RESULTS FOR 2008
Ranking: 144
Worth: £560m
Source of wealth: Novels

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the seventh and final book of the series, took global sales to 375m. In time, the total could be 400m. With royalties averaging £1 a book, this helps to explain why Rowling, 42, is the world’s richest author. Films and merchandise should easily take her to £500m. The five films so far have garnered £2.4 billion and there are three more to come, as the last book is being split into two movies. Uncertain as to whether the Edinburgh single mother’s first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, would be a success, the publisher printed only 500 copies. One of these sells for more than £4,000 today. Rowling, who this month received an outstanding achievement award at the Galaxy British Book Awards, has refused to become a tax exile and lives in Scotland with her doctor husband and three children. She is a big benefactor, giving £22m to Comic Relief alone. The American magazine Advertising Age suggested last year that the Potter brand was worth £7.5 billion in all aspects. We suspect more than £200m of that is attributable to her.

RESULTS FOR 2007
Ranking: 136=
Worth: £545m
Source of wealth: Novels