Joanne Rowling, who writes under the pen-name J. K. Rowling and Robert Galbraith, is a British writer and film producer, mainly known for being the creator of the acclaimed series of the Harry Potter books . The Harry Potter books have attracted attention and acclaim all over the world, won multiple awards and sold more than 450 million copies.In addition to writing these novels, Rowling is equally famous for having gone from poor to multimillionaire in just five years. The 2008 Sunday Times Rich List estimated Rowling's fortune at £ 560m, making her the 12th richest woman in Britain. Forbes ranked Rowling on the list for the most powerful celebrities of 2007, and Time Magazine selected her as "Character of the Year" in the same year, highlighting the social, moral and political inspiration she has given to the characters of Harry Potter. She has become a notable philanthropist.