JK Rowling Net Worth: Books, Career & Lifestyle

British author and movie producer JK Rowling’s net worth is $1 billion.

She is well known for creating Harry Potter.

Undoubtedly, Rowling is one of the wealthiest citizens in the UK. Also, she is the first author worldwide to garnish a net worth of $1 billion.

Rowling is a perfect example of rags to riches, and her story is very inspiring, full of practical lessons.

JK Rowling’s entire Harry Potter film series is the third highest-grossing film franchise of all time, raking in no less than $9.1 billion worldwide.

JK Rowling | Quick Facts

Let us have a look at JK Rowling’s life.

Full Name	Joanne Kathleen Rowling
Nickname	Joanne Rowling, JK Rowling
Net Worth	$1 Billion
Salary	$92 Million per year
Date of Birth	31 July 1965
Age	57 Years Old
Birth Place	Yate, United Kingdom
Nationality	British
Zodiac Sign	Leo
Height	5’4” ( 165 cm)
Weight	55 kg (121 lbs)
Shoe Size	7 (US)
Eye Color	Blue
Hair Color	Blonde
Occupation	Author, philanthropist, film producer, novelist
Father’s Name	Peter Rowling
Mother’s Name	Anne Volant Rowling
Siblings	1
Sibling Name	Dianne Rowling
Marital Status	Married
Spouse	Jorge Arantes (m. 1992 – 1993) Neil Murray (m. 2001)
Sexual Orientation	Straight
Children	3
Children Names	Jessica Isabel Rowling Arantes David Gordon Rowling Murray Mackenzie Jean Rowling Murray
Ethnicity	English
Education	University of Exeter, Wyedean School & Sixth Form Centre
Books	Harry Potter Series, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, The Ickabog, The Tales of Beedle the Bard, The Cuckoo’s Calling, Troubled Blood…
Movies	Fantastic Beasts, Harry Potter Franchise
Awards	Legion of Honour, Hugo Award, Kids’ Choice Award, Locus Award, 3 Goodreads Choice Award, Andre Norton Award, Laurence Oliver AA Award,  3 Nestle Smarties Book Prize, Glamour Award, British Independent Film Award…
Years Active	1997 – present
Merchandise	JK Rowling
Social Media	Facebook, Twitter
Last Updated	March 2023

JK Rowling | Net Worth & Income

Net Worth

JK Rowling’s net worth is a staggering $1 billion, as of March 2023, thanks to her super successful career as an author. 

Rowling’s earnings was $92 million from June 2018 to June 2019, which was a huge increase from $54 million a year earlier. Let us have a look at her earnings year-wise.

Earnings	Date
$92 Million	June 2018 – June 2019
$54 Million	June 2017 – June 2018
$95 Million	June 2016 – June 2017
$19 Million	June 2015 – June 2016
$19 Million	June 2014 – June 2015
$14 Million	June 2013 – June 2014
$13 Million	June 2012 – June 2013
$17 Million	May 2011 – May 2012
$5 Million	May 2010 – April 2011

The 2021 Sunday Times ranked her as the 196th richest person in the UK. The Rich List estimated her fortune at £820 million.

Likewise, Forbes listed her as the second-highest-paid author worldwide, after the prolific James Patterson. According to the report, Rowling’s earning was $60 million in 2020.

However, some report suggests that the controversial author’s net worth is at least $650 million.

She hasn’t confirmed her net worth herself and denies being a billionaire. Whatever the case, JK Rowling’s net worth ranges from $650 million to $1.2 billion as of March 2023.

Income

Rowling’s fortune is as huge as the Harry Potter empire she built through her multiple sources of income.

The New York Times estimates that her novels have collected no less than $7.7 billion. Even if Rowling takes hold of a 15% standard author’s royalty cut, she could have made not less than $1.15 billion.

Talking about Rowling’s career as a film producer, if she received the standard net profit participation deal of 10%, then she would have earned $770 million. The Harry Potter movie franchises have collectively grossed at least $7.7 billion worldwide.

Moreover, Rowling released a new book series under pen named Robert Galbraith. The first three Cormoran Strike books have earned $9.9 million, selling nearly 1.2 million copies. Also, the books will be adapted for a miniseries distributed by BBC.

Furthermore, Rowling’s play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child earned $2.3 million in ticket sales in a single week on Broadway. Her play is the highest-earning non-musical play in Broadway’s history.

Additionally, she launched the Harry Potter website titled Pottermore in 2012. Rowling brought in $19 million in revenue through several collaborations to sell audiobooks and e-books in 2016.

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JK Rowling Net Worth in Different Currencies

Let us see what JK Rowling’s net worth is in different currencies.

Currency	Net Worth
Euro	€ 881,100,000
Pound Sterling	£ 800,000,000
Australian Dollar	A$ 1,401,345,000
Canadian Dollar	C$ 1,273,590,000
Indian Rupee	₹ 75,348,500,000
BitCoin	฿ 23,437.22

JK Rowling | Houses & Cars

English writer JK Rowling is into real estate, building a portfolio of houses from Scotland to England. She has spent a chunk of her fortune purchasing houses with her husband, Neil Murray.

Her main residence is in Edinburgh. The pair moved to the Edinburgh neighborhood in 2009. She owns a multimillion-pound 17th-century mansion surrounded by huge 30-foot hedges.

Rowling’s house seems much inspired by her Harry Potter world, which has two interlinked, Hogwarts-like tree houses.

The upgrade was done for their children that cost her about $330,000. Just for the update, Rowling spent $1.3 million to purchase a home next door and knocked it down to make room for the tree houses.

The famous author also owns a 162-acre Perthshire estate worth $2.5 million in Scotland. Rowling’s Scotland house has seven bedrooms, a library, a swimming pool covered with copper domes, and a drawing-room.

Rowling installed high four-foot security gates and renovated her house in 2020.

Moreover, she owns a six-bedroom house in Kensington, London. Rowling purchased the home for $5.6 million in 2000.

Likewise, she bought back her childhood home for $499,554 in 2011. The house is located near the Forest of Dean in Tutshill, Gloucestershire, England.

Her childhood home – Church Cottage, is inspired by multiple elements in Harry Potter. This house also went through several renovations.

Furthermore, Rowling sold her 8-bedroom 19th-century Victorian mansion for no less than $3.6 million in 2012.

Cars

Although Rowling splurges a large portion of her fortune on real estate, she reportedly opts for a less luxurious car. She chooses a slighter splashy anonymous car as her daily drive.

However, Rowling purchased a 56-foot luxury yacht for $29 million in the mid-2010s. She bought the vessel from legendary actor Johnny Depp.

Rowling’s boat has three decks with four bedrooms. She put it up for rent for a whopping $130,000 per week in 2016.

Rowling later put her yacht for sale at $20 million.

JK Rowling | Lifestyle and Vacations

Lifestyle

Joanne Rowling, aka JK Rowling, was born on 31 July 1965 in Yate, Gloucestershire, England.

The legendary future author used to write short fantasy fiction stories during her childhood.

Although she was into writing books and stories for her happiness, Rowling’s childhood years were quite unfortunate. She cited a strained relationship with her father, Peter Rowling, while her mother, Anne Volant Rowling, fought multiple sclerosis.

She completed her graduation in French and Classics from the University of Exeter. The famous writer shifted to Porto, Portugal, and became an English teacher.

Rowling had her first marriage with the Portuguese TV journalist Jorge Arantes in 1992. The ex-couple had a child in Portugal named Jessica on 27 July 1993.

However, the two got separated on 17 November 1993. Rowling with her daughter Jessica migrated to Edinburgh, Scotland, after their divorce.

Finally, Rowling fell in love with her now-husband David Murray, and the romantic couple tied the knot in 2001. They had a child together.

The family generally spends their time in Aberfeldy, Scotland, and Edinburgh, London.

Vacation

JK Rowling is also known for her vacations and holiday plans.

The Harry Potter author has been spotted visiting Mauritius and cruising around the Galapagos. She enjoyed her vacation in Seychelles.

Additionally, Rowling had spent her summer vacation in the Hamptons. According to a source, she was convinced to pay at least $500,000 for a house there in August 2006.

JK Rowling | Charity

Generous Rowling doesn’t like to flaunt her charitableness, unlike other celebrities and rich people. Hence, she secretly donates a large portion of her fortune to charity.

Keeping a record to date, the successful writer has donated not less than $150 million to charity.

The Harry Potter franchise creator donated £10 million to the University of Edinburgh for a research clinic. Rowling donated huge money to memorialize her mother, who passed away fighting multiple sclerosis. The clinic is named the Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic.

Other than this, Rowling has used her considerable fortune and power to support numerous philanthropic causes and charities.

She was one of the founding members of the Volant Charitable Trust in 2001. The foundation helps to fight childhood poverty.

Moreover, Rowling demanded Coca-Cola donate $18 million to the American charity Reading is Fundamental and more community programs.

Furthermore, she supports Britain’s Labour Party, which has leftist political views. Rowling donated $1 million to the party in 2008.

Talking about her recent donations during the pandemic, the author has donated nearly $1.25 million to domestic violence victims and homeless people.

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JK Rowling | Books, Films and Merchandise

Rowling completed Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in 1995. She sold it to the literary agent Christopher Little.

The writer made a deal with Bloomsbury in 1997 to print 500 copies for a $3,141 (£2,500) advance. By 1999, the book sold nearly 300,000 copies in the UK.

Rowling made an unprecedented $100,000 deal with Scholastic for the book to sell in the US.

Nearly 500 million copies of the books have been sold worldwide since the Harry Potter series launched in 1997. Her book Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows holds the record for the quickest-selling fiction book of all time.

Book sales  — All seven Harry Potter novels continue to do well to this day and top the list of the most read fiction e-books on Amazon.

Talking about movies, Rowling signed a seven-figure deal with Warner Bros. in 1998 to adapt her books into films. The first movie Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, has grossed more than $1 billion worldwide.

Likewise, her Harry Potter spinoff film series Fantastic Beasts hit screens in 2016, grossing $814 million worldwide. According to Forbes’ estimate, Rowling received a staggering $10 million from the movie’s profit.

She started penning new novels in 2007. Rowling’s novel The Casual Vacancy sold nearly 375,000 copies in the first six days. Her novel will be adapted into a miniseries for HBO.

Moreover, Rowling’s largest cash drawer is the Universal Studios’ Wizarding World attractions. It was first opened in 2010. She receives estimated double-digit millions from the parks.

Summing up, J.K. Rowling’s net worth sits at $1 billion. She has earned her billion-dollar net worth from book royalties, movie advances, rights, merchandise, and more.

JK Rowling | Career

Three Facts About JK Rowling

• JK Rowling has stirred controversy and lost fans due to her comments on the trans community in recent years. She also published an essay on the topic ‘transphobic.’
• She wasn’t a remarkable student in college. Rowling didn’t give much effort to classes.
• JK Rowling’s mother, Anne, passed away due to multiple sclerosis in December 1990. The mother’s death influenced her writing into the character of Harry as she channeled her grief.

FAQs

Is JK Rowling is the highest taxpayer in the UK?

Yes, Rowling spends much of her fortune paying taxes. She pays Britain’s highest tax rate (45%) and feels indebted to the system. Rowling was on state welfare while writing the first Harry Potter book.

Has JK Rowling contemplated suicide?

Yes, JK, during her struggling single mother time, attempted to end her life. The self-described broken and depressed Rowling was working on the first “Harry Potter” installment during this time.

Is there more Harry Potter material?

Yes, Rowling had announced in 2007 that she has plans to make an encyclopedia on the Harry Potter world.

Is JK Rowling the richest writer?

Yes, she is the richest writer in the world. However, Rowling is extremely private about her fortune and also denies being a billionaire. JK Rowling’s net worth is $1 billion as of March 2023.

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