Portrait of J.K. Rowling

Rank #3038

J.K. Rowling

Net worth $1.2B

Books · United Kingdom

Born
Jul 31, 1965
Age
60
Source
Books
Residence
Edinburgh
Citizenship
United Kingdom
Marital status
Married
Children
3
Education
Bachelor of Arts/Science, Exeter University

Net worth over time

Biography

  • Author J.K. Rowling was a single mother living on welfare when the first Harry Potter novel debuted in 1997.
  • The series has sold more than 600 million copies worldwide to-date, the primary source of Rowling's billion-dollar fortune.
  • The eight Harry Potter film adaptations grossed almost $7.7 billion at the global box office, at the time the highest-grossing franchise in movie history.
  • She previously dropped off the billionaires list in 2012 due to her substantial philanthropy. She has donated more than $200 million to charity over the past 20 years.
  • In the years since, the Harry Potter brand has only expanded, into theme parks, video games, art exhibitions and a stage play, all of which have set sales records.
  • When the first Wizarding World attraction opened in 2010, Universal's Orlando theme park saw a 36% jump in attendance. Universal has since added it to five other parks around the world.