A decade later, this ranking reveals enduring truths about literary success and how adaptations continue reshaping author earnings globally.

Good news — there’s (some) money in literature after all! Forbes has released its annual list of the world’s highest paid authors. This probably won’t come as a great surprise, but the list is topped by James Patterson and rounded out by a few more obscure authors whom you may or may not have heard of, such as Stephen King, George R.R. Martin and one J.K. Rowling.

According to The Guardian, the list is calculated using “official book sales figures and analysis from experts.” Patterson who’s put out an average of nearly eleven books a year for the past decade and has been described as an “industry unto himself” is far and away the highest earner, listed at $95m. The runner-up — children’s author James Kinney — comes in at a (comparatively) paltry $19.5m, almost five times less than Patterson.
To be clear, these sorts of monetary figures are by no means representative of the literary whole.

What becomes clear after quickly perusing the twelve names is that multi-media only helps book sales. As Natalie Robehmed of Forbes states: “the written word isn’t dead — although television and movie adaptations often help drive sales.” The word “often” however seems unnecessary here. Every single author on the list has had either, or both, television and movie adaptations made of their works, except for Paula Hawkins who has an adaptation starring Emily Blunt due to hit the silver screen in October.
Hawkins is also notable as the only newcomer to the list. Her bestselling novel The Girl On The Train — consistently compared to Gone Girl and The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo — vaulted her all the way up to #9 at a reported $10m, just above George R.R. Martin who earned a pre-taxed $9.5m in book sales.
For a more in-depth take on what publishing looks like for most literary fiction, check out this piece written by our own Lincoln Michel: Everything You Wanted to Know about Book Sales (But Were Afraid to Ask).
In the meantime, for ease of resentment, envy, and daydreaming, here’s the top of Forbes’ 2016 wealthiest authors list:

FORBES HIGHEST-PAID AUTHORS IN 2016

1. James Patterson $95m

2. Jeff Kinney $19.5m

3. JK Rowling $19m

4. John Grisham $18m

5. (tie) Stephen King $15m

5. (tie) Danielle Steel $15m

5. (tie) Nora Roberts $15m

8. EL James $14m

9. (tie) Veronica Roth $10m

9. (tie) John Green $10m

9. (tie) Paula Hawkins $10m

12. (tie) George RR Martin $9.5m

12. (tie) Dan Brown $9.5m

12. (tie) Rick Riordan $9.5m

( Source : Forbes/ElectricLiterature )

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did James Patterson earn more than JK Rowling in 2016?

Patterson published nearly eleven books yearly, creating multiple revenue streams across genres. His prolific output and co-authorship deals generated significantly higher annual earnings than Rowling’s single-title focus during that period.

How much did JK Rowling earn according to Forbes 2016?

While exact figures weren’t detailed in the article, JK Rowling ranked third on Forbes’ highest-paid authors list for 2016, significantly behind James Patterson’s $95 million earnings and James Kinney’s $19.5 million.

Do book-to-film adaptations really increase author earnings?

According to Forbes analysis, every author on the 2016 highest-paid list had television or movie adaptations. These adaptations drive significant book sales boosts, making multimedia presence essential for maximizing author revenue.

Who was the only newcomer on Forbes’ 2016 highest-paid authors list?

Paula Hawkins debuted on the 2016 list with her bestseller ‘The Girl On The Train,’ frequently compared to ‘Gone Girl.’ Her success demonstrates how contemporary thrillers can achieve rapid commercial success through adaptation momentum.

Is literature still profitable in 2025 compared to 2016?

While industry dynamics have shifted with digital publishing and streaming, the fundamental principle remains: authors with multimedia adaptations and consistent output generate substantial income, though traditional book sales face new competition from audio and digital formats.