[Viral Now] J.K. Rowling Loses Her Billionaire Status Because Of Being Too Generous

J.K. Rowling was one of the richest people in the world in 2011, but since then her fortunes have decreased to such an extent that she is no longer a billionaire. Forbes announced their yearly list of the World’s Billionaires, but the Harry Potter author’s name was noticeably absent.

She was one of 129 people to be removed from the list that year, but her reason for leaving is a little different to the normal reason. The 51-year-old author’s departure was due to her sizeable donations to charity, as well as the high British taxes she is asked to pay.

J.K. Rowling’s Charity Work

Forbes, who have produced a yearly list of billionaires for over 20 years, said that Rowling’s declining fortune was mostly linked to her charitable giving, which has drastically lowered her bank balance. The magazine said: “New information about Rowlings’ estimated $160 million in charitable giving combined with Britain’s high tax rates bumped the Harry Potter scribe from our list this year.”

Lots of people would be sad to lose their billionaire status, but J.K. didn’t regret her decisions – in fact, she is very proud of her choices. She said:

“You have a moral responsibility when you’ve been given far more than you need, to do wise things with it and give intelligently.”

Her words are inspirational, and many people have a newfound respect for the extremely talented writer. She is one of the very few celebrities who can actually relate to people who are struggling financially, as she was once in a similar position.

Before Harry Potter was published the author was on benefits and struggling to make ends meet. During this time she also went through heartbreak and divorce, but she persevered and continued to put effort into achieving her dreams. At one point, she was even writing Harry Potter on free napkins in cafes. In the end, her determination paid off, and she quickly went from being an unemployed single mom to being the first billionaire author of all time.

This might have influenced her decision to give an astounding amount of money to various charities; Forbes estimate that the Harry Potter mastermind has given away $160 million to charity so far. Her main beneficiaries are charities that help single parent families; they offer free childcare facilities and they help single parents to find employment or enter education.

She also gives to other charities that are linked to children’s welfare, illiteracy, poverty and multiple sclerosis. She has also written three books for charity; “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” “The Tales of Beedle the Bard” and  “Quidditch Through the Ages” and “The Tales of Beedle the Bard.” These books alone have raised almost $30 million for various charities, which is pretty impressive.

Because of her charity work, J.K. Rowling is now a millionaire instead of a billionaire. She may no longer be on the Forbes list, but her generosity has changed the lives of thousands of people, which many people would agree is far more important. She truly is an inspiration; if everyone was as generous as she is, the world would be a much better place. Thank you, J.K. Rowling!

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Source: Lifehack.org