In Forbes magazine 2019 list of the richest self-made American women, three book authors made the list. These are women who built their fortunes writing books. Among the richest self-made American women, there were dozens who had written a book as well but had built their fortunes by other means. Among those wealthy women are Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres, Kim Kardashian West, Meg Whitman, Sheryl Sandberg, Katie Rodan, Kathy Fields, Sara Blakely, Tory Burch, Rihanna, Madonna, Vera Wang, Celine Dion, Judy Sheindlin, Donna Karan, Barbra Streisand, Lynda Weinman, Serena Williams, and Reese Witherspoon.
Here are the three richest self-made American women book authors …
Nora Roberts, nee Eleanor Marie Robertson, romance and mystery novelist. Because she has been so prolific as a book author, she also writes under the pseudonyms of J.D. Robb, Jill March, and Sarah Hardesty. She was the first author inducted into the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame. Her novels have spent over 1,000 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Through her Nora Roberts Foundation, she has donated more than $50 million to support literacy and children’s programs. Worth: $390 million.
Danielle Steel, romance novelist. She has also written poetry and children’s books. Her books have sold more than 800 million copies around the world. Via the Nick Traina Foundation (named after her son), she donates to organizations that treat mental illness. Worth: $375 million.
Pleasant Rowland, founder of Pleasant Company and the American Girl history books and dolls. She sold her company to Mattel in 1998 for $700 million. Since then, she has set up the Rowland Reading Foundation to provide curriculum materials and training to teachers. Worth: $310 million.
About John Kremer
John Kremer is author of 1001 Ways to Market Your Books, the Relationships Matter Marketing program, and many other books and reports on book marketing, Internet marketing, social media, and book publicity. -- John Kremer on Book Marketing.
