They're the genius wordsmiths whose work millions of us devour before going to sleep, on holiday or on the daily commute.
From romance and mystery to crime and horror, they are the authors that dominate the bestseller charts week after week over decades - and may end up in more than a few Christmas stockings.
Add in lucrative television and film adaptations and authors can become exceedingly wealthy.
We've taken a look at those who have banked the most bucks out of the publishing industry.
For the purposes of this list we've chosen people who are predominantly known for being authors, rather than those who happen to write books alongside other successful careers - meaning the likes of entrepreneurs Grant Cardone and Tony Robbins ($600 million each) do not appear.
With that being said, here are the top 13 richest living authors in the world in 2025, according to CelebrityNetWorth.
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9. Jeffrey Archer - $200 million
Former Conservative MP Jeffrey Archer may have come close to bankcrupcy following a financial scandal - and served time behind bars for perjury and perverting the course of justice - but his string of bestselling books have proved hugely profitable. 'Kane and Abel' alone has sold over 34 million copies. He's thought to be worth around $200 million. | Getty Images for Together For Sh
10. R.L. Stine - $200 million
Known as 'the Stephen King of children's literature' R.L. Stine has authored hundreds of scary novels for kids - including the hugely successful Goosebumps series. It's seen him become rich to the tune of around $200 million. | Getty Images
11. Dan Brown - $160 million
'The Da Vinci Code' was a publishing phenomenon and Dan Brown has taken full advantage, writing a series of sequels about his hero Robert Langdon. He's thought to have sold over 250 million books, helping him amass an estimated fortune of $160 million. | Getty Images
12. E.L. James - $150 million
They say that sex sells and E. L. James has proven that - making a fortune out of her 'Fifty Shades' series of novels. Originally written as 'Twilight' fan fiction, it has earned her in the region of $150 million. | Getty Images