The creator of Robert Langdon and the "Da Vinci Code" thriller novels moved up from last year’s ranking thanks to the release of the fourth book in the series, “Inferno,” which sold more than $1.4 million copies in the US and is now reportedly in development for the big screen. His earnings went from $22 million in 2013 to $28 million this year.

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Dan Brown speaking at Avery Fisher Hall in New York City.