Author J.K. Rowling Off Billionaire List

J.K. Rowling gives billionaires a good name

It’s an ambitious dream for many to one day score a spot on Forbes magazine’s annual list of billionaires, and J.K. Rowling has achieved that, but maybe even more impressive is the fact that she has been booted from the prestigious roster.

I’m sure Rowling is not really sweatin’ it, seeing she’s just been knocked down to millionaire status (hear those tiny violins?). Seriously though, she’s such a rockstar because the reason she’s been pulled from the list is because she has given so much to charity.

Apparently, Rowling’s philanthropic ways, along with the heavy taxation imposed on high earners like her in Britain, contributed to the list ‘downgrade’.

The author was estimated to be worth $1 billion last year, with most of it coming from her books and the Harry Potter franchise.

According to The Telegraph (via NZ Herald News), “New information about Rowling’s estimated US$160 million in charitable giving combined with Britain’s high tax rates bumped the Harry Potter scribe from our list this year.”

In case you missed it, Mexican telco chief Carlos Slim Helu topped the list as the world’s richest man, with $69 billion, while Bill Gates and Warren Buffett followed with $61 and $44 billion respectively.

All I have to say is the world is a better place with people like Rowling. I haven’t read too much about Carlos Slim, but I have heard how much Gates has donated to charity (over $28 billion last year!). So kudos to them!