Joanne Rowling (born July 31, 1965) is the British author of the internationally famous series of children's fantasy stories concerning the exploits of the boy wizard Harry Potter. She was born in Chipping Sodbury, South Gloucestershire. She is said to be the richest woman in the United Kingdom (even richer than Queen Elizabeth II).

As her publisher, Bloomsbury, wanted to use initials on the cover of the Harry Potter books (suggesting that if they put an obviously female name on the cover, young boys might be reluctant to buy them), Rowling chose to adopt her grandmother's middle name of "Kathleen".

In February 2004, Rowling was listed by Forbes magazine as having a fortune of £576 million making her a US$ billionaire and becoming the first person in history to become a billionaire by writing books.