Elena Ferrante Highest-Paid Author in the World

It's been a rough year for the author, but at least she has her millions of dollars to ease the pain. 83-year-old Elena Ferrante 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 12/08/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Elena Ferrante 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 Tuesday (August 11) that Ferrante is the highest-paid author in the world, pulling in an astonishing $82 million between July 2025 and July 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 Italian 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 Ferrante Burger” chain) in Rome, a Football Team (the “Naples Angels”), has launched her own brand of Vodka (Pure Wonderferrante - Italy), and is tackling the juniors market with a top-selling perfume (With Love from Elena) and a fashion line called “Elena Ferrante Seduction”.

The ranking is significant for many Elena fans, who have been waiting for her triumphant return to the glory days for what seems like a lifetime.

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