which was typed on a manual typewriter, was turned down by 12 publishers before being finally accepted, earning the author just £1,500 as an advance. With $7.7 billion in worldwide box office receipts and eight series, it is the highest-grossing film series of all time in inflation-unadjusted dollars. In addition to the theme park, merchandising, and movies at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida.
She will be able to collect Harry Potter money for the rest of her life if she never has another brilliant idea. According to estimates, the Harry Potter name is worth up to $15 billion. She has a contract to write The Casual Vacancy, her debut book for adults, which will be released in September 2012. She allegedly received a £3 million advance.
STATISTICS
Source of Wealth:
Film, Novel (Harry Potter)
Age:
55
Birth Place:
Yate, Gloucestershire, England
Height:
5′ 5″ (1.65 m)
Weight:
119 lbs (54 kg)
Marital Status:
Married (Neil Murray)
Full Name:
Joanne Rowling
Nationality:
British
Date of Birth:
July 31, 1965
Ethnicity:
English, some Scottish, 1/16th Alsatian German, possibly 1/16th French
Occupation:
Novelist (Harry Potter)
Education:
University of Exeter
Children:
3 (Jessica Isabel, David Gordon, Mackenzie Jean)
EARNINGS & FINANCIAL DATA
Earnings 2016$95 Million
Royalties 2016Estimated earnings from Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (2 million copies in 2 days after the book released)$200,000Earnings 2015$19 Million
Asset 2015Purchase value of the historic house located in Tasmania, Australia (£6.5m)$8,400,000Earnings 2014$14 Million
Earnings 2013$13 Million
Asset 2013Rowling owns a $7 million Georgian house in West London$7,000,000Earnings 2012
Sale of Asset 2012Estimated value of Rowling’s Edinburgh house upon sale$2,900,000Earnings 2011
Royalties 20112011 earnings from Harry Potter$17,500,000Earnings 2007$300 Million
Earnings 2006$32 Million
Earnings 2005$59.1 Million
Earnings 1998
Performance Fee 1998Amount she received after Scholastic Inc. bought the rights to publish her novel under the title of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone$105,000Earnings 1993
Royalties 1993The sale of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone book$4,000
