Writing is not one of the most lucrative careers in the world. However, some persons have made a fortune off their literary skills. The efforts that go into writing a book cannot be quantified as it requires both physical and mental energy. There are millions of writers in the world, however, only a few can be said to be rich.
Some of the most popular authors have had their books adapted into films, TV series, miniseries, and comic books. Most of them continue to receive royalties off their book until their death. Having said that, let’s take a look at the top 20 richest authors in the world.
Top 20 Richest Authors in The World 2024 Ranked by Their Net Worth
Below is the list of the 20 richest authors in the world ranked according to their net worths. It is also worthy of note that some of these authors in addition to their books are also earning from other business ventures.
20. Jeffrey Archer
- Net Worth: $200 Million
- Date of Birth: April 15, 1940
- Age: 84
- Nationality: British
Jeffrey Arche is an English novelist, life peer and former politician with a net worth of $200 million. Arche has authored several books. His books have sold over 320 million copies worldwide.
19. Dean Ray Koontz
- Net Worth: $200 Million
- Date of Birth: July 9, 1945
- Age: 79
- Nationality: American
Dean Koontz is an American author. Koontz is one of the best-selling fiction authors in the world. His novels are filled with suspense with elements of horror, fantasy, science fiction, mystery, and satire. Koontz has several books on The New York Times Best Seller list. He has over 105 novels and has sold over 450 million copies of his works.
18. Dave Ramsey
- Net Worth: $200 Million
- Date of Birth: September 3, 1960
- Age: 64
- Nationality: American
Dave Ramsey is an American personal finance personality, author, and businessman. Ramsey has written several books including The New York Times bestseller The Total Money. So far, he has written five books for adults, and six children’s books.
17. Eiichiro Oda
- Net Worth: $230 Million
- Date of Birth: January 1, 1975
- Age: 49
- Nationality: Japanese
Eiichiro Oda is a Japanese manga artist and the creator of the series One Piece. The series has over 490 million copies in circulation and is both the best-selling manga in history and the best-selling comic series printed in volume which makes Oda one of the best-selling fiction authors in the world.
16. Olivia Harrison
- Net Worth: $300 Million
- Date of Birth: May 18, 1948
- Age: 76
- Nationality: American
Olivia Harrison is an American author and film producer. Her works include Concert for George, and George Harrison: Living in the Material World. Harrison is also the author of the revised edition of George’s 1980 autobiography, I, Me, Mine.
15. Barbara Taylor Bradford
- Net Worth: $300 Million
- Date of Birth: May 10, 1933
- Age: 91
- Nationality: British
Barbara Taylor Bradford is a British-American novelist. She debuted her first novel A Woman of Substance in 1979 and has since sold over 30 million copies worldwide. Bradford has written over 39 novels.
14. Nora Roberts
- Net Worth: $390 Million
- Date of Birth: October 10, 1950
- Age: 73
- Nationality: American
Nora Roberts is an American author with an estimated net worth of $390 million. Roberts has over 225 romance novels to her name. She is the first author to be inducted into the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame. Some of her works include Vision in White, The Next Always, Year One, Born in Fire, Sea Swept, The Obsession, and Born in Fire among others.
13. John Grisham
- Net Worth: $400 Million
- Date of Birth: February 8, 1955
- Age: 69
- Nationality: American
John Grisham is an American novelist and lawyer with an estimated net worth of $400 million. Grisham is also one of the highest-paid authors in the world, earning between $50 – $80 million per year in book royalties and advances alone.
He has written 28 consecutive number one fiction bestsellers and his books have sold 300 million copies worldwide. Several of his novels have been adapted into films including The Chamber, The Client, A Painted House, The Pelican Brief, The Rainmaker, The Runaway Jury, and Skipping Christmas.
12. Paolo Coelho
- Net Worth: $500 Million
- Date of Birth: August 24, 1947
- Age: 77
- Nationality: Brazilian
Paolo Coelho is a Brazilian lyricist and novelist with an estimated net worth of $500 million. Coelho is one of the richest authors in the world. He is famous for his novel The Alchemist which became an international best-seller. He has also published over 28 books.
11. Stephen King
- Net Worth: $500 Million
- Date of Birth: September 21, 1947
- Age: 76
- Nationality: American
Stephen King is an American author of different genres of novels. King is one of the richest authors alive. he is regarded as the “King of Horror”. King has sold over 350 million copies of his books and many have been adapted into films, TV series, miniseries, and comic books.
10. Grant Cardone
- Net Worth: $600 Million
- Date of Birth: March 21, 1958
- Age: 66
- Nationality: American
Grant Cordon is an American author, motivational speaker, and automobile salesperson. Cordon is one of the richest authors alive. Cordon has authored five books including If You’re Not First, You’re Last which made numerous bestsellers lists.
9. Danielle Steel
- Net Worth: $600 Million
- Date of Birth: August 14, 1947
- Age: 77
- Nationality: American
Danielle Steel is an American writer and one of the richest authors in the world. She is best known for her romance novels. Steel is the bestselling author alive and the fourth-bestselling fiction author of all time with over 800 million copies sold.
Steel has written over 190 books. Her books have been translated into 43 languages with 22 adapted for television.
8. Matt Groening
- Net Worth: $600 Million
- Date of Birth: February 15, 1954
- Age: 70
- Nationality: American
Ranking number seven on our list of richest authors in the world is Matt Groening with an estimated net worth of $600 million. Groening is best known as the creator of the comic strip Life in Hell and the television series The Simpsons, (the longest-running U.S. primetime-television series in history) Futurama, and Disenchantment.
Groening has won several accolades and most of his books have been adapted into films, series, cartoons, and comic books.
7. Candy Spelling
- Net Worth: $600 Million
- Date of Birth: September 20, 1945
- Age: 78
- Nationality: American
Candy Spelling is an American author, theatre producer, and philanthropist with an estimated net worth of $600 million. Spelling is one of the richest authors in the world. Her autobiography, Stories from Candyland made it to The New York Times bestseller list two weeks after publication. She has also written for several magazines including TMZ and Huffington Post.
6. Kenneth Copeland
- Net Worth: $760 Million
- Date of Birth: December 6, 1936
- Age: 87
- Nationality: American
Kenneth Copeland is an American televangelist and author. Copeland is one of the richest pastors and authors in the world. His sermons are broadcast across the US and worldwide on the Victory Channel. Copeland has authored several books.
5. Jim Davis
- Net Worth: $800 Million
- Date of Birth: July 28, 1945
- Age: 79
- Nationality: American
James Davis is an American cartoonist and television writer with an estimated net worth of $800 million. Davis is the world’s richest cartoonist and one of the richest authors in the world. He is famous as the creator of the comic strips Garfield and U.S. Acres.
His works include Tumbleweeds, Gnorm Gnat, and Mr Potato Head among others.
4. James Patterson
- Net Worth: $800 Million
- Date of Birth: March 22, 1947
- Age: 77
- Nationality: American
Ranking at No. 4 on our list of richest authors is James Patterson with an estimated net worth of $800 million. The American author has written several books including Alex Cross, Michael Bennett, Maximum Ride, NYPD Red, Women’s Murder Club, Daniel X, Witch and Wizard, and Private.
Patterson has sold over 400 million copies of his books and he was the first person to sell 1 million e-books in the world. Patterson has topped the list of highest-paid authors for three consecutive years with an annual income of $95 million.
3. JK Rowling
- Net Worth: $1 Billion
- Date of Birth: July 31, 1965
- Age: 59
- Nationality: British
J. K, Rowling is a British author and philanthropist with an estimated net worth of $1 billion. Rowling is famous for writing the children’s fantasy series, Harry Potter. She is also the author of the novel The Casual Vacancy as well as Cormoran Strike.
Rowling has won several accolades for her writing prowess. She has also been named the highest-paid author on several occasions by Forbes. Rowling is also regarded as the best-selling living author in Britain.
2. Elisabeth Badinter
- Net Worth: $1.7 Billion
- Date of Birth: March 5, 1944
- Age: 80
- Nationality: French
Elisabeth Badinter is the second richest author in the world. The French author has an estimated net worth of $1.7 billion. Badinter is best known for her philosophical treatises on feminism and women’s role in society. She is also the largest shareholder of Publicis Groupe, a multinational advertising and public relations company.
Badinter is an author of several books including the European bestseller The Conflict: How Modern Motherhood Undermines the Status of Women.
1. MacKenzie Scott
- Net Worth: $43.6 Billion
- Date of Birth: April 7, 1970
- Age: 54
- Nationality: American
MacKenzie Scott is an American novelist and philanthropist. Scott is the richest author in the world with a net worth of $43.6 billion. Scott is the former wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. MacKenzie owns a 4% stake in Amazon, the company founded by her ex-husband.
Scott has won several accolades for her writings including an American Book Award for her 2005 debut novel, The Testing of Luther Albright. She is also the author of the novel, Traps, which was published in 2013.