Harry Potter author richer than Queen

London - Boy wizard Harry Potter has conjured up enough cash to catapult author J. K. Rowling past Queen Elizabeth II on Britain's annual "rich list," published in this week's Sunday Times newspaper.

With ?280 million ($445.5 million), the author -- who wrote her first novel about a boy wizard while a single parent living on a state benefit of only ?70 a week -- is now Britain's 122nd richest person.

Of her fortune, ?150 million came from her books and the rest from film rights and Harry Potter merchandise. The fifth book in the series is due out this summer and the third film is on its way.

Queen Elizabeth, with ?250 million is ranked a mere 133rd on the list of her wealthy subjects.

For the third year running, Britain's richest person is the Duke of Westminster, whose property empire, including vast swathes of central London real estate, adds up to a total fortune of ?4.9 billion.

Hans Rausing, creator of the Tetra-Pak long-life milk carton, remains number two, with ?4.8 billion. Formula 1 motor racing czar Bernie Ecclestone is in third place, moving up from fifth even though his total wealth actually fell.

The global market slide has hurt Britain's super-rich: the total wealth of the 1,000 richest Britons is down by about two percent on last year. But there are still 21 billionaires in the country, the same number as last year. -- CNN News

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