Harry Potter author JK Rowling earned a whopping £77 every minute of last year. The writer, who is currently penning the seventh and final book of the hugely popular series, raked in £41 million in 2005, over £100,000 a day.

The huge sum has been revealed by Forbes magazine in its list of the world’s top earning celebrities.

Despite her incredible income, Rowling was only placed ninth on the list.

Hollywood director Steve Spielberg topped the who’s who of star money-makers with earnings of £180 million for the year, £342 per minute.

US DJ Howard Stern — famed for his outrageous on-air behaviour — came second pocketing £163 million for the year, £311 a minute, while Star Wars creator George Lucas came third with earnings of £127 million in 2005, £242 per minute.

Oprah Winfrey, who raked in £122 million, which calculates as £240 per minute, and comic actor Jerry Seinfeld, who earned £54 million, £103 a minute, rounded out the top five.

Forbes researcher Hannah Clark was not surprised by the amount of directors and authors who made the top ten. She sad: “While celebrities grab headlines, it is rarely actors who make money. If you want to keep on making money long term, you need a winning franchise — and JK Rowling is proof of that.”

Forbes’ Top 10

1. Steven Spielberg: £180 million (Pay per minute: £342)

2. Howard Stern: £163 million (Per min: £311)

3. George Lucas: £127 million (Per min: £242)

4. Oprah Winfrey: £122 million (Per min: £240)

5. Jerry Seinfeld: £54 million (Per min: £103)

6. Golfer Tiger Woods: £49 million (Per min: £92)

7. Da Vinci Code author Dan Brown: £48 million (Per min: £90)

8. Pirates of the Caribbean producer Jerry Bruckheimer: £45 million (Per min: £87)

9. JK Rowling: £41 million (Per min: £77)

10. Law and Order creator Dick Wolf: £38 million (Per min: £72)