J. K. Rowling

Joanne "Jo" Rowling (born 31 July 1965) is a British author, best known for the bestselling Harry Potter series of fantasy novels. The idea for the Harry Potter series came to Rowling in 1990 while on a train trip from Manchester to London. Each novel in the series tells the story of one of Harry Potter's school years at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. In addition to the Harry Potter series, she has written three spin-off books: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (a 2001 Comic Relief supplement describing a range of creatures inhabiting the Potter universe), Quidditch Through The Ages (another Comic Relief supplement tracing the history of Quidditch, the broomstick-based sport played in the Potter universe) and The Tales of Beedle the Bard (a collection of wizarding children's tales that Hermione Granger receives as a plot device in the final Harry Potter book, and apparently taught to young wizards in the Potter universe as a canon much like the Brothers Grimm).

The 'K.' in Rowling's pen name stands for Kathleen, but was an addition by her publisher to help sell books to young boys.

The Sunday Times listed her on their 2008 rich list as the 144th richest person in Britain. Rowling is worth over $1 (U.S.) billion.