Would a new ‘Harry Potter’ TV show boost JK Rowling’s net worth?
The Hollywood Reporter has reported that a live-action Harry Potter TV series is officially in the works at HBO Max. Currently, writers & producers seem to only have discussed broad ideas about bringing the world of Harry Potter back to life. If this idea comes to fruition, how much will JK Rowling’s net worth be impacted?
While no current talent is attached to the project, several early-stage “exploratory meetings” have taken place, hellbent on figuring out how to revive this beloved property based on the books by JK Rowling.
The books were eventually turned into a series of live-action films, distributed by Warner Bros. that ran from 2001 to 2011. While it’s unclear if this new series will reimagine the original Harry Potter books or will take on an original story within the same world, similar to the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them films, one thing is certain . . . everybody loves printing free money, as JK Rowling’s net worth proves.
JK Rowling unleashes the magic
JK Rowling is a fifty-five year old British author who famously brought the world of Harry Potter to life when she released the first of the series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in 1997 with Bloomsbury as the publisher. The series spanned a total of seven books, garnering much praise from readers across the world, as JK Rowling gave them a magical world to which they could escape.
The film rights to the series were purchased by Warner Bros. in 1998 for a heavy sum, releasing the first Harry Potter film during the Thanksgiving season of 2001. The series featured an ensemble cast with the likes of Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, Tom Felton, Warwick Davis, Julie Walters, John Hurt, Robbie Coltrane, Richard Harris, and Michael Gambon.
The eight-film series (due to the final book being split up into two separate films) grossed an astounding $7.7 billion based on a series budget of $1.2 billion. This had to have just slightly affected JK Rowling’s net worth, wouldn’t you agree? Bet you ordered a glass of top-shelf pumpkin juice when she hit the billion-dollar club.
JK Rowling finds new income
Not only did JK Rowling reap the benefits of the financial success of the Harry Potter films, but she also saw her net worth grow even higher thanks to the opening of two Harry Potter theme parks. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened at Universal Studios Orlando in June 2010, followed by a second location at Universal Studios Hollywood in April 2016.
Not only did JK Rowling financially benefit from the theme parks, but also from the release of a new series of films taking place inside the world of Harry Potter, called Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. These films, first launching in 2015, haven’t seen the same critical praise as the initial Harry Potter films, but are still pressing forward despite critical concerns.
Now, the British author & producer may be looking forward to a new series of checks, given the exciting news of a new Harry Potter TV series being in the works at the HBO Max streaming service, projected to bring her in over $100 million dollars.
JK Rowling’s net worth
Celebrity Net Worth has estimated that JK Rowling has a net worth of over $1 billion dollars.
Yeah, after seeing that figure we slapped ourselves in the head so hard that it left a Harry Potter-like scar.
Through books, films, theme parks, merchandise, endorsements, and many other sources, JK Rowling is officially set for life, waving her writing pencil as if it’s the elder wand itself. Although her controversial comments in 2020 regarding the transgender community may have lost her some favor with certain endorsements, we’re sure she’ll still be financially secure for a wizard’s lifetime of three-hundred years.
