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OCTOBER 13, 2003 at 9:35 PM
Posted by GERI
Source: Forbes
There is real money being made in the land of make-believe. Not to mention in Middle Earth, 100 Acre Wood and in a galaxy far, far away. According to Forbes, Harry Potter is No. 3 on the Top-Earning Fictional Characters
list, earning an income of $2.9 billion, behind Winnie the Pooh with $5.9 billion, and Mickey Mouse with $4.7 billion.
Some notable characters who didn't quite make the list this year, include Homer Simpson, James Bond and Bob the Builder.
Last year, Potter fans spent $860 million to see his second movie and bought 10 million copies of his videogames. Even without a new book release last year, Harry's U.S. book sales toppled that of The Lord of the Rings series. Creator J.K. Rowling earned an estimated $131.4 million in 2002.
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Professor
Points: 1153
tokixjam says:
Wow...that's a lot of money. How can Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh beat Harry Potter? That's a bit weird. Homer Simpsons didn't make the list?? NOO!!! hahaha Oh well...Harry Potter made it! WHOO HOO!!
Posted Oct 13, 2003 at 9:56 PM EST
Witch
Points: 712
harryroxmysocks says:
Thats A LOT of money. But mickey and pooh have been around a lot longer, so it makes sense for them to beat Harry.
Posted Oct 13, 2003 at 10:17 PM EST
Head Boy
Points: 483
thegodwatcher says:
Yes the Mouse and Bear have been around longer but they are also cartoons, so they appeal to a much younger audience. Think 1-5 year olds. I'm glad to see that JK when from her meager beginnings to being able to buy a small country. Hope it keeps up that way. Tom
Posted Oct 14, 2003 at 12:49 AM EST
Witch
Points: 606
~*~Marauderette~*~ says:
It is good that Jo is rolling in the dough! If only everybody could have stories like that....I'm glad that Harry made the list! 3 BILLION! That's a whole lot of moolah! Mickey and Pooh deserve it too... I use to watch them when I was little...ok ok I still do!
Posted Oct 14, 2003 at 1:32 AM EST
Crookshanks Caretaker
Points: 3837
hermionefan1 says:
Thats awesome that Harry Potter is at #3. I wish he would have been in first thou.
Posted Oct 14, 2003 at 2:21 AM EST
Witch
Points: 611
Mdm Rosmerta says:
Wow. Harry fault seems to gain more and more galleons. What is he going to do with all the money. He won't even need to find a job after he graduates (if he survives that is) - he could buy the Malfoy mansion and live there.
Posted Oct 14, 2003 at 3:07 AM EST
Points: 351
Imelda Moonshine says:
It's no surprise HP topped Lord of the Rings, they have been out for decades, whereas HPs just starting.I'm amazed that Homer Simpson isn't on though, I buy enough of his stuff to keep Matt Groening for years!Glad Harry was high up though, cos he rules!(obviously)
Posted Oct 14, 2003 at 4:35 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1826
snapelupinfan says:
That's a lot of money. I guess Harry Potter will be top on the list in a few years. I also thought The Simpsons should be on the list but maybe next time.
Posted Oct 14, 2003 at 5:12 AM EST
Prefect
Points: 323
fang says:
You have to understand that Mickey and Winnie have been here for ages, I'm sure if HP lives through the ages (as I expect it will) we'll see these numbers tighten up to where the all about the same...fang
Posted Oct 14, 2003 at 6:32 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1990
HarrysGran says:
I think Harry did great for a newcomer, he's a real shooting star! I'm sooo proud of the dear (I'm saying this in Molly Weasley's voice...). And we all did it with buying Harry-stuff. Well, some of the stuff I like very much, for instance the books (that's clear), the dvds, posters and mousepads. But some things I really don't understand like these watches - what has Harry to do with a watch?
But my mousepad I love, I have it here at work and it always is good to start a discussion with collegues about Harry. Same goes for the screen-saver.
Posted Oct 14, 2003 at 6:49 AM EST
Witch
Points: 585
Joyce says:
I'm impressed. Winnie the Pooh and Mickey Mouse are clasic characters that have been around for a while. This just proves that Harry Potter is right up there with him. He is not a fad that will come and go. Harry Potter is a "Clasic".
Posted Oct 14, 2003 at 8:04 AM EST
Points: 67
Dansfan_13 says:
I agree totally with Joyce. HP is a sure as heck classic and hell stay there forever!
Posted Oct 14, 2003 at 10:14 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1068
Penumbra says:
This is excellent!! I love HP and the characters from LoTR and Middle Earth. Awesome!
Posted Oct 14, 2003 at 11:42 AM EST
Witch
Points: 676
Madame Rosmerta says:
That's quite an accomplishment! Mickey and Pooh have been around forever and Harry's right up there with them!!
Posted Oct 14, 2003 at 12:41 PM EST
Points: 790
M. Sebastian says:
I assume this includes all the Mattel and other manufacturers' toys, figures, clothing, etc., etc. What is surprising me is that so little new items have been brought out for several months. Even the 2004 calender is just photos from films 1 and 2. Haven't seen a new figure for ages. I expect when PoA comes out we will see huge amounts of new stuff. I would also expect that there is still a lot more merchandise out there for Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh, which appeal to a younger age.
Posted Oct 14, 2003 at 3:34 PM EST
Points: 520
HPSleuth says:
I like it when news comes out about Harry Potter being put out to the world, to compare him now to other fictional characters.
Posted Oct 14, 2003 at 3:44 PM EST
Metamorphmagus
Points: 37946
tonks black says:
If JKR doesn't want some of that money, I'll be glad to take it off her hands!
Posted Oct 14, 2003 at 3:53 PM EST
Old Chortlebones
Points: 2601
Newt Scamander says:
I'm not surprised that Harry isn't the top one, though it seems to me that Mickey Mouse would beat out Winnie the Pooh. Then again, Winnie has a lot more new material out, so, there ya go.
Posted Oct 14, 2003 at 4:53 PM EST
Witch
Points: 574
Tonks007 says:
How could mickey mouse beat Harry potter i understand the others but not Mickey Mouse.
Posted Oct 14, 2003 at 5:40 PM EST
Witch
Points: 742
TigerEyez says:
well yeeeeaaaah. I think we all expected that he would make the top of whatever list there is.
Posted Oct 14, 2003 at 7:18 PM EST
Witch
Points: 750
siriusgurl says:
L-O-L cool And yeah for Winnie and Mickey too! Thats loads of money...
Posted Oct 14, 2003 at 7:23 PM EST
Chief Brain Washer
Points: 2881
Chogiiiirl says:
It's great to see Harry Potter doing so well, especially compared to such longstanding fictional characters as Pooh and Mickey. Harry is my favorite of the bunch, however!
Posted Oct 14, 2003 at 7:25 PM EST
Witch
Points: 979
Butterbeer says:
Im a huge WTP fan...where that honey? But im surpised that Potter hasnt beat out mickey mouse yet.
Posted Oct 14, 2003 at 8:51 PM EST
Student
Points: 281
LiLSw33ti says:
Go Harry! I can't believe Winnie beat him though, he's not even that educational/entertaining...Bob the builder is better than him...
Posted Oct 14, 2003 at 9:20 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1106
Ima Quidditch Fan says:
Yea Harry! I loved this article, and I voted for Harry...
Posted Oct 14, 2003 at 10:53 PM EST
Witch
Points: 576
lac87 says:
Yeah I can see how Winnie and Mickey got into the top 2 along with harry, because everybody likes them, and they have been here longer than Harry has.....way longer.
Posted Oct 15, 2003 at 12:07 AM EST
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