"Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling is the world's highest-paid writer, raking in $95 million in the past 12 months, according to Forbes annual list of the highest-paid authors.

Rowling made the top spot on the list for the first time in nearly a decade, knocking thriller author James Patterson into second with earnings of $87 million.

Rowling's huge earnings  were mostly the result of the success of the movie "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them," which she wrote and co-produced, and the hit play "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child."

Far below in earnings in the third spot, was children's book writer Jeff Kinney, of "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" success, with $21 million in earnings and Dan Brown of "The Da Vinci Code" fame in fourth with $20 million. Horror master Stephen King rounded out the top five.

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Fallen trees are shown near Kroger mall on Nathan Dean Blvd, Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Dallas. By about 6 p.m. Saturday, the National Weather Service had issue a tornado watch for parts of North Georgia, including Dalton, Calhoun, Ellijay and Jasper. That is in effect until 1 a.m. Sunday. Heavy storms are expected to reach northwest Georgia by around 8 p.m. (Hyosub Shin / AJC)

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