We have estimated Rowling’s fortune at £820 million OR US$1.5 billion, ranking her as the 120th-richest person in the UK. As of 2023, she also owns a £4.6 million Georgian house in Kensington and a £2.3 million home in Edinburgh.
Who Is JK Rowling?
JK Rowling is a British author and philanthropist, best known for writing the Harry Potter series. Born Joanne Rowling on July 31, 1965, in Yate, England, she began writing stories at a young age. After graduating from the University of Exeter, Rowling moved to London and worked various jobs while writing her first novel. In 1997, she published “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone,” the first book in what would become a wildly successful series.
Rowling has since become one of the best-selling authors in history, with over 500 million copies of her books sold worldwide. In addition to her literary success, Rowling is also known for her philanthropy, particularly in the areas of education and multiple sclerosis research.
Quick Facts
| Full Name: | Joanne Rowling |
| Popular Name: | JK Rowling |
| Gender: | Female |
| Birth Date: | July 31, 1965 |
| Age: | 57 years |
| Parents: | Peter James Rowling and Anne Volant Rowling |
| Siblings: | Dianne Rowling |
| Birth Place: | Yate, Gloucestershire, England |
| Nationality: | English |
| Ethnicity: | White, Scottish, Alsatian German, and French |
| Education: | St Michael’s Primary School, Wyedean School and College, and the University of Exeter |
| Marital Status: | Married. Previously married to Jorge Arantes (from 1992 until their divorce in 1995) |
| Sexual Orientation: | Straight |
| Wife/Spouse: | Neil Murray |
| Children: | Jessica Isabel Rowling Arantes (from her first marriage) and David Gordon Rowling Murray and Mackenzie Jean Rowling Murray (from her current marriage) |
| Dating: | N/A |
| Net Worth: | USD 1 billion |
| Source of Wealth: | Writing and Other Ventures |
| Height: | 5′ 5″ (1.65 m) |
| Weight: | 54 kg; In pounds: 119 lbs. |
Early Life and Career Information
JK Rowling was born on July 31, 1965, in Yate, Gloucestershire, England, to Peter James Rowling and Anne Volant Rowling. Her father was a Rolls Royce aircraft engineer, whereas her mother was a science technician.
JK Rowling began writing novels in her preteen years, focusing on fantasy stories that she could read to her younger sister, Dianne. After graduating from the University of Exeter with a Bachelor of Arts degree in French and Classics, Rowling moved to Porto, Portugal, where she became an English teacher. The teaching job was instrumental in shaping her future career as a writer, as it helped her hone her English skills even further.
In the early 90s, while working for Amnesty International as a secretary and researcher, JK Rowling conceived the idea of her first novel. The novel would be based on a young boy who, upon discovering that he’s a wizard, decided to attend a wizardry school.
Although she didn’t exactly have the entire plot in mind back then, Rowling began to put the novel together as soon as she got back to her apartment in Clapham Junction. She finished writing the novel in 1995 and titled it Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (retitled as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in the United States).
Soon after finishing writing her first novel, Rowling embarked on campaigns to get it published. Fortunately, she successfully pitched the novel to Bloomsbury Publishing, who agreed to publish it, paying her £1,500 in advance.
As soon as it left the publishing house in June 1997, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was an instant success. Rowling was able to secure financing from the Scottish Arts Council to author her second novel. She has since authored six sequels to the first Harry Potter installment, the most recent of which was released in 2007. The books have been translated into over 60 languages and have been the inspiration behind numerous movies.
JK Rowling’s Net Worth
That JK Rowling is the richest author on the planet is beyond doubt. And she didn’t earn that title yesterday.
In 2004, Forbes Magazine recognized Rowling as the first author to become a dollar billionaire. The same year, Forbes declared her the second-richest female entertainer, as well as the 1,062nd richest person in the world. In 2017, Forbes once again named Rowling as the highest-paid author on the planet, having earned $95 million (or £72 million) that year. More recently, Rowling made the 2020 Sunday Times Rich List, where she was ranked 178th richest person in the United Kingdom.
As of 2023, JK Rowling had a net worth of 1 billion US Dollars or about 775 million Pound Sterling. In a typical year, Rowling earns between $50 and $100 million from her various engagements, much of which comes from book royalties and movie advances.
Although she has authored tons of novels, Rowling’s Harry Potter series remains her most commercially successful project.
The Harry Potter books include:
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (1998),
• Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets (1998)
• Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban (1999),
• Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire (2000),
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2003),
• Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince (2005), and
• Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows (2007)
Lessons from JK Rowling
JK Rowling’s mum lost her 10-year battle with multiple sclerosis while Rowling was writing her first Harry Potter book. Her mother’s death heavily affected her and threatened to derail her writing ambitions. However, Rowling smarted from the ordeal and was able to channel some of her own feelings of grief into the book.
2. Be humble
Although she rolls in money, JK Rowling doesn’t consider herself any more privileged. In fact, she has occasionally downplayed her wealth, claiming that she’s not nearly as rich as is reported in many media outlets around the world.
3. Giving back is a duty
JK Rowling is a generous philanthropist who has donated a record $150 million to charity to date. In 2001, she founded the Volant Charitable Trust, which seeks to fight childhood poverty.
Famous Quotes by JK Rowling
“Dark and difficult times lie ahead. Soon we must all face the choice between what is right and what is easy.”
“Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.”
“It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.”
“It is our choices…that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”
“There is no good or evil: only power and those too weak to seek it.”
Most Asked Questions On Google
– Does J. K. Rowling still make money from Harry Potter?
Though Rowling did not create the game’s characters or story, as the author of Harry Potter she owns the rights to the franchise’s intellectual property, meaning that she makes royalties based on Harry Potter merchandise, the movies, the Warner Brothers theme park, and of course, sales of the books
– Who is the richest Harry Potter actor?
Radcliffe is currently the wealthiest actor from the Harry Potter franchise.
The rest of the main kid cast’s ranking, in order from highest to lowest estimated net worth, is:
Emma Watson at $85 million.
Rupert Grint at $50 million.
Tom Felton at $20 million.
– Is Stephen King richer than J. K. Rowling?
With a net worth of roughly US$1.3 Billion, Élisabeth Badinter is the richest author in the world, followed by J.K. Rowling (No. 2, US$1 billion), James Patterson (No. 3, US$560 million); and Stephen King (No. 4, US$400 million).
– Why is J. K. Rowling so rich?
Rowling is estimated to have earned well over $1 billion from Harry Potter book sales alone beside another $50 million for her books for adults and several Potter spinoffs. She has also earned hundreds of millions from her share of the profits from the Harry Potter movies, as well as the Fantastic Beasts movies.
– How much royalties does J.K. Rowling get from Harry Potter?
Rowling consistently makes passive income on all Harry Potter products. Multiple sources have cited that Rowling earns anywhere between $50 million to $100 million each year from royalties.
– Is J. K. Rowling richer than Queen Elizabeth?
Final Word
Rowling is the world’s richest author and she is best known as the brain behind the commercially successful Harry Potter. Rowling wrote the first Potter books while a single mother living on welfare. Written on a manual typewriter, the manuscript for the first Harry Potter novel was rejected by 12 publishers and paid her just £1,500 as an advance when finally accepted. Consisting of eight series, it is the highest-grossing film series of all-time in inflation-unadjusted dollars, with $7.7 billion in at the global box office. Between the films, books, merchandise, and amusement park at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida.
If she never comes up with another good idea, she will be able to collect Harry Potter money for the rest of her life. The Harry Potter brand has been estimated to be worth as much as $15 billion. She has signed a deal to write her first adult book, The Casual Vacancy, to be published in September 2012. It is thought she received a £3m advance.
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