Image Credit: Getty Images J.K. Rowling is one of the most successful book authors in history. As the brains Harry Potter, the English writer and film producer's name became synonymous with a rags-to-riches story, having written the first fantasy novel while struggling financially. Three decades later, J.K. is now a billionaire with a high net worth. Below, learn more about J.K.'s rise to success, her other books and where her net worth stands today. When Did J.K. Rowling Write Harry Potter? The first novel in the franchiser, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, was published in 1997.