British author and business owner, J.K. Rowling, has returned to Forbes’ billionaire list following fresh earnings from the Harry Potter franchise.

She made the cut again in May 2025, after raking in over $80 million yearly from books, films, theme parks, theatre and video games.

The 59-year-old first entered the Forbes list in 2004 but dropped off in 2012 after donating a large portion of her wealth to charity.

Forbes now estimates her net worth at $1.2 billion.

Rowling’s comeback is tied to renewed global interest in the Potter series. HBO Max recently signed her on for a 10-year television remake of the books.

She is expected to earn about $20 million every year from the deal.

According to HBO Max CEO, Casey Bloys, “She’s entitled to those views,” while confirming that Rowling played a key role in selecting the show’s writer and director.

Theme parks remain another major source of income. Universal Studios, which hosts the “Wizarding World” attractions in Orlando, Tokyo and Beijing, saw a sharp rise in attendance and revenue after adopting the franchise.

A Warner Bros. studio tour near London also made over $300 million in 2023 alone, with Rowling receiving a share from merchandise sold.

Despite criticism over her views on gender issues, Rowling has kept control of her brand.

She owns rights to all new content and earns royalties from adaptations and spin-offs.

Forbes noted that in 2023, Hogwarts Legacy, a video game based on the Harry Potter world, sold 24 million copies and made over $1 billion globally.

Rowling, who once relied on welfare before her books became popular, published “Harry Potter” and the “Philosopher’s Stone” in 1997.