Introduction

Stephen King is an American author of fantasy, horror, suspense, and science fiction with an estimated net worth of $500 Million, making him one of the wealthiest authors in the world.

Earnings History

Stephen King’s reign as one of the world’s highest-paid authors initially began in the 1990s. When he first made the Forbes list in 1993, King’s estimated earnings for the year were $13 million. The following year, his income increased to $20 million, and by 1996, it had risen to $34 million. During this time, according to reports, Stephen would often command book advance fees between $15 million and $18 million. In 1997, he signed a three-book deal with Simon & Schuster, receiving a $2 million advance per book plus a 50/50 split of the profits. This was his highest-earning year of the decade, earning an estimated $50 million.

Another enormous year for Stephen King arrived in 2000, when he signed a three-book deal with Hodder & Stoughton (UK) and Simon & Schuster (US). According to reports, the agreement was valued at £30 million ($45 million), contributing the bulk of his $65 million income that year. Regarding the rest of the 2000s, King remained active, but we don’t have the specifics of his annual earnings during this time. He likely continued earning a bare minimum of $10 million per year throughout the decade.

Fast forward to 2012, and King was back on the Forbes list with annual earnings of $39 million. One of his most successful projects that year was the release of the alternate-history thriller about the JFK assassination. The book sold over 600,000 hardcover copies in its first year following release. For the rest of the 2010s, King typically earned between $15 million and $20 million annually through book advances, royalties, film rights, and audiobook sales.

According to our research, Stephen King earned a combined $374 million for the years on record from 1993 to 2018, but once you factor in the missing years, he potentially earned well over $500 million.

Book Sales

Throughout his career, King has sold over 350 million book copies worldwide, publishing 65 novels and more than 200 short stories. Many of his books have since been adapted into films, including It, The Shining, and Carrie, which have all become iconic movies in their own right.

To give you an idea of how successful Stephen’s books were, and which were likely responsible for bringing in the most amount of revenue, we’ve put together a list of his best-selling books:

1. It – 60 million copies (1986)
2. The Stand – 35 million copies (1978)
3. The Shining – 25 million copies (1977)
4. Carrie – 15 million copies (1974)
5. Misery – 15 million copies (1987)
6. Pet Sematary – 10 million copies (1983)

While most would think that The Shining was King’s most popular book, the novel It actually sold over 60 million copies globally, and has since been adapted into two separate films. The first film was based on the first half of the 1986 novel, and grossed $327 million at the box office, while the second (based on the second half) grossed $467 million.

The Shining was the quickest book to be adapted into a full-length film, starring Jack Nicholson. The film was released in 1980, just three years after the book’s publication, and it grossed approximately $50 million at the box office. While that may seem low, this was in the 1980s, and would equate to roughly $195.7 million in today’s currency.

Real Estate

In the 1980s, Stephen King purchased a 4,952-square-foot, five-bedroom, six-bathroom home in Bangor, Maine, for a reported $135,000. He has owned the property for four decades and also bought the neighboring house in 2005 for $750,000. In recent years, he reportedly vacated the home to turn it into a writer’s retreat. It’s currently valued at roughly $1.76 million.

Highlights

Here are some of the best highlights from Stephen King’s career:

• Carrie (Movie, 1976)
• The Shining (Movie, 1980)
• IT (Autobiography, 1986)
• Fantafestival (Best Screenplay, 1992) – Won
• The Shawshank Redemption (Movie, 1994)
• Primetime Emmy Awards (Outstanding Miniseries, 1997) – Nominated
• The Green Mile (Movie, 1999)
• 1408 (Movie, 2007)
• Gerald’s Game (Movie, 2017)
• 1922 (Movie, 2017)
• It (2017)
• It Chapter Two (2019)

Introduction

Edward Snowden is an American former computer intelligence consultant with an estimated net worth of $500 Thousand. 

Contractor Salary

Edward Snowden began working as an NSA contractor in 2013, under the auspices of Booz Allen Hamilton, where he earned an average annual salary of $122,000. There was some confusion in the news regarding how much Snowden earned, as he’d previously told Glenn Greenwald he was earning $200,000 per year.

Snowden later clarified that the $ 200,000-per-year figure was a career high for him. This was likely back when Snowden was with the CIA or Dell. Edward took the pay cut specifically to gain access to the NSA’s top-secret systems. He spent three years with the CIA, lasting from 2006 to 2009, which could have earned him as much as $600,000 in compensation. 

Federal Charges

In June 2013, the United States Department of Justice filed federal charges against Edward Snowden under the 1917 Espionage Act, which carries a maximum sentence of thirty years in prison. The filing lists three separate charges:

• Theft of Government Property
• Unauthorized Communication of National Defense Information
• Willful Communication of Classified Communications Intelligence Information to an Unauthorized Person

Just before the charges were filed in a Virginia court, Snowden fled to Russia from the United States. He was attempting to travel to Ecuador to seek asylum, but while in Russia, his passport was revoked by the United States government. Edward was later granted temporary asylum status in Russia, and in 2020, he secured permanent residency in the country. In September 2022, Snowden became a Russian citizen. The charges are still looming over Snowden’s head, and he has not returned to the United States since 2013. 

Civil Lawsuit

Snowden made millions of dollars from his memoir, Permanent Record, and related fees from speaking enagements. However, in September 2019, the United States Department of Justice filed a civil lawsuit against him, claiming that Permanent Record violated his NDAs, as such work is subject to a review before being published. As expected, a year later, a judge ruled in favor of the DOJ, and Snowden was ordered to forfeit a total of $5.2 million in earnings from the book’s royalties, as well as any related speaking events that utilized classified information.

Real Estate

In 2012, while working at an NSA facility in Hawaii, Snowden rented a 1,559-square-foot, three-bedroom home in Waipahu. He paid $2,100 monthly to rent the property before he fled to Hong Kong. In 2013, the owner sold the house for $556,000.

Introduction

J.K. Rowling is an English professional author and movie producer with an estimated net worth of $1.2 Billion.

Rowling started from the bottom and is a quintessential example of rags-to-riches. Her story is not only inspiring but also full of practical lessons. Born and brought up in the UK, Joanne Rowling, better known as J.K. Rowling, faced her share of problems from her childhood through to her adult years. Following this, she went on to entertain the world with her set of magical stories.

Quick Facts

• Earning at least $1.1 billion between 2000 and 2019
• Peak annual earnings of $300 million in 2008
• Harry Potter film franchise grossed $7.8 billion at the global box office
• Published the first novel, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, in 1996.
• Helped produce the Harry Potter film series, which was an immense success.
• Involved in numerous charity activities, donating a significant portion of her fortune to help children experiencing poverty, and conducting research.

Net Worth History

By 2004, J.K. Rowling’s net worth had already reached $1 billion. However, in 2012, she became one of only a few individuals to lose, or relinquish, her billionaire status due to her philanthropic efforts, having donated at least $200 million to charity over the past two decades. This is also a primary reason why her net worth remained flat at $1 billion from 2004 to 2011, as she often donated an amount equal to or greater than what she earned. In recent years, estimates of her net worth have increased to over $1 billion again, and as of 2025, she is worth approximately $1.2 Billion.

Before Wealth & Fame

Joanne Rowling was born on the 31st of July 1965 in Yate, United Kingdom.

Rowling graduated with a B.A. in French from the University of Exeter. Post this, she worked as a researcher in London before moving to Manchester. Due to her expertise in the language, she was later assigned to an advertising project, which led to her relocation to Portugal. She later married a Portuguese and had a daughter in the latter half of 1993.

However, Rowling’s marriage didn’t last long. While her daughter was still an infant, the couple split up, causing Rowling to return home to the UK to her sister. The marriage was an abusive roller coaster for her, which ended up pushing her into clinical depression. When she believed she had hit a dead-end with no stable life, even after 7 years of graduation, Rowling contemplated committing suicide too.

The idea to write stories of a young wizard named Harry Potter came to her in 1990 while Rowling was sitting on a train. The process of developing the entire series took years, as Rowling spent a considerable amount of time mapping out all seven books before completing the first one.

The third book of the Harry Potter series introduces ‘Dementors’, or soul-sucking creatures. The inspiration for dementors for J.K. Rowling was her own thoughts that ran about in her mind when she was battling depression and suicidal tendencies.

That wasn’t the only inspiration Rowling took from real life when creating the world of Harry Potter. She based the main character on a boy from her childhood. Ron Weasley, one of Harry’s closest friends, was brought to life thanks to Rowling’s best friend, Sean Harris, while gloomy Professor Snape was based on her chemistry teacher.

Various writers, books, and stories all contributed to the shape of the Harry Potter series. The first few chapters of her first book were typed on an old-style manual typewriter at her home. Following this, she always preferred to continue writing in cafes because it allowed her to take her baby out for walks as well.

Harry Potter Books

In early 1995, J.K. Rowling completed her first Harry Potter novel and asked a reader to review the first three chapters.  Since the response was overwhelming, she decided to try her hand at publishing.

She sent drafts of her book to 12 publishing houses in London and was rejected by all of them. A year later, one publishing house in London decided to publish the first Harry Potter book – Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone– and Rowling was given a cheque of £1,500 in advance.

The first book’s success was overwhelming, and it was published in the USA under the title Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. J.K. Rowling wasn’t so fond of the change, but couldn’t do much about it due to her weak financial position at that time.

The second book, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, was published in 1998, and the third one, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, followed the year after. Both books went on to fetch Rowling the Smarties Prize for her unparalleled contribution to art. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was released in the year 2000 and went on to sell 3 million copies within the first 48 hours of its release, breaking all records.

The fifth installment of the series – Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, came out three years later, making everyone believe that Rowling had struck writer’s block when she hadn’t. 2005 saw the publication of the sixth book, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, which sold 9 million copies within the first 24 hours. The seventh and final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, concluded the series in 2007.

Harry Potter Films

The journey made J.K. Rowling a tremendous amount of money and fame. She also helped launch the careers of many actors, including Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson. It’s very appropriate to talk about the Harry Potter films as they were immensely successful (just like the Harry Potter novels) and helped expand the Harry Potter universe across the globe and among different generations.

The first installment of Potter’s adventures was brought to cinemas in 2001. Due to the series’ initial dedication to children, the first two movies were directed by the well-known family cinema director, Christopher Columbus. The whole series was produced by Warner Bros and starred such legendary names as Alan Rickman, Dame Maggie Smith, Richard Harris, Michael Gambon, Gary Oldman, David Thewlis, and Emma Thompson, among many others.

Harry Potter movies became an instant hit, grossing $7.7 billion at the box office. The last film in the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, premiered in 2011, concluding the series and providing the finale to this epic story. But that was not the end of the Harry Potter world. Harry Potter became a name known by billions and gave rise to numerous successful ventures, including Harry Potter theme parks, a spin-off movie series titled Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and a theatrical play called Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.

Highest-Grossing Harry Potter Films

The initial Harry Potter franchise grossed over $7.8 billion at the worldwide box office, earning J.K. Rowling significant sums of money in the process. To give an idea of which films were the most successful financially, we’ve listed all eight films in order of their gross worldwide box office revenue.

The final installment, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, was the highest-grossing film in the franchise, earning $1.34 billion at the box office. Interestingly enough, the first installment, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, was the second-best and the only other to gross over $1 billion. The order of the remaining films, from highest-grossing to lowest-grossing, is unusual: seven, five, six, four, two, three. Every single movie in the franchise grossed at least $800 million globally, and the Harry Potter series remains the highest-grossing franchise in British history.

Here’s the complete list of Harry Potter films and their box office revenues:

1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 – $1.34 billion (2011)
2. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone – $1.02 billion (2001)
3. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 – $961 million (2010)
4. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix – $943 million (2007)
5. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince – $935 million (2009)
6. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire – $897 million (2005)
7. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets – $883 million (2002)
8. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – $808 million (2004)

Earnings History

The Harry Potter franchise has earned J.K. Rowling over $1.1 billion since its inception in the late 1990s. In the 2000s, Rowling typically earned a minimum of $40 million per year, but three years in particular earned her a combined $578 million.

In 2003, she released Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, her first book in three years. It sold over 5 million copies in just 24 hours, and reportedly earned her $60 million in royalties that year. That figure is for just this one book and doesn’t factor in royalties from the previous four entries. She also earned a percentage of the film franchise’s gross profits, which brought her total earnings for 2003 to an estimated $131 million.

In 2004, she earned a substantial $147 million, and in 2008, her earnings reached a career high of $300 million. This was thanks to the July 2007 book release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, which sold 8.3 million copies in 24 hours and 44 million copies worldwide in its first year. The 2007 film release of Order of the Phoenix grossed $940 million at the box office, contributing significantly to her income.

Additional Content, Merchandise & Novels

Thanks to the website Pottermore, which later became Wizarding World, fans of the series were able to receive much additional content from Rowling, expanding the world even further. The website allows visitors to be sorted into their Hogwarts houses and choose their Patronuses, bringing the Harry Potter experience to a new level.

Additionally, there are Potter stores in various locations around the globe, giving fans a chance to purchase merchandise and experience this world with all their senses. To this day, Harry Potter has one of the most active and largest fan bases in the world.

After finishing the Harry Potter books, Rowling wrote several stand-alone novels, some of them under a pseudonym. She published The Casual Vacancy in 2012 and a series of crime books under the pen name Robert Galbraith. Her latest novel, The Ink Black Heart, was published in 2022.

Personal Life

After her first marriage was over, Rowling moved to Edinburgh, Scotland. Rowling married Neil Murray in 2001, with whom she was raising her daughter from her first relationship, Jessica Isabel Rowling Arantes. With her second husband, she has two children – David Gordon Rowling Murray and Mackenzie Jean Rowling Murray.

The Harry Potter book series brought Rowling much recognition and praise. Rowling received multiple British Book Awards, the World Science Fiction Convention’s Hugo Award for The Goblet of Fire, and Officer of the Order of the British Empire (2000) for services to children’s literature, among many others.

In recent years, the British author has been involved in controversies regarding her views on transgender issues. Rowling received massive backlash for her comments, and several people involved with Harry Potter stood against her claims, including the actor playing the lead role, Daniel Radcliffe, as well as Emma Watson, who played Hermione Granger in the films.

How Does J.K. Rowling Spend Her Money?

Although J.K. Rowling is the second-highest-paid author in the world, she famously lost her billionaire status due to her charity work. She supports many charities and organizations in the fight against childhood poverty.

She herself founded the Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic at the University of Edinburgh, as well as the Lumos Foundation.

Rowling owns multiple properties across England and Scotland, and a considerable portion of her fortune is allocated toward taxes. Rowling said that she wants to support the system that supported her in the past.
 

Summary

J.K. Rowling is perhaps the only billionaire to have lost their ‘billionaire’ tag due to immense donations and charitable activities. This proves that Rowling is a gem of a lady and deserves every bit of success that she earned, especially after what she went through.

With a challenging life coupled with the desire to leave her mark on the world, Rowling’s intentions were always crystal clear. Although she had nobody to fall back upon, she managed to take a stance and fight her way out.

The loss of her mother during the writing of the Harry Potter series indeed affected her storytelling to some extent. Still, it also allowed her to portray her emotions through Harry. Although it may seem unlikely, J.K. Rowling has single-handedly shaped the minds of an entire generation with her magical story and will continue to be remembered as the creator of Harry Potter.

As of 2025, J.K. Rowling’s net worth is roughly $1.2 Billion.

What do you think about J.K. Rowling’s net worth? Leave a comment below.