SHE is Britain’s most successful living author – worth close to £1billion and the mastermind of the global Harry Potter franchise worth 20 times that amount.
As JK Rowling turns 60 today, you could hardly blame friends of the reclusive writer for wondering what on Earth to get the woman who truly has everything.
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She did, after all, recently turn down a damehood (for the second time), telling friends: “I don’t want a title.”
What is certain, though, is that Ms Rowling — once a penniless single mum whose first Harry Potter novel was rejected by 12 major publishers — has never been one to sit back quietly and enjoy watching her vast fortune accumulate.
Today there is much to celebrate for the author, who has even out-sold Shakespeare.
Indeed, much like Prof Dumbledore, ageing is something she cherishes — recently blasting her fervent political opponents when she declared: “I hate to disappoint, but you don’t turn me into a quivering heap of anguish by telling me I am, or look, old.
“I’ve lost too many people too young to feel anything but celebratory about still being around in my sixtieth year and, if you’re lucky, you’ll feel that way one day, too.”
Despite guarding her home life fiercely, sharing it with her second husband Dr Neil Murray and their three children in a turreted 17th- century manor outside her native Edinburgh, those close enough to know her simply as “Jo” describe her as “incredibly good company, generous and a live wire when she wants to be”, who “will celebrate 60 in style”.
As one source adds: “She’s a secret party animal when she’s in the mood — but she’s happiest with close friends, away from the spotlight.”
Rowling regularly throws lavish but highly secretive parties at her Scottish estate — most recently on New Year’s Eve where her Hogmanay bash resembled a major festival, according to locals, who told of fireworks, fairground rides and live music.
Reports at the time claimed celebrity guests including U2, The Pretenders and Daniel Craig may have been among the revellers.
And she has hosted lavish parties for other birthdays — often with a fancy-dress theme — including her 50th, which invited celeb pals to dress as “your own private nightmare”.
But insiders say her favourite spot to unwind with pals and celebrate is critically lauded West London eatery The River Café, run by colourful American chef Ruth Rogers.
There she has been known to host raucous female-only lunches attended by a close-knit circle of feminist activists who have become her most trusted confidantes in recent years.
Attendees have revealed that in a respectful nod to friends — many of whom are highly accomplished but leagues away in terms of wealth — she quietly picks up the bill, often including specially selected vintage champagne, without discussion.
As one source explains: “It could be awkward sitting with a billionaire, worrying about keeping up, but Jo really looks after her friends.
“Nobody ever feels inferior.
“She takes care of things, picks great wine or champagne — that’s her favourite — and when it comes to settling the bill you find she has already sorted it out.
“She’s brilliant company, funny — outrageous sometimes — and doesn’t shy away from saying, ‘Let’s stay for another one’.
“Her birthday will be no different — she’s looking forward to celebrating with the people she loves.”
‘BRUTAL BACKLASH’
Rowling also has a superyacht.
Well, a billionaire has to have some toys at her disposal.
But while the writer is revered in some quarters and hailed as an advocate for women, she has also become one of Britain’s most outspoken and, at times, controversial celebrities.
Despite rarely giving interviews, her unfiltered approach to social media, particularly when discussing gender rights issues, has made her a hero to many — but a demonised pariah in other quarters, including A-list names who have publicly decried her views.
It all started with a tweet in 2020, where she mocked the phrase “people who menstruate,” and drew a clear distinction between bio- logical women and transgender people who identify as female.
The backlash was instant — and brutal.
Accusations of transphobia flew.
Activists called for boycotts of her books, and the celeb world she had made her own began to take sides.
But far from apologise, she published a long and deeply personal essay defending her stance, revealing her own experiences as a survivor of domestic abuse, and insisting she had the right — and duty — to speak up for women.
What followed was a full-scale culture war — one in which Rowling, far from backing down, planted her flag and dug in.
She was labelled a TERF, vilified online, dropped from events and shouted down by campaigners.
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Most famously, her unflinching views have placed her at odds with the young stars of the Potter films who she helped propel to global superstardom — including Daniel Radcliffe, who released a statement in response to her views — though he later admitted he was “really sad” about their disagreement.
Daniel’s fellow Potter star Emma Watson followed — prompting Rowling to admit she would not forgive the pair, who she said had “used their platform to cheer on the transitioning of minors”.
And singer Ed Sheeran raced to shoot down reports he had attended one of the writer’s parties, calling the claims “divisive and damaging” in a bid to distance himself from her views.
But she remains steadfast in her activism, demanding that “safe spaces” for biological women should be closed off to transgender women, and insisting “no child is born in the ‘wrong body’,” prompting clashes with campaigners which have even sparked calls for her to be arrested.
There is no denying, though, that the backlash appears to have reduced the frequency of her public appearances amid fears she could become the target of more abuse and even violence.
As one insider explains: “Jo is hugely proud of her stance and never backs down — but she doesn’t want to put herself in danger either.
“She is careful about where she goes, what events she attends, and how she travels to and from them.
“She knows the possibility of aggression is very real.
You do not want to cross an angry Jo
Rowling insider
“She also has a team of lawyers on hand, watching everything.
“You do not want to cross an angry Jo.”
But the controversies have failed to make a significant dent in her fortune, which has been further supplemented by a detective series under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith, plus a Broadway and London stage show spin-off of the wizarding world on which she built her career.
Theme park franchises, video games and other merchandise helped make her the first author to reach billionaire status, though she has given away substantial sums — notably many millions to multiple sclerosis causes in memory of her late mother, alongside Women’s Aid and children’s welfare charities.
But most significant is a big-budget reboot of the Harry Potter franchise, which began filming this month with a new cast of young actors, reimagining the books for a television series produced and financed by US TV giant HBO.
Scheduled for release in early 2027, it promises to bring the story of Hogwarts to a new generation of fans and will inevitably bring a vast new cash injection to her coffers.
Indeed, she couldn’t resist a jibe after news of the reported £100million deal sent her critics into a fit of fury — trolling her detractors with a post on X/Twitter, reminding them that the cheques “still have my name on”.
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While she is undeniably divisive, JK’s literary achievement remains a global juggernaut — and one which even Daniel Radcliffe admits has proven a force for good to millions of children.
She changed the world of publishing, and reignited a love of reading for a generation of kids more usually drawn to video games, and turned a boarding school fantasy into a multi-billion-pound universe that defined a generation.
Her stories taught children about courage, loss, loyalty and the power of words.
She also made being a bookworm something to be proud of, with millions of young fans proudly dressing up as her characters annually for World Book Day.
Perhaps that’s the perfect birthday gift for the woman who has everything — whatever her detractors may say.
Friend to many and A hero to millions
By Julie Bindel, activist and friend of JK Rowling
FIRST, she brings magic to millions upon millions of children, then she sets up charities to alleviate child poverty and suffering in countries most people in the West do not concern themselves with.
Then she sees that women – and some men – are being pilloried, maligned, sacked from their jobs and expelled from college courses for saying that men (including predatory, convicted child rapists) should not be allowed in female-only spaces and facilities.
Next, she becomes involved in opposing the men’s rights movement known as gender ideology.
Never, ever bigoted against transgender people or anyone wishing to live differently from the norm, her eye is only on keeping women and children safe from rape, domestic violence, stalking and harassment.
When trans activists and their allies wilfully misconstrue her words, Jo writes an essay, made public on her website, in which she reveals herself to be a survivor of sexual assault and domestic abuse, and explains that this is why she understands the need to condemn these acts and keep women and girls safe.
Jo is the best friend imaginable, and her unwavering support and concern for the suffering of others will never be made public.
The “be kind” brigade are shouting into the abyss about one of the kindest human beings I have ever met.
When women have been forced to defend legal cases of terrible discrimination against them simply for knowing the difference between a man claiming to be a woman and an actual woman, my friend JK set up a fund to finance them.
Unlike the vast majority of heterosexuals, she has gone out of her way to support lesbians.
So happy birthday, Jo!
Women like you – who make the world a better, safer place for women and girls, and for gays and lesbians – come along once in a lifetime.
Thank goodness you did.
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