They're the authors whose work millions of us devour before going to sleep, on holiday or on the daily commute.
From romance to horror, they are the writers that dominate the bestseller charts week after week over decades.
Add in lucrative television and film adaptations and authors can become exceedingly wealthy.
We've taken a look at those who have banked the most bucks out of the publishing industry.
For the purposes of this list we've chosen people who are predominantly known for being authors, rather than those who happen to write books alongside other successful careers - meaning the likes of Amazon co-founder MacKenzie Scott ($36 billion) and entrepreneur Grant Cardone ($600 million) do not appear.
With that being said, here are the top 11 richest authors in the world in 2024, according to CelebrityNetWorth.
Add in lucrative television and film adaptations and authors can become exceedingly wealthy.
5. Stephen King
Being the master of horror pays a scary amount of money. Stephen King has made roughly $500 million out of his library of terrifying tales - many of which have been turned into Hollywood movies.
Legal thriller specialist John Grisham has made his estimated fortune of $400 million by writing a remarkable 37 consecutive number-one bestsellers, including the likes of The Firm, The Client and The Pelican Brief.
American romantic fiction writer Nora Roberts has written well over 200 novels under the pen names J.D. Robb, Jill March and Sarah Hardesty. They've earned her in the region of $400 million.
Her debut novel A Woman of Substance sold over 30 million copies - and Barbara Taylor Bradford went on to write another 38 bestsellers that topped the book charts on both sides of the Atlantic. Her success has meant she's now worth approximately $300 million.