JK Rowling becomes world’s third richest author after netting £14.2million last year
JK Rowling has jumped to third in Forbes’ list of richest authors after netting £14.2million last year.
The legacy of her Harry Potter books saw her rise from seventh — although earnings from the script of new play the Cursed Child are not included.
The book of the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child play has sold more than 680,000 copies in its first week in the UK.
US crime writer James Patterson is the highest earner with £71.2million in the past 12 months.
Jeff Kinney, who wrote the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, was second with a £14.6million haul.
John Grisham is fourth while Danielle Steel, Nora Roberts and Stephen King are joint fifth.
British author Paula Hawkins is the only newcomer in the Forbes list.
Her book The Girl on the Train, which is being turned into a film starring Emily Blunt, helped her earn an estimated £7.5million. She placed joint-ninth alongside young adult authors John Green and Veronica Roth.
Forbes has estimated that the combined earnings of the authors bringing in the most cash this year is £201.7million.
Gone Girl author Gillian Flynn and Hunger Games's writer Suzanne Collins, who shared joint 13th place last year, were missing from this year's list.