Top earning authors of 2011 from Forbes Magazine
Here’s the complete list with all of the names. I’ve also copied and pasted below:
James Patterson ($94 million)
Stephen King ($39 million)
Janet Evanovich ($33 million)
John Grisham ($26 million)
Jeff Kinney ($25 million)
Bill O’Reilly ($24 million)
Nora Roberts ($23 million)
Danielle Steel ($23 million)
Suzanne Collins ($20 million)
Dean Koontz ($19 million)
J. K. Rowling ($17 million)
George R. R. Martin ($15 million)
Stephenie Meyer ($14 million)
Ken Follett ($14 million)
Rick Riordan ($13 million)
Just curious, does the list surprise you? Have you ever met any of the authors on this list?
The only one I’ve ever met is Nora Roberts. She’s a member of my local RWA chapter and she’ll sometimes attend the yearly retreat.
I’ll be honest – I’d like to be on this list!
Yes, was surprised by some. Didn’t think Stephen King would be that far in money behind James Patterson.
Have never met any of them, but have books by 7 or 8.
Maxie, thanks for commenting. I did think of another author that I’ve met from the list – Janet Evanovich. I have read books by Nora Roberts, Stephen King (his book On Writing), John Grisham, Danielle Steele, Suzanne Collins, J.K. Rowling, and Stephenie Meyer.
I have met Rick Riordan and John Grisham at book-signings. Of course, I’ve met other well-known authors at book-signings, but they are not on this top money-earning list. Barbara and Jenna Bush came to Miami, as did Brian Jacques, Sharon Creech, Jan Brett, Carl Hiaason, Mary Pope Osborn, Alan Alda, Alonzo Mourning, Alex Rodriguez. Dave Barry & Ridley Pearson are fun with their middle school literature. Yes, I go to book-signings to buy signed books for my grand-children! We drove to Pinecraft to meet Wanda Brunstetter, but didn’t get to meet Suzanne Woods Fisher, because her signing was at night.
I was surprised that J. K. Rowling is still on the list. I guess she is still getting royalties.
Kaye, I was surprised to see J.K. Rowling on the list, too. Looks like she’s still seeing royalties from her Harry Potter books. It’s possible that younger generations are being introduced to the stories? I know I first heard about HP around 12 or 13 years ago? So, it is possible that there are people who were not born when the books were introduced and now they’re avid readers.