‘Forbes’ releases list of top-earning authors; Patterson remains on top

4 August 2016 Books+Publishing

Forbes has released its annual list of the world’s top earning authors. For a third year James Patterson remains at the top of the list, earning an estimated US$95 million (A$125 million) over the past 12 months, up from US$90 million (A$118 million) last year. Patterson released 13 books during the June 2015 to June 2016 period with the help of co-authors and has sold more than 300 million copies since his debut in 1976. Jeff Kinney is in second place, earning an estimated US$19.5 million (A$26 million) over the past 12 months; third is J K Rowling (US$19 million / A$25 million); fourth is John Grisham (US$18 million / A$24 million); tied for fifth are Stephen King, Danielle Steel and Nora Roberts (US$15 million / A$20 million); eighth is E L James (US$14 million / A$18 million); and tied for ninth are Veronica Roth, John Green and Paula Hawkins (US$10 million / A$13 million). The only newcomer to the ranking was Hawkins, whose novel The Girl on the Train (Black Swan) sold 11 million copies worldwide, with a movie adaptation to be screened in cinemas in October.

Category: International news