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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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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
Auror
Points: 2465
undisputed760 says:
That's pretty amazing for being a fictional person haha. In that case im an interesting fictional character too.
Posted Jan 17, 2005 at 2:48 AM EST
Witch
Points: 971
Professor Granger says:
Oh no!!! I do love Frodo and LOTR but Harry Potter should be number #1. Hopefully with a new book and movie on the way it will get boosted back up. Go Go HP! Go Go HP!
Posted Jan 24, 2005 at 8:46 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2438
*starfox* says:
I can't believe that Winnie the Pooh is still as big of an icon today as it was when I was a kid (many years ago!). I'll bet that Harry Potter will be closer to the top after the rest of the books come out (as well as the movies).
Posted Feb 4, 2005 at 2:21 AM EST
Wizard
Points: 539
Emma's true fan and lover says:
well it's good news that Harry Potter is in the top 5, but why did it drop? it should be atleast on number 2 if not 1. well, just wait till the 6th book comes out followed by the 4th movie, Harry Potter will go straight up the list.
Posted Feb 4, 2005 at 4:21 PM EST
Squib
Points: 149
Umika says:
We should see this changing for this year with the release of HBP - he'll climb up the list again!
Posted Feb 5, 2005 at 8:29 AM EST
Witch
Points: 809
~Hermione <3's Ron~ says:
Wow! That is pretty cool for HP to be on the Forbes list for the second year in a row. Watch when the 6th book comes out, it will probably be number 1!
mwa!
Posted Feb 10, 2005 at 8:08 PM EST
Student
Points: 235
Celedora says:
I'm really surprised that he dropped on the list. I don't think that will be the case for long. With a new book and a film coming out so close together I think our favorite boy hero will back on top in no time.
Posted Feb 10, 2005 at 9:05 PM EST
Witch
Points: 750
magna says:
are you kidding me? Harry Potter is behind frodo baggins?? Its a scam. jk... too bad.
Posted Mar 28, 2005 at 8:26 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 24
HPSavvy says:
Number 4 really isn't very bad, considering the new LOTR movies. After a few months, though, everyone will lose interest, since the Return of the King is already getting old. What about that new Star Wars movie? Competition? Now way!!!!!
Posted Apr 23, 2005 at 3:56 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 24
HPSavvy says:
Number 4 really isn't very bad, considering the new LOTR movies. After a few months, everyone will lose interest in Frodo, since Return of the King is already getting old. What about that new Star Wars movie? Competition? No way!!!!!
Posted Apr 23, 2005 at 4:00 PM EST
Divine Intervention
Points: 2619
PhantomFingers says:
I like them all, but at least Harry's in the top ten, he just rocks doesn't he!?!?!
Posted May 18, 2005 at 3:31 AM EST
Head Girl
Points: 467
the_pensieve says:
I can see where Mickey would be number one, but Winnie the Pooh beating Harry Potter?!
Posted May 22, 2005 at 1:39 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 335
Jamie loves Cedric says:
Harry did great this year. J.K. Rowling sjould be honored just to have her character in the same catagory as some classical characters like Mickey Mouse and Frodo Baggins. I truly think that Harry Potter will dod so much better when Book six Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince comes out on July 16.
Posted Jun 12, 2005 at 12:34 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1664
Looooney says:
It's dropped to #4!?!? How will she ever afford to pay her bills? I mean, $2.8 billion buys nothing these days. Maybe she'll at least be able to buy a loaf of bread for her kids.
Honestly! She's still doing awesome!
Posted Jun 27, 2005 at 2:38 PM EST
Student
Points: 218
kara2009 says:
congrats Jk....we are all proud. i mean i liked alot of those charicters but harry should of been #1.
Posted Jul 9, 2005 at 4:34 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 776
The Third Eye says:
I vote definitely vote for Harry Potter being true because that is just so like the ultimate dream come true!
Posted Jan 20, 2006 at 12:24 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1180
July_21_GAH says:
pooh? Pooh? POoh? POOh? POOH!!!!???? No way! Not happening, it isn't possiblet that Pooh Bear is better than HP. I mean, come on!! POOH? NOOOOOO!!
Posted Jun 24, 2006 at 11:54 AM EST
Witch
Points: 859
hwhitesi says:
Very cute article. It would definitely be trippy to think about characters as being real and how much they would be worth. WOW.
Posted Aug 20, 2006 at 5:45 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 480
Geowitch says:
What a phenominal accomplishment for JKR to have created something in her head that has a market value in the mutli billion dollar range. By the time the series is truely finished it will go on for just as long as the pooh bear and mickey mouse franchises have. he will overtake Bilbo but not the first two, they have a more general audience.
Posted Aug 24, 2006 at 7:37 PM EST
Witch
Points: 542
Tara Piglet says:
Rowling will be raking it in for decades to come. Everyone is going to have kids growing up with all her books and all her movies... and her merchandise tooo. I really love her and I think she has made a great contribution to the world. I know it was only a matter of time before something this great would come around... but it hasn't changed how great it really is.
Posted Jan 15, 2007 at 6:34 PM EST
Rickmaniac to the Core
Points: 2564
snaily says:
Oh my! I can't believe Pikachu and Pokemon were also on the list! My little brother used to adore it! He grew over it gradually.. hehe..
Posted Dec 22, 2008 at 2:41 PM EST
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