Best paid authors: You might not be inclined to believe that writing is a particularly high paying job. Well, in most cases, you wouldn’t be wrong. But you would be amazed at the earnings some authors manage to secure.
We would like to present you with a list of the 8 best paid authors in the world, based on the money they’ve earned between June 2012 and June 2013. The list is in a style similar to our recap of the world’s highest paid CEOs.
The authors in our countdown have very different recipes for success. Some authors, such as Danielle Steel, have been in the business for decades. Others release new titles faster than most of us could read them, while others have made the bulk of their fortune due to movie and TV rights.
Curious to see who the best paid authors in the world are?
Let’s take a look at the countdown:
No. 8: Nora Roberts – $23 million
Nora Roberts is one of the authors that knew she had to take advantage of the Internet. Although she started out with average-rated hardcover titles, she has recently switched to the digital world and is one of the most prolific e-book authors out there.
No. 7: Janet Evanovich – $24 million
Although she has written and published several titles, much of Janet Evanovich’s wealth is due to her series of detective novels, featuring main character Stephanie Plum.
No. 6: Jeff Kinney – $24 million
Mr. Kinney is currently working on the 8th book of the series that made him famous and wealthy – “Diary of a Wimpy Kid”. His books are mostly intended for young adolescents and children.
No. 5: Danielle Steel – $26 million
One of the most appreciated romance novel authors in the world, Danielle Steel has been publishing since 1973, writing an average of 3 or more titles a year.
No. 4: Bill O’Reilly – $28 million
You might recognize Bill O’Reilly as being the host for Fox News, but he is also an established author in his own right. His first two books, “Killing “Lincoln” and “Killing Kennedy” both reached the New York Times best-seller list.
No. 3: Suzanne Collins – $55 million
Collins’ rise to fame and glory can be largely attributed to the release of the “Hunger Games” film. Having started out as a children’s TV writer, Miss Suzanne Collins has definitely made a name for herself in the industry.
No. 2: James Patterson – $91 million
While James Patterson is no longer the best paid author, a title that he has held for numerous years, we are assuming he is not that displeased with this year’s earnings of $91 million. It is estimated that one in every 17 hardcover books sold in the US is his.
No. 1: E.L. James – $95 million
The name E.L. James might not ring any bells, but “Fifty Shades of Grey” should. Well, unless you have been living under a rock for the past year. The author’s trilogy became an instant hit, virtually overnight, making Miss James the best paid author in 2013. With the movie also scheduled to appear, it is safe to assume that her fortune will increase even more.
.jpg){kind=link}