The highest estimate in this selected group belongs to Garfield creator Jim Davis, at $800 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. These figures are estimates—not audited disclosures—and this broad list includes comic-strip cartoonists and a manga creator alongside comic-book writers. It is not a definitive global ranking.
How to read this ranking
The figures below are the estimates published by Celebrity Net Worth in 2026, except for Stan Lee, whose figure is a historical estimate for 2018, the year he died. Public profiles do not disclose enough financial information to independently calculate any creator’s assets minus liabilities. Treat the amounts as rough reported estimates, not exact or verified personal wealth.
The category is broad by design: it includes creators of comic strips, a manga series and a book series that began online, as well as traditional comic-book writers. The available estimates do not establish a comprehensive worldwide top ten, and other creators may have greater private wealth or estimates not represented here.
| Rank | Creator | Published estimate | Why they are included |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jim Davis | $800 million | Garfield creator and licensing business |
| 2 | Matt Groening | $600 million | Cartoonist and creator of The Simpsons; also an animator and television producer |
| 3 | Todd McFarlane | $300 million | Comic-book creator, writer and entrepreneur |
| 4 | Eiichiro Oda | $200 million | One Piece creator, writer and illustrator |
| 5 | Jeff Kinney | $80 million | Diary of a Wimpy Kid began as an online comic-strip series |
| 6 | Gary Larson | $70 million | The Far Side creator |
| 7 | Mark Millar | $25 million | Scottish comic-book writer |
| 8 | Stan Lee | $20 million at death in 2018 | Historical estimate, not a current living-person figure |
| 9 | Chris Claremont | $10 million | Comic-book writer and novelist known for Uncanny X-Men |
| 10 | Brian Michael Bendis | $4 million | Comic-book writer and artist known for Ultimate Spider-Man and New Avengers |
All living-creator estimates in the table are attributed to Celebrity Net Worth’s Jim Davis profile, Matt Groening profile, Todd McFarlane profile, Eiichiro Oda profile, Jeff Kinney profile, Gary Larson profile, Mark Millar profile, Stan Lee profile, Chris Claremont profile and Brian Michael Bendis profile. The publisher does not supply a reproducible valuation method for these figures.
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Who are the richest comic creators on this list?
1. Jim Davis — $800 million estimate
Davis created Garfield, and Celebrity Net Worth connects his fortune to the licensing business built around the strip. Licensing and franchise activity can extend a creator’s earning opportunities beyond writing or drawing, but the estimate does not reveal how much comes from any particular source.
2. Matt Groening — $600 million estimate
Groening created The Simpsons and is also identified as an animator and television producer. His estimated wealth therefore should not be read as money earned solely from comic writing.
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3. Todd McFarlane — $300 million estimate
McFarlane’s career spans comic-book creation and business. The profile connects him with The Amazing Spider-Man, Image Comics, Spawn and McFarlane Toys, making him a clear example of a creator whose work has been accompanied by entrepreneurial activity.
4. Eiichiro Oda — $200 million estimate
Oda created, writes and illustrates One Piece. Celebrity Net Worth reported that worldwide circulation for the series passed 600 million copies in March 2026. That is a publisher-reported circulation figure for the work, not Oda’s personal earnings or net worth.
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5. Jeff Kinney — $80 million estimate
Diary of a Wimpy Kid began as an online comic-strip series and became a printed book series. Kinney’s inclusion reflects the broad creator definition used here rather than a narrow focus on comic-book scripts.
6. Gary Larson — $70 million estimate
Larson created The Far Side. Celebrity Net Worth says collected books of the strip have sold more than 45 million copies; that sales figure describes the books, not the creator’s personal income.
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7. Mark Millar — $25 million estimate
Millar is explicitly described as a Scottish comic-book writer. The published estimate has low confidence because the profile does not explain a reproducible method for arriving at it.
8. Stan Lee — $20 million estimate at death
Lee’s figure is a historical estimate for his death in November 2018, not a current net worth. It should not be compared with living creators’ figures as if all were measured at the same time.
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9. Chris Claremont — $10 million estimate
Claremont is a comic-book writer and novelist best known for his work on Uncanny X-Men.
10. Brian Michael Bendis — $4 million estimate
Bendis is a comic-book writer and artist associated with Ultimate Spider-Man and New Avengers.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why creator fortunes are difficult to compare
A character’s popularity, a series’ circulation and a creator’s personal wealth are different measures. A work may sell widely or generate licensing and adaptation activity, but that alone does not establish what its creator received. Contracts, ownership stakes, expenses, taxes, liabilities and private investments all affect personal wealth, and the cited profiles do not provide a common accounting basis for comparing them.
Books of Brilliance’s 2026 roundup similarly cautions that net-worth rankings rely on estimates rather than audited financial statements and may shift with sources, currency conversions and the assets counted. That general warning does not verify this particular list or establish a definitive top ten.
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