FAQs
J.K. Rowling (UK) is one of only five self-made female billionaires, and the first billion-dollar author. The seven Harry Potter books have sold a total of 400 million copies around the world and are published in 55 languages, including Latin and Ancient Greek.
Who was the first author to make a billion? ›
In 2004, Forbes named Rowling "the first billion-dollar author".
Who was the first author to become a billionaire? ›
The pen name J.K. Rowling belongs to the first billionaire author, Joanne Kathleen Rowling, a British novelist who created the award-winning Harry Potter series. A book that has sold over 400 million copies around the world. Her books have been published in at least 50 languages, including Latin and Greek.
Which author became the first to have an estimated net worth of 1 billion dollars? ›
Rowling, according to Celebrity Net Worth, is the first author in the world to achieve a net worth of $1 billion. Her latest book in the series under her pen name Robert Galbraith, “The Running Grave,” published in April.
Who was the first person to have 1 billion dollars? ›
John D. Rockefeller is often cited as the world's first billionaire, achieving that status in 1916 through his ownership of Standard Oil.
Who wrote the first billion is the hardest? ›
The First Billion Is the Hardest: Reflections on a Life of Comebacks and America's Energy Future by T. Boone Pickens | Goodreads.
Who is the richest author ever? ›
J.K. Rowling
Under her pen name Robert Galbraith, she writes a series of crime novels. From 2008-2018, Rowling earned an astounding $546 million, placing her second on the list of highest-paid authors in the timeframe set. However, she undoubtedly takes first place for richest, with a total net worth of $1 billion.
Who is the highest-paid author in the world? ›
J.K. Rowling
It's no surprise that J.K. Rowling leads the way in the highest-paid authors. The world knows her as the author who inspired a generation to read. Her Harry Potter series took the world by storm. While she began her series writing on napkins, today, the names Harry, Ron, and Hermione are hard not to know.
Who made a billion dollars in one day? ›
George Soros is most famous for a single-day gain of $1 billion on Sept. 16, 1992, which he made by short selling the British pound. 5 At the time, England was part of the European exchange rate mechanism (ERM), a fixed-exchange-rate agreement among a number of European countries.
Which billionaire came from nothing? ›
FRANCOIS PINAULT, LUXURY GOOD ENTREPRENEUR , Net worth: $15 billion, , Earlier in his lifetime, Pinault dropped out of high school due to receiving abuse for being poor. He would later go on to form PPR, a luxury brand that owns the likes of Gucci, Alexander McQueen, Yves Saint Laurent and Stella McCartney.
Not Yet, But We'll See One Soon. A trillion dollars is a phenomenal sum of money, equivalent to 1,000 billion dollars.
Who will be the first trillionaire? ›
Research predicts that Elon Musk will become the first trillionaire in history by 2027. There are also recognized other potential trillionaires. The report discusses social issues and the controversy surrounding Musk while highlighting the public's preoccupation with accumulating money.
Who is the first trillionaire estimate? ›
Elon Musk could become the world's first trillionaire by 2027, report says. Elon Musk is on pace to become the world's first trillionaire. And that club could grow quickly over the next 10 years.
Has anyone ever had a net worth of $1 trillion? ›
A trillionaire is an individual with a net worth equal to at least one trillion in U.S. dollars or a similarly valued currency, such as the euro or the British pound. Currently, no one has yet claimed trillionaire status, although some of the world's richest individuals may only be a few years away from this milestone.
How rich is Taylor Swift? ›
Back in August 2017, Forbes reported that Taylor was worth $280 million. Then in June 2023, Forbes revealed that her net worth had increased to $740 million—up from $365 million in 2020. And now, as of February 2024? Bloomberg reported that Taylor's net worth is officially $1.1 billion.
Who was the world's first dollar billionaire? ›
The man who built a dynasty
But paving the way for them all was John D. Rockefeller, the world's first dollar billionaire.
Who wrote the billion dollar spy? ›
The Billion Dollar Spy: A True Story of Cold War Espionage and Betrayal is a non-fiction history book by David E. Hoffman.
Who started the first billion dollar business? ›
James Pierpont Morgan, Charles Schwab and Andrew Carnegie. These were three of the four founding partners of U.S. Steel (Elbert H Gary was the fourth), which at the time of its launch was the largest enterprise ever.
Who was the first to reach $100 billion dollars? ›
Gates first to hit $100 billion Gates first to hit $100 billion. Microsoft CEO Bill Gates has become the first man to top the $100 billionmark as a Wall Street stock surge late last week propelled the world'srichest man to new heights. According to the Britain's Daily Telegraph,Gates makes over $4.5 million an hour.