The crime novelist ranked as No. 1 on Forbes' list. This should come as no surprise considering that Patterson published 13 novels this year, including a new installment in his "Alex Cross" series, about a psychologist who often works with the government. Titles of his such as "Along Came a Spider" have been adapted for TV and film, and a movie adaptation of his "Maximum Ride" series is planned for 2013. Forbes estimates Patterson's 2012 earnings at $94 million.

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