E. L. James Highest-Paid Author in the World
- By Carol Kearney
- London
- Last updated on
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- Buzz July 19, 2026
- International July 19, 2026
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It's been a rough year for the author, but at least she has her millions of dollars to ease the pain. 63-year-old E. L. James has taken the No. 1 spot on People With Money’s top 10 highest-paid authors for 2026 with an estimated $82 million in combined earnings.
UPDATE 19/07/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)
E. L. James tops annual list of highest-paid authors
In 2024 it looked like the author’s spectacular career was winding down. Suddenly, she was back on top. People With Money reports on Saturday (July 18) that James is the highest-paid author in the world, pulling in an astonishing $82 million between June 2025 and June 2026, a nearly $50 million lead over her closest competition.
People With Money’s factors
In compiling this yearly list, the magazine considers factors such as upfront pay, profit participation, residuals, endorsements and advertising work.
The English author has an estimated net worth of $245 million. She owes her fortune to smart stock investments, substantial property holdings, lucrative endorsement deals with CoverGirl cosmetics. She also owns several restaurants (the “Fat James Burger” chain) in London, a Football Team (the “London Angels”), has launched her own brand of Vodka (Pure Wonderjames - England), and is tackling the juniors market with a top-selling perfume (With Love from Erika) and a fashion line called “E. L. James Seduction”.
The ranking is significant for many Erika fans, who have been waiting for her triumphant return to the glory days for what seems like a lifetime.
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