From JK Rowling to ‘The Simpsons’ Creator Matt Groening, Here Are The 10 Richest Authors of All Time

Aug 28, 2023

By: Sunayna Kanjilal

Building worlds and multi-million empires

Many writers spend their lives building fantastical worlds, but only a few go on to become millionaires or billionaires. Here is the list of the 10 richest authors of all time and their jaw-dropping wealth might inspire you to hone your storytelling skills.

1. JK Rowling: $1 billion+

The world that she built became the world that every kid in the 2000s wanted to escape to. It's no shocker that "Harry Potter" made JK Rowling immensely rich, but did you know that she is the only billionaire on this list today? The seven-vo...

2. James Patterson: 800 million+

The second richest author on the planet is James Patterson, who is best known for penning "Alex Cross," "Detective Michael Bennett" and "Women's Murder Club." Patterson has written more than 140 novels since 1976 and his book...

3. Jim Davis: 800 million

The American cartoonist is also worth $800 million as of 2023. He is best known for creating the beloved character, Garfield. Since the character's debut, Garfield has seen many successful spin-offs, including the famous CBS series and television program ...

4.  Danielle Steel: $600 million

American author Danielle Steel is best known for her romance novels like "The Wedding Planner," "Sage Harbour," "Lost and Found," and more. She is one of the bestselling authors with over 800 million copies sold. With more than 18...

5. Grant Cardone: $600 million

Best known for his business books like "The 10X Rule: The Only Difference Between Success and Failure," Grant Cardone has a net worth of $600 million as of 2023. He is also the CEO of seven privately held companies and runs 13 business programs, ...

6. Matt Groening: $600 million

Matt Groening, the creator of "The Simpsons", the longest-running primetime TV series in history is worth a whopping $600 million. The show debuted in December 1980 and is still running after all these years. The show was originally started by Groeni...

7. Paulo Coelho: $500 million

Known for famous books like "The Alchemist," the Brazilian novelist is the seventh richest on the list with a net worth of $500 million. The international bestseller "The Alchemist" was published in 1988 and has since been a bestseller. Apa...

8. Rose Kennedy: $500 million

American philanthropist and writer Rose Kennedy had an astounding net worth of $500 million at the time of her passing in 1995. She was the matriarch of the Kennedy family and is best known for writing her autobiography, "Times to Remember." She was ...

9. Stephen King: $500 million

Responsible for many people's sleepless nights, the creator of "The Shining" is number 9 on the list of the wealthiest authors in the world. Stephen King's net worth is an estimated $500 million. Dubbed the "King of Horror," Steph...

10. John Grisham: $400 million

Best known for legal thrillers like "The Firm" and "Pelican Brief"—both of which have been adapted into blockbuster movies--John Grisham has a net worth of $400 million. The prolific author earns anywhere between $50 million to $60 million ...