Jul 24

Jul 24 19 Best Selling Authors of All Time

Reading books from the best selling authors of all time is one of the great pleasures of being a book lover. These are the writers whose stories transcend generations, languages, and cultures, becoming essential parts of our literary landscape. There's something special about picking up a book that has sold hundreds of millions of copies—you know you’re holding a piece of global culture in your hands.

But "best selling author" can mean a lot of things. Some authors have a blockbuster series that sells out for a decade (think Harry Potter), while others have steady, massive sales over decades or even a century. With so many selling authors to consider—from crime masters to romance legends and horror icons—I’m sharing a round-up of the best selling authors of all time. This list will help you explore the giants whose books shaped reading trends worldwide.

Best Selling Authors of All Time

Before diving into the names, let’s talk a little about what makes someone a “best selling author of all time.” Understanding this can help set your expectations—these aren’t necessarily critics’ darlings (though many are); they’re the writers whose work moves millions of readers to buy, share, and revisit their books over and over again.

Sometimes "best-selling" is about lifetime sales. Other times, it's driven by a single phenomenon like Harry Potter or a series of NY Times Best Seller hits over decades. Either way, these authors have crafted stories people can’t put down.

Why Are There So Many Best-Selling Authors?

It's a good question—if "best selling" means selling the most, shouldn't there be just a handful at the very top? But there are so many selling authors on this list because "best-selling" is both a snapshot and a lifetime achievement. Some sell 400 million copies over 30 years, others hit 800 million copies over a century.

The book market is also huge and global. Translations, adaptations (including TV series and movies), and evolving formats (paperback, ebook, audiobook) make it easier than ever for authors to sell in massive numbers. It's not just about one big launch; it's about staying power and reach.

What Makes A Best Selling Author of All Time

So what sets these legends apart from other best-selling authors?

Compelling storytelling: They know how to hook readers and keep them turning pages.
Memorable characters: Think of Harry Potter, Hercule Poirot, or the countless strong women in Danielle Steel novels.
Genre mastery: Whether it’s crime, romance, fantasy, horror, or children’s literature, these authors deliver exactly what their audience wants—often better than anyone else.
Global appeal: Many authors on this list have been translated into dozens of languages, letting them build massive international readerships.
Adaptability: Their works inspire movies, TV series, and cultural phenomena, fueling even more sales.

How to Become A Best-Selling Author of All Time

Tell Universal Stories

Readers everywhere connect to stories about love, loss, mystery, adventure, and personal growth. Writing about themes with universal resonance helps build a wide audience.

Build a Memorable Series

Many top sellers have series that keep readers coming back for more: Harry Potter, Alex Cross, Goosebumps. A series can become a brand all its own.

Master a Genre

Stephen King dominates horror. James Patterson rules crime. Danielle Steel is synonymous with romance. Deep expertise and consistent delivery can win readers’ loyalty.

Embrace Adaptations

Movies and TV series supercharge book sales. Authors whose work is easily adaptable often see a huge boost in visibility and sales.

Think Long-Term

Most authors on this list didn’t do it overnight. Decades of consistent writing and publishing (and marketing) build the kind of career that sells 300 million, 400 million, or even 800 million copies.

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Who Are the Best Selling Authors of All Time

Below I’m sharing a selection of best selling authors of all time, with notes on their work, style, and massive sales numbers.

Agatha Christie

Widely cited as the best selling author of all time in fiction (after the Bible and Shakespeare), Christie is believed to have sold over 2 billion copies, with 750 million in English alone. Known for Poirot and Miss Marple, her intricate plots and twist endings set the gold standard for mystery. She's translated into over 100 languages and remains hugely popular a century after her first publication.

I think I'd be great friends with Agatha Christie's Miss Marple. As mentioned earlier in this interview, Miss Marple appears in several of Christie's novels. I want to befriend Miss Marple because I enjoy cultivating multigenerational friendships. One of my dearest friends was about five decades older than me. It was an unlikely bond, but it taught us so much. I've found that befriending kind, curious people not typically within my social or economic circle makes my life more bountiful. Plus, it's just fun to explore generational nuances like social norms and slang. - An excerpt from my author interview with Camille Cabrera

William Shakespeare

Though more a playwright and poet than novelist, no list of selling authors is complete without Shakespeare. Estimates suggest over 4 billion copies of his works sold in various formats. His themes of love, power, betrayal, and ambition have timeless appeal and are constantly adapted.

…for me the greatest author of all time is William Shakespeare. - An excerpt from my author interview with William J. Borak

Barbara Cartland

A romance icon with an estimated 600 million copies sold. Cartland wrote over 700 novels with her signature historical romance style: chaste heroines, dashing heroes, and dramatic plots that defined a generation of love stories.

As a teenager I read my mother's books that came through the Doubleday subscription. I had just finished reading Star by Danielle Steele and I kept thinking of all the things I would have done differently in the story. That inspired me to begin writing my own stories and plays that I never let anyone see. So it wasn't really my intention at that point to become a published author. That goal didn't come until later in life, but the reason was still the same, I just wanted to be able to tell stories my way. - An excerpt from my author interview with Lacey Baker

Danielle Steel

The queen of contemporary romance, Steel has sold more than 800 million copies worldwide. Her books often hit the Times Best Seller lists multiple times a year, featuring stories of family, heartbreak, resilience, and love. She’s one of the most reliable selling authors of the past 50 years.

[The book character I’d want to be stuck in an elevator with is] Hermione Granger from Harry Potter, by J.K. Rowling. With her book smarts and quick wand work, Hermione would have us out of that elevator in no time! Even if Hermione wasn't able to pull off an instant "Alohomora" spell to pry open the elevator doors, we'd have a great conversation about books and I'm positive I'd leave that elevator with many, many wonderful recommendations to add to my reading list. - An excerpt from my author interview with Jesse Palmer

J.K. Rowling

The Harry Potter series alone has sold over 500 million copies, making her one of the most famous selling authors in history. Rowling’s blend of magical world-building, memorable characters, and classic themes of friendship and courage made her books an instant classic and inspired blockbuster films.

James Patterson

Famous for his prolific output and collaborations, Patterson has sold around 400 million copies. He’s the undisputed king of crime thrillers, known for short, punchy chapters, relentless pacing, and characters like Alex Cross. He also dominates the NY Times Best Seller lists, often with multiple books at once.

When I was at school, if anyone asked me what I wanted to do, I said I wanted to be a writer. The problem was I don’t think I quite knew what that meant and I certainly didn’t realize however much you might aspire to write, you need something else to pay the bills.

My first effort to become a writer came in my twenties when I wrote some stage plays. My dream was to become Arthur Miller but however nice people were about the plays I wrote, none were ever produced.

Fifteen years ago, I sat down and wrote a novel about the breakup of a marriage and it has lived in the bottom drawer of my desk ever since. It was only after I’d worked with James Patterson on his BOOKSHOTS short story series that I had the confidence to sit down and write a thriller. - An excerpt from my author interview with Robert Gold

Stephen King

The master of horror (but also fantasy, crime, and literary fiction), Stephen King has sold over 400 million copies. His books are renowned for vivid characters, deep psychological themes, and chilling plots. Many have become classic TV series and films, from It to The Shining.

[The last book I read was] "If It Bleeds" by Stephen King. I have loved every book I've read by Stephen King, and this was no exception. He has an incredible ability to build characters in short or long-form stories and weave moving tales simultaneously. "If It Bleeds" is a collection of short stories, and I personally recommend "The Life of Chuck" from the collection. Beautiful story! - An excerpt from my author interview with Caroline Kjos

Paulo Coelho

Brazil’s most famous author, Coelho is best known for The Alchemist, which alone has sold over 65 million copies. Overall, he’s sold more than 300 million books, with a deeply spiritual, accessible style that resonates worldwide. If you’re curious about other authors who write in this vein, check out this post on best contemporary romance authors.

Paulo Coelho inspires me, I especially enjoy his book "The Alchemist." The contrast of simple, yet universal truths and questions give way to both reader and character aspirations and thoughts. I appreciate that the novel can create a sense of reflection through a character's journey. - An excerpt from my author interview with Lisabeth Lange

R.L. Stine

The king of children’s horror, Stine is best known for the Goosebumps series. He has sold more than 400 million copies, making him one of the best selling authors of all time for younger readers. His accessible, creepy-but-not-too-scary style turned a whole generation into avid readers.

I was obsessed with R.L. Stine's Goosebumps books when I was in elementary school, but it wasn't until I graduated to Fear Street books that I knew I wanted to write, too. I read The Thrill Club and as soon as I finished, I broke out my notebook and multicolor pen and wrote my first story (pretty sure it was about the ghost of a murdered child haunting the new kid who moved into his old house). - An excerpt from my author interview with Mandy McHugh

Sidney Sheldon

With over 300 million books sold, Sheldon is a master of suspenseful plots and glamorous settings. He moved seamlessly from TV series writing to novels, delivering twisty, addictive reads that made him a global star.

[The moment I knew I wanted to be an author was] When I opened my first Sidney Sheldon novel as an eleven-year-old. Growing up in Pakistan, I used to purchase second-hand books from roadside stalls. Sidney Sheldon was contraband - my mother did not want me reading such 'mature' books at my age. That heightened the excitement. I loved the highly complex strong but flawed female characters and longed to create such characters myself one day. - An excerpt from my author interview with HS Burney

Jeffrey Archer

Best known for political thrillers and family sagas, Archer has sold an estimated 320 million books. His writing is marked by compelling storytelling, twists, and strong characters. He’s also an example of an author whose personal life and controversies didn’t stop his sales from soaring.

[I draw inspiration from] Liane Moriarity and Jeffrey Archer for their abilities to weave intricate plots with surprise twists. - An excerpt from my author interview with Wendy Katzman

Enid Blyton

Book description

As soon as I learned how to read, I knew I wanted to write because rearranging letters to create different meanings felt like alchemy. I wrote and illustrated my first book when I was 7. It was mostly just The Magic Faraway Tree fan fiction because I was obsessed with Enid Blyton. Early reviews from my teacher and cousins weren't great (my teacher marked it up in red ink and my cousins ripped a few pages out of it), but it at least taught me early on that everyone's a critic! - An excerpt from my author interview with Bianca Marais

Leo Tolstoy

Russian classic author whose works like War and Peace and Anna Karenina have sold hundreds of millions of copies. His psychological depth and moral philosophy give his books a lasting appeal.

[The author I draw inspiration from is] Leo Tolstoy. I'd read avidly from the time I was four years old, and the bookmobile coming to our country crossroads every two weeks was the most exciting thing to happen when I was growing up. I've enjoy so many stories, and so many authors, but the first time I read Anna Karenina, suddenly, during the steeplechase scene, I was right there, watching and holding my breath. I'd never been so fully drawn into a story before, so I try my best, with each book, to invite my readers into my characters' worlds. - An excerpt from my author interview with JoAnn Ross

Dr. Seuss

The whimsical, rhyming children’s author whose books sold over 600 million copies worldwide. With a unique visual style and rhythm, his work remains essential for young readers.

[The book character I’d like to be stuck in an elevator with is] The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss. I imagine him stopping at every elevator and making things happen. And in between floors, he would VROOM away 20 pounds of me, VOOM away the cottage cheese texture of my upper arms, and VROOM away all my aches and pains. - An excerpt from my author interview with Galina Vromen

Nora Roberts

Prolific romance writer with over 500 million copies sold. She’s known for compelling characters, small-town settings, and seamless genre blending, including her J.D. Robb mysteries.

It was the summer after fifth grade, and I wandered into the adult section of my local library where I found a beautiful paperback with a peachy beach scene on it. Inner Harbor by Nora Roberts. That was it! After that book, I knew I wanted to write stories that made people feel the same way for the rest of my life. - An excerpt from my author interview with Nisha Sharma

Harold Robbins

Though less talked about today, Robbins was one of the first blockbuster novelists, with over 750 million copies sold. His sexy, sensational tales helped invent the modern commercial novel.

Charles Dickens

A true classic whose sales over time are in the hundreds of millions. Dickens’s vivid characters and serialized plots made him the superstar of Victorian literature, with adaptations still fueling interest today.

For a good thick plot, with twists and turns and coincidences, maybe a dash of financial crime, and a chorus line of great background characters, I always turn to Charles Dickens, in particular Bleak House. - An excerpt from my author interview with Melodie Edwards

J.R.R. Tolkien

His Middle-earth tales (The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings) have sold over 300 million copies. Tolkien set the standard for modern fantasy, inspiring countless writers and adaptations.

I mean it’s obvious, really. [I’d want to be stuck in an elevator with] Bilbo Baggins from J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit. First of all, I’d have to explain what an elevator is, but once that was done, I’m sure he’d have “pocketses" full of delicious food. Hobbits never travel without it, after all. And, I mean, there would be grog. Wherever there are hobbits, there’s grog. And songs! We’d pass the time eating, getting drunk, and singing bawdy bar songs. He’d tell me tales of his travels with the dwarves and I’d explain how I’ve renovated my home, Hobbiton, to look like a place where he’d feel at home. If you have to be stuck in an elevator, anyone else would be a bore. - An excerpt from my author interview with Ruby Peru

George R.R. Martin

While newer to this pantheon, Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series (which inspired Game of Thrones) has sold tens of millions of copies and is a cultural phenomenon, proving that modern fantasy can stand with the classics.

If you’re looking for even more great writers to explore, especially in historical settings, check out my post on the best historical fiction authors.

Reading the best selling authors of all time isn’t just about seeing what everyone else loves (though that’s fun!). It’s about understanding storytelling at its most effective. These are the writers who cracked the code: they know how to entertain, move, and keep readers coming back for more.

Whether you're diving into Stephen King’s horror, Danielle Steel’s emotional romances, or Agatha Christie’s twisty mysteries, you're reading the work of masters. And if you're an aspiring writer, there’s no better education than reading the books that sold hundreds of millions of copies.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive compensation if you make a purchase using this link. Thank you for supporting this blog and the books I recommend! I may have received a book for free in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

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