While the rest of us mongrel writers are slaving away for little to no pay-off, these authors cashed royalty check after royalty check last year, some without having put out a new novel in a few years. You’ve been warned. This will depress you.
James Patterson
According to Forbes, this guy topped book sales last year earning 70 million. Holy fuck nugget.
Stephanie Meyer
Proof that you don’t have to be talented to make money, she took in 40 million dollars.
Stephen King
At least he deserves to be on this list. He earned 34 million dollars last year.
Danielle Steel
Not gonna lie, I haven’t read one of her novels. Yet, she earned 32 million.
Ken Follett
Um, who? He’s number five, earning 20 million last year.
Dean Koontz
Horror author number two on the list. There’s money to be made in scaring the shit out of people. 18 million dollars, to be exact.
Janet Evanovich
One For the Money. Yeah, no shit, Miss-16-million-dollars-richer.
John Grisham
Writes about lawyers, makes attorney-fee type deposits. 15 million for this guy last year.
Nicholas Sparks
His readers are crying their eyes out and he’s laughing all the way to bank with his 14 million.
JK Rowling
Not only was she the world’s first author billionaire, but she hasn’t published a novel since The Tales of Beedle the Bard in 2008. Yet, she still made 10 million last year.
Stephanie Meyer
Stephen King
Danielle Steel
Ken Follett
Dean Koontz
Janet Evanovich
John Grisham
Nicholas Sparks
JK Rowling