Forbes announces highest-paid authors of 2016

  • 05/08/2016
Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin was one of the top earning authors this year, thanks largely to the TV adaptation of his book series
Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin was one of the top earning authors this year, thanks largely to the TV adaptation of his book series

The latest rich-list from Forbes shows there's still money in print, with the 12 highest-earning authors in 2016 making a combined total of more than NZ$360 million from their writing.

In eighth equal, Da Vinci Code author Dan Brown, Percy Jackson creator Rick Riordan and the man behind Game of Thrones, George R. R. Martin, made about $13 million.

Horror writer Stephen King sits comfortably at fifth with earnings of approximately $20 million.

J.K. Rowling comes third with more than $26 million in earnings, although she could move up the list after Sunday's book release of the new play about the Boy Wizard, The Cursed Child.

Topping the list is the incredibly prolific action author James Patterson, whose books have sold more than 300 million copies, some of which have inspired blockbuster films.

8. Dan Brown – set to publish young adult version of The Da Vinci Code / $13.2 million

Forbes announces highest-paid authors of 2016

(Reuters)

8. Rick Riordan / $13.2 million

8. George R. R. Martin – Game of Thrones / $13.2 million

Forbes announces highest-paid authors of 2016

(Reuters)

7. Paula Hawkins – The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo / $13.9 million

7. John Green / $13.9 million

7. Veronica Roth – Divergent Trilogy / $13.9 million

Forbes announces highest-paid authors of 2016

(Reuters)

6. E.L. James – Fifty Shades of Grey / $19.5 million

5. Nora Roberts – pens an average of five manuscripts a year / $20.9 million

5. Danielle Steel / $20.9 million

5. Stephen King / $20.9 million

Forbes announces highest-paid authors of 2016

(Reuters)

4. John Grisham – Rogue Lawyer / $25 million

3. JK Rowling – Harry Potter / $26.4 million

Forbes announces highest-paid authors of 2016

(Reuters)

2. Jeff Kinney – Diary of a Wimpy Kid / $27.1 million

1. James Patterson – Alex Cross / $132.1 million

Forbes announces highest-paid authors of 2016

(Reuters)

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