J. K. Rowling

Awards & Honours

Awards Won

Honours

Rankings

Covers

Records

J. K. Rowling's achievements are extraordinary by any measure. She is the only author to have sold over 600 million copies of a single series, and the Harry Potter books have been translated into 84 languages. The film adaptations grossed $7.7 billion, making it one of the highest-grossing franchises in cinema history. Her pseudonymous crime novels have also topped bestseller lists, proving her range. Her honours include the OBE and Companion of Honour, and she has been recognised by Forbes as the world's highest-paid author. Her philanthropy through Lumos has helped millions of children in institutional care, and her recent support for women's causes has sparked global conversations.

AwardsRowling has won numerous awards for her writing and philanthropy. She has received the British Book Awards Children's Book of the Year, Author of the Year, and Outstanding Achievement Award, as well as the Whitbread Book of the Year, Hugo Award, Locus Award, and Bram Stoker Award. Her work on the Harry Potter films earned her a Primetime Emmy as a producer. She has also been honoured with the OBE and Companion of Honour for her contributions to literature.

Honours & Distinctions

Order of the British Empire (OBE)

UK Government·2001

Appointed for services to children's literature.

Companion of Honour (CH)

UK Government·2017

One of the UK's highest honours, for services to literature and philanthropy.

Prince of Asturias Award for Concord

Prince of Asturias Foundation·2003

Recognised for her humanitarian work.

Hans Christian Andersen Literature Award

Hans Christian Andersen Literature Award Committee·2010

For her contribution to children's literature.

Edinburgh Award

City of Edinburgh Council·2008

The city's highest honour, for her contributions to the city.

Guinness World Record

Guinness World Records·2007

Fastest-selling book in history for Deathly Hallows.

Honorary degrees

University of Exeter, University of Aberdeen, University of Edinburgh, Harvard University, St Andrews University·Various

Multiple honorary doctorates in recognition of her literary and philanthropic work.

Rankings & Lists

World's Highest-Paid Author

Forbes·2008

#Included

TIME 100 Most Influential People

TIME·2008

#Listed

100 Greatest Britons

BBC·2002

Magazine Covers

TIME

2005

The Harry Potter Phenomenon

Vanity Fair

2000

Profile during Goblet of Fire release

The New Yorker

2012

Post-Potter career profile

Sunday Times Magazine

Various

Multiple career features

Records & Feats

Best-selling book series in history

Sales Record·2007

Harry Potter series has sold over 600 million copies worldwide.

Fastest-selling book in history

Sales Record·2007

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows sold 8.3 million copies in the first 24 hours in the UK and US.

Highest-grossing book series film adaptation

Box Office·2011

The eight Harry Potter films grossed over $7.7 billion at the worldwide box office.