Ken Follett Net Worth

What is Ken Follett's net worth?

Ken Follett is a Welsh author who has a net worth of $100 million. Ken Follett's mastery of historical and suspense fiction has made him one of the most commercially successful novelists of all time. After beginning his career as a journalist and editor, Follett achieved global fame with his 1978 thriller "Eye of the Needle," which won the Edgar Award and sold millions of copies worldwide. He went on to write a string of bestselling espionage novels, including "Triple," "The Key to Rebecca," and "Lie Down with Lions," all noted for their meticulous research and cinematic storytelling.

In 1989, Follett shifted his focus to historical fiction with "The Pillars of the Earth," an epic set in 12th-century England about the building of a cathedral in the fictional town of Kingsbridge. The book became a cultural phenomenon, selling over 27 million copies and inspiring both sequels and a television adaptation. Its success led to two additional Kingsbridge novels—"World Without End" (2007) and "A Column of Fire" (2017)—as well as the prequel "The Evening and the Morning" (2020).

Beyond Kingsbridge, Follett has written the acclaimed "Century Trilogy," which chronicles the intertwined lives of five families across World War I, World War II, and the Cold War, beginning with "Fall of Giants" in 2010. Known for blending rich historical detail with propulsive storytelling, Follett's novels have sold more than 180 million copies worldwide, establishing him as one of the most enduring and influential authors of his generation.

Advances & Rights Sales

Ken's very first book advance was 200 Pounds, earned for what eventually became "The Big Needle."

In 1977, he earned a £1,500 advance for what became "Eye of the Needle." As excitement around this book grew in the literary world, Ken decided to offer the US hardcover rights for sale. The rights went for $20,000. He then offered the US paperback rights. Hoping to earn $40,000 – $50,000, the paperback rights ended up selling for $800,000. He received 2/3rds of that windfall, roughly $540,000, which in today's dollars is the same as around $2.6 million.

In a 2001 interview with the New York Times, Ken revealed that at that time he was receiving $6 million as an advance for each book he produced. That put him in the same league as author powerhouses like James Patterson, Michael Crichton, and Tom Clancy. Furthermore, Ken revealed that he negotiated advances to be paid in monthly installments, AS HE WROTE, as opposed to traditional deals that paid small amounts up front and the vast majority upon delivery.

In the same interview, which took place in 2001, Ken was asked if his net worth was as high as $36 million as had been estimated by British journalists. In response, he said:

"My net worth is actually about £12 million. Journalists in this country simply make stuff up."

In 2001, £12 million was worth the same as roughly $17 million USD, which is the same as around $30 million in today's dollars after adjusting for inflation.

Film Deals

It has been estimated that Ken has earned $30-60 million selling the film rights to his various properties.

Early Life

Kenneth Martin Follett was born on June 5, 1949, in Cardiff, Wales. The eldest of four children, he grew up in a strict Plymouth Brethren household where television, movies, and popular culture were forbidden, which helped cultivate his early love of reading. When he was ten, his family moved to London, where he attended Harrow Weald Grammar School. Follett went on to study philosophy at University College London, graduating in 1970.

After university, Follett briefly pursued postgraduate studies in journalism and took a job as a reporter for the Evening News in London. Although he enjoyed aspects of reporting, he found the daily grind of journalism uninspiring and soon transitioned into book publishing, joining a small London publishing house called Everest Books as deputy managing director. His experience in the publishing world provided valuable insight into the commercial side of literature—knowledge that would later help him navigate his own career as a bestselling author.

Early Career and Breakthrough

Follett began writing fiction in his spare time during the early 1970s. His first few novels, written under pseudonyms, achieved modest success but failed to gain widespread attention. That changed in 1978 with the publication of "Eye of the Needle," a World War II espionage thriller about a German spy attempting to escape Britain with vital intelligence ahead of the D-Day invasion. The novel was an international sensation, earning critical acclaim and selling over 10 million copies. It also won the prestigious Edgar Award for Best Novel and was adapted into a 1981 film starring Donald Sutherland.

The success of "Eye of the Needle" made Follett a full-time novelist and set the tone for the next decade of his career. He went on to publish several more thrillers that cemented his reputation as a master of the genre, including "Triple" (1979), "The Key to Rebecca" (1980), "The Man from St. Petersburg" (1982), and "Lie Down with Lions" (1986). His early works were known for their taut plotting, historical backdrops, and espionage themes, often drawing comparisons to authors like John le Carré and Frederick Forsyth.

DANIEL ROLAND/AFP/Getty Images

"The Pillars of the Earth" and Historical Fiction

In 1989, Follett made a bold creative shift with "The Pillars of the Earth," abandoning spy fiction in favor of an epic historical narrative about the construction of a cathedral in 12th-century England. Initially, publishers were skeptical of the book's commercial prospects, but it became a massive hit through word-of-mouth and sustained popularity over decades. Readers were drawn to its intricate portrayal of medieval life and the sweeping human drama surrounding ambition, faith, and architecture.

The book spawned a series that became Follett's signature achievement. "World Without End" (2007) continued the story two centuries later, while "A Column of Fire" (2017) explored religious conflict in the Elizabethan era. In 2020, Follett returned to the origins of Kingsbridge with the prequel "The Evening and the Morning," set at the end of the Dark Ages. The Kingsbridge novels have collectively sold tens of millions of copies and inspired a popular television miniseries, securing Follett's reputation as one of the foremost writers of historical fiction.

"The Century Trilogy" and Later Work

Following the success of Kingsbridge, Follett embarked on another ambitious project: "The Century Trilogy," a sweeping narrative chronicling the political and social upheavals of the 20th century. Beginning with "Fall of Giants" (2010), the trilogy follows five interrelated families from different nations through World War I, World War II, and the Cold War in "Winter of the World" (2012) and "Edge of Eternity" (2014). The series was praised for its scope, historical accuracy, and ability to humanize global events through compelling personal stories.

Follett continued to expand his body of work into the 2020s. In 2021, he published "Never," a standalone political thriller set in the modern era that imagines the chain of events that could lead to a new world war. Despite being best known for historical fiction, Follett has maintained his talent for tension and narrative pace across genres.

Personal Life and Legacy

Ken Follett has been married twice and is the father of several children. Since 1985, he has been married to Barbara Follett, a former British Labour Party Member of Parliament. The couple has long been active in political and charitable causes, including literacy initiatives and Welsh cultural projects.

Over a career spanning more than five decades, Follett has sold over 180 million books worldwide. His novels have been translated into more than 30 languages, and he has remained a fixture on international bestseller lists for over forty years. Critics have praised his ability to combine historical authenticity with narrative drive, making complex periods of history accessible to millions of readers.

Ken Follett's influence on modern historical fiction is profound. His meticulous research, memorable characters, and cinematic storytelling have earned him a global audience and enduring literary legacy—one built, much like his fictional cathedrals, to stand the test of time.

Who's Richer?

Ken
Follett

Compare!

Dan
Brown