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OCTOBER 22, 2004 at 10:36 AM
Posted by GERI
Source: Forbes magazine
Once again Forbes magazine have published their list of Top-earning fictional characters
for 2003, with the top 10 earning a combined total of $23 billion. Harry Potter dropped one spot from the 2002 list to this year’s No. 4 with an estimated income of $2.8 billion behind Mickey Mouse & Friends with $5.8 billion, Winnie the Pooh & Friends with $5.6 billion & Frodo Baggins, Lord of the Rings with $2.9 billion.
According to Forbes:
Creator: J.K. Rowling
Birth Date: 1998
Debut Role: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, a book
Known Associates: Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley
Bringing in more than $500 million in video game sales alone, this wizard-to-be has earned himself a spot on our list for the second year in a row. On and off the Quidditch field, Harry Potter is truly multidimensional--with fans in love with his books, movies, videogames and merchandise, Potter's creator, J.K. Rowling, earned an estimated $147 million last year and has a net worth of $1 billion, becoming the first author to qualify for a spot on our world's billionaire list (No. 552) based only on earnings from their writing.
Coming Attraction: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban on DVD & VHS (November 2004)
Cashing In: Scholastic, Bloomsbury Publishing, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Mattel, J.K. Rowling
Rounding out the top ten: Nemo, Finding Nemo with $2 billion, Yu-Gi-Oh! with $1.6 billion, SpongeBob Squarepants with $1.5 billion, Spider-Man with $1.3 billion, Wolverine, X-Men with $900 million and Pikachu, Pokémon with $825 million.
While you're reading the article why not take the time to answer their poll question: If you could enter a land of make-believe for one day, what would you choose to do? Currently the Harry Potter answer is leading the pack.
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Wizard
Points: 864
emmasboy4ever says:
all rite at leasst harrypotter POA is still in the standings but i still want them to be ##1..oh well..hey can any one tell me how they did those kool screenname picutures 4 hpana.com ..i hate using the pre made ones..........EMMA ROCKS
Posted Oct 24, 2004 at 4:00 PM EST
Peeves's Pet Peeve
Points: 2679
*_WizKid_* says:
YAY! Number four is DEFINITELY not bad. This is cool. Makes me happy happy happy :D. It will most likely move up to number 3 soon. Because of the DVD and HBP. -Wizkid
Posted Oct 24, 2004 at 4:19 PM EST
Auror
Points: 4080
RON's all up in heRmiONe says:
I have spent a lot of money on harry potter, but not as much as friends, boy do I need to catch up. if i do, i will get killed.
Posted Oct 24, 2004 at 8:33 PM EST
Student
Points: 270
Hannah Radcliffe says:
It should have been #1...oh well. Close enough.
Posted Oct 24, 2004 at 8:40 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1198
Head-of-the-Order says:
They will continue to earn money, so they will stay up there for a while!
No matter what aanyone says they are number 1 in my book!
Posted Oct 24, 2004 at 9:21 PM EST
Wind Made Solid
Points: 2579
GryffindorGrad99 says:
Wow, that is sooo much money!!!! Even though it dropped in its spot, I'd say Harry Potter is still doing really well! You know, though, I didn't think Mickey Mouse stuff was still so popular... I guess because I'm older... I just never see much about MM anymore.
Posted Oct 24, 2004 at 10:26 PM EST
Professional Beater
Points: 20891
feltonluver says:
That really sucks that harry potter dropped down one spot, but at least they are still up there. Screw winnie the pooh hehe.
Posted Oct 25, 2004 at 12:20 AM EST
Points: 66
Imelda says:
Wait til next year when HBP (hopefully) is released! She'll be topping that list for sure!
Posted Oct 25, 2004 at 5:31 AM EST
Witch
Points: 911
bethysmalls says:
If I could really enter a fantasy world for a day and do anything I wanted, I'm not sure that's the FIRST thing I'd do, but it would definitely be on the itinerary. My actual dreams never follow much of a locigal path so I'm sure my fantasy world wouldn't either.
Posted Oct 25, 2004 at 7:18 AM EST
Witch
Points: 862
Lilison says:
2.8 billion is nothing to sneeze at!!! I am happy for Jk and her family. WOuldn't we all like to be rich beyond our wildest dreams!
Posted Oct 25, 2004 at 11:55 AM EST
Prof. of Cultural Literacy
Points: 4469
PowerGranger says:
#4 sounds pretty amazing to me. I can't argue with the force of Disney, as far as marketing goes (Winnie the Pooh is Disney too, for those without small kids), even if I don't particularly like the stuff. And Frodo/LOTR is riding pretty high from the past few years. But since LOTR is unlikely to gain popularity now that the series is concluded, I think HP has a very good chance of being at least #3 next year.
Posted Oct 25, 2004 at 4:36 PM EST
Student
Points: 249
Loony Lovegood 1283 says:
I guess since the 6th Harry Potter book isn't out yet that she isn't making as much on the Forbes list. Money doesn't matter though. As long as she continues writing the books, she could be a poor muggle!
Posted Oct 25, 2004 at 7:24 PM EST
Points: 3723
emma'shockeyplayer says:
Thats cool because i never thought harry potter would stay atop the childrens list for too long, because most of the kids that have the book probly cant read it. I would definately choose harry potter for a virtual land for a day experience.
Posted Oct 26, 2004 at 4:08 PM EST
Transfiguration Professor
Points: 2990
Choralee says:
So we dropped on the list? At least we are still on the list!! I did not know Forbes had a list of fictional characters!
Posted Oct 26, 2004 at 6:53 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1542
Supreme Mugwump says:
That is still pretty good considering who did beat Harry Potter. Congrats to JKR again for coming up with her ideas and giving us such loved characters.
Posted Oct 26, 2004 at 9:48 PM EST
The Extra Terrestrial
Points: 2771
THE GREEN FLAME says:
this year’s No. 4 with an estimated income of $2.8 billion...ok ok..But why no 4???????????/
behind Mickey Mouse & Friends with $5.8 billion, Winnie the Pooh & Friends with $5.6 billion...what is this?????/
i used to read them when i was younger..but i wouldn't say they are better than harry potter! Frodo Baggins????what is that??????/
Lord of the Rings with $2.9 billion.I have heard of it.But never read the book or watched the films..**sigh**
Posted Oct 27, 2004 at 8:08 AM EST
Points: 1108
little ray of SuNsHiNe says:
An answer to that question.... Harry Potter. Yeah. I think I answered the question right.
Posted Oct 27, 2004 at 8:27 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 353
lovethekeeper says:
I wish that he was number one but at least Harry Potter made the list. That is really cool. Maybe when the next book comes out he will make number one.
Posted Oct 28, 2004 at 1:04 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1024
OtterPotter says:
thats impossible!! Harry should be #1!
Harry is the best!
Posted Oct 28, 2004 at 11:35 PM EST
Student
Points: 237
Ange says:
Kids don't even really watch Winnie the Pooh anymore! I mean everyone loves Winnie the Pooh but come on! Harry Potter has got to beat that!
Posted Nov 2, 2004 at 2:14 AM EST
Witch
Points: 977
Griphyndor says:
Hp should be number one, I wonder if the figures are fixed so hp doesn't win everything every time. well I think it should 1st.
Posted Nov 6, 2004 at 4:54 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1534
Stoutheart says:
Boy I wish I could make that kind of money! Jeeze! I know she doesn't keep all of that, or doesn't even see all of that, but it would still be awesome to say that you made something that was bringing in that kind of cash.
Posted Nov 19, 2004 at 4:29 PM EST
Squib
Points: 198
*~Water Princess~* says:
I've watched LOTR and HP... I'd say Hp is better than LOTR!!! After all it was good........
Posted Dec 8, 2004 at 2:32 AM EST
Dragon Rider
Points: 4437
~MalfoyPotter~ says:
Harry Potter should be Number 1!!!
Lord Of The Rings should be last!!
Haaa....
Go HP!!
Posted Dec 12, 2004 at 8:44 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1264
-Alf- says:
First of all to be at least on the Top Five in a Forbes magazine is really an honor. It just shows how consistent Harry Potter is compared to other things that usually can't fit into the Harry Potter caliber.
Posted Dec 15, 2004 at 12:30 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 457
fawkes17 says:
He should be number one. Oh well.... He's still the best! Three cheers for Harry Potter!
Posted Dec 23, 2004 at 2:56 PM EST
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