80. DANIELLE STEEL

$390 million SOURCE: Books AGE: 73 • RESIDENCE: San Francisco SELF-MADE SCORE: 7

Steel, the most prolific romance novelist after Nora Roberts (No. 78), published six novels in the past 10 months, making an estimated $18 million before taxes and management fees. Her earnings are boosted by her popularity overseas; she was the 15th-top-selling author in the U.K. in 2020, according to Nielsen Book Research.