While many aspiring writers and novelists struggle to make a name for themselves while still in their 20s, it’s important to note that many of the world’s most successful authors didn’t crack the big time till middle age. The sad truth is, we can’t all be the next overnight sensation, like J.K. Rowling. But there’s always hope for hardworking young scribes to jump from relative anonymity on, say, a fanfiction site, to having movie deals – as recently shown by E. L. James.

And even though an English degree might seem to be the ideal foundation for building a successful writing career, lawyers, artists and accountants – and even those with no university education – have become international best-selling authors.

Scan our list of the 10 richest authors in the world – which includes information on their net worth, and educational and publishing backgrounds – and you’ll see that authors come in all shapes and sizes:

* First published in Asia’s leading education website, www.easyuni.com