11. Spent a truckload of money on charity
JK Rowling is known as a generous philanthropy. Sometimes even too generous. In fact, British tax was not the only thing costing her the spot in Forbes billionaire list. She has spent hundreds of million dollars for her charity work (around $160 million in total of taxes and donations combined).
There are two main causes which she pours her time, effort, and money to the most. They are anti-poverty and children’s welfare. Those are pretty much influenced by her own struggles before she hit the Harry Potter jackpot.
About twelve years ago, she founded Lumos, a foundation for children. She once auctioned one of the very rare handwritten The Tales of Beedle the Bard books with the proceeds going to this foundation. It was sold for £1.95 million and became one of the most expensive books in the world.
Today, she is the president of Gingerbread, a charity foundation to help families of single parent. Before that, she established the Volant Charitable Trust which spends at least £5 million a year to fight poverty and social inequality.
