| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Erika Leonard James |
| Birthdate | March 7, 1963 |
| Birthplace | London, England |
| Education | Degree in History from the University of Kent |
| Notable Works | “Fifty Shades of Grey” series |
| Writing Career | Started writing fan fiction in 1999 |
| Self-Published | “Fifty Shades of Grey” as an e-book and print-on-demand paperback in 2011 |
| International Bestseller | “Fifty Shades of Grey” sold over 150 million copies worldwide |
| Film Adaptations | “Fifty Shades of Grey,” “Fifty Shades Darker,” and “Fifty Shades Freed” |
| Net Worth | Estimated $150 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth |
E.L. James is a British author and entrepreneur best known for her bestselling novel series “Fifty Shades of Grey.” Born as Erika Mitchell on March 7, 1963, in London, England, James initially pursued a career in television before transitioning to writing.
James started writing “Fifty Shades of Grey” as fan fiction for the “Twilight” series, originally publishing the story online under the pen name Snowqueen’s Icedragon. The novel’s success led to a publishing deal, and it was released as an e-book and print-on-demand paperback in 2011 by The Writers’ Coffee Shop, an independent Australian publisher.
“Fifty Shades of Grey” became a sensation, topping bestseller lists around the world and selling over 150 million copies. The novel and its sequels, “Fifty Shades Darker” and “Fifty Shades Freed,” have been translated into over 50 languages and adapted into a highly successful film franchise.
In addition to her writing career, James is also a successful entrepreneur. She founded Fifty Shades Ltd, a company that manages the intellectual property rights to her novel series and related merchandise. The company has been highly profitable, with Forbes estimating that James earned $95 million in 2012 and $10 million in 2013 from book and film royalties.
As of 2021, E.L. James has an estimated net worth of $150 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. She continues to write and has published several other novels, including “The Mister” and “Darker: Fifty Shades Darker as Told by Christian.”
Here’s a timeline of E.L. James:
- 1963: Erika Mitchell (later known as E.L. James) is born on March 7 in London, England.
- 1987: James graduates from the University of Kent with a degree in history.
- 1999: James begins writing fan fiction for the “Twilight” series under the pen name Snowqueen’s Icedragon.
- 2011: James self-publishes “Fifty Shades of Grey” as an e-book and print-on-demand paperback through The Writers’ Coffee Shop, an independent Australian publisher.
- 2012: “Fifty Shades of Grey” becomes a worldwide sensation, selling over 70 million copies in the first six months and topping bestseller lists around the world. James earns an estimated $95 million from book and film royalties in 2012.
- 2013: The “Fifty Shades” film adaptation is released, grossing over $570 million worldwide. James earns an estimated $10 million from royalties that year.
- 2015: James publishes “Grey: Fifty Shades of Grey as Told by Christian,” a retelling of the first novel from Christian Grey’s perspective.
- 2017: James releases “Darker: Fifty Shades Darker as Told by Christian,” a retelling of the second novel from Christian’s perspective.
- 2021: James publishes “Freed: Fifty Shades Freed as Told by Christian,” the final novel in the “Fifty Shades” series told from Christian’s perspective. James has an estimated net worth of $150 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
Here are 5 interesting facts and 5 quotes from E.L. James:
5 Interesting Facts:
- E.L. James originally wrote “Fifty Shades of Grey” as fan fiction for the “Twilight” series before publishing it as an original work.
- James initially self-published “Fifty Shades of Grey” as an e-book and print-on-demand paperback before being picked up by a major publisher.
- The “Fifty Shades” series has been translated into over 50 languages and has sold over 150 million copies worldwide.
- James founded Fifty Shades Ltd, a company that manages the intellectual property rights to her novel series and related merchandise.
- James is a former television executive and worked as a production executive for the UK’s National Film and Television School.
5 Quotes:
- “I suppose it’s a journey of discovery, a journey of love. It’s about finding that one person who makes your heart race.”
- “I think it’s important to keep an open mind about the things that you don’t know about.”
- “Writing is a lonely business, and writing erotica is an even lonelier one.”
- “Sometimes we don’t always have the courage to do the things that we want to do, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try.”
- “It’s not about what you say, it’s about how you say it.”
