The book "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" with an autograph by the writer J. K. Rowling

J. K. Rowling is a British writer, screenwriter and film producer, best known as the author of the Harry Potter series of novels, which became the best—selling book series in history and the basis for successful films. She personally approved the script of each film, and also joined the producers of the last two parts.

In 1995, the writer finished work on the first Harry Potter book and sent it to a publishing house, which categorically refused to cooperate. After 12 rejections, her book was accepted by the then little-known London literary agent Christopher Little. Thanks to him, Rowling signed a contract with a small young publishing house Bloomsbury, concluding a deal to print 500 copies of the book "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" and receiving an advance of 2.5 thousand pounds. And in October 1998, Rowling announced that she had signed a seven-figure contract with Warner Bros. for the film adaptation of her books.

She is also a major philanthropist, giving tens of millions of dollars to charity projects. Because of this, she even had to leave the Forbes list of billionaires — which, however, she does not regret at all. In an interview, she said that she devotes one day a week to charity and nothing else.