James named ‘Forbes’ highest earning author

Fifty Shades Of Grey author EL James has topped a list of the world’s highest earning authors.

The British writer — who became a sales phenomenon last year — took in an estimated £62m (€72m) according to the data compiled by Forbes magazine.

James, whose real name is Erika Leonard, made her debut on Forbes’s list of the top-earning authors this year.

A film adaptation of the first of her Fifty Shades erotica trilogy is expected next year for which she is believed to have pocketed over £3m for the rights.

Alex Cross writer James Patterson is second, having generated almost £60m in the survey, based on sales data, published information, and details from industry sources for the year to June.