Forbes’ rich list reveals Rowling’s Potter gold

HARRY POTTER author JK Rowling has joined the ranks of the world’s ultra-rich and is now estimated to be worth an astonishing €804 million, it was revealed yesterday.

With an estimated net worth of $1 billion (€804m) the former single mother has made her debut on the Forbes magazine’s billionaires list at number 552.

Thanks to the sale of 250 million copies of the five novels featuring the young wizard, €1,577m grossed from the two films, plus toy sales, Rowling is now rubbing shoulders with the wealthiest people on the planet.

Also new from Britain to the 587-strong list are the Barclay Brothers, who are at number 159 with a net value of €2,366m for their property, retail and media empire.

Ranked 406 is Phones4U tycoon John Cauldwell, who is worth €1,102m.

The Duke of Westminster, Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor, is Britain’s richest citizen, with €6,861m, and is at number 36, leading the 17 Brits who made the list.

Behind him are Bhs owner Philip Green on €3,943m and the Sainsbury family on €3,153m.

For the 10th year running Microsoft founder Bill Gates tops the overall list with a net fortune of €36,745m.

The 18th list sees the ultra-rich getting even richer, and more numerous.

The collective net worth of those on the list has leapt to €1.5 trillion, while there were 64 new entries this year.

There were 56 re-entries and only 13 people have fallen off the list.