According to a report in British newspaper The Sun, the much loved Harry Potter franchise has made an astronomical $9.94 billion since the last book was published in 2007. And thanks to ongoing and future sales associated with the franchise, that figure could go up to as high as $22.54 billion in the coming years.
Of this, 50-year-old Rowling’s personal fortune is estimated at approximately $702.73 million.
While the franchise figures on their own are jaw-dropping, they’re not entirely surprising given the widespread love and acclaim for the series about a boy wizard.
The first book hit the shelves in 1997 and the story of a young boy’s entry into the world of magic quickly took the world by storm. Seven books and eight films followed, as well as computer games, theme parks, spin-off stories and more merchandise than you could imagine.
Now, 19 years and 450 million copies later, the stories are the best-selling series in the world.
And with three major releases set for this year alone, the franchise shows no signs of slowing down any time soon.