Who Are the World’s Wealthiest Manga Creators? New Data Tells All.

Who Are the World’s Wealthiest Manga Creators? New Data Tells All.Who Are the World’s Wealthiest Manga Creators? New Data Tells All.

As a seasoned gamer and avid manga reader, I can’t help but marvel at the financial success of these mangaka giants. It’s mind-boggling to think about the amount of money these artists have made from their creations. It’s like striking it rich with a rare Pokémon card or winning the lottery every single month!


It might appear that creating manga is a pleasurable task, but it’s essential to understand that it’s not an effortless job. Behind the scenes, there are notoriously long working hours and the high level of talent required to produce a quality manga. Manga artists often need to work tirelessly. Over time, the manga industry has experienced ups and downs, but recently, the world has taken notice, opening up new opportunities for top creators. As a result, many prominent manga artists are thriving financially, with recent data suggesting that some of the highest earners in the industry are becoming quite popular online.

The latest news arrived in two instalments: firstly, when Yen Press attended New York Comic Con this autumn, and secondly, they revealed the intricacies of how a manga creator’s income is structured. Interestingly, it was disclosed that manga artists receive their payment in stages. To begin with, they typically earn around $88 USD per page; however, this figure can vary based on expertise. Inexperienced creators might earn less, while seasoned professionals could potentially earn more than double the rate for their work. This initial payment is common practice across the industry, but what truly distinguishes manga artists in terms of wealth is the sales of their work.

One Piece’s Eiichiro Oda Leads the List of Wealthiest Mangaka

Based on information provided by Kadokawa and Yen Press, manga creators typically receive 10% of the revenue generated by each volume sold. This translates to a creator earning approximately $0.40 for every $4 USD volume sold in Japan. In other words, if a million copies of a manga volume are sold, the creator would earn around $327,000 USD. With this amount in perspective, netizen mangaxrepublic calculated the potential earnings of top-selling manga creators from their sales.

To begin with, it’s hardly unexpected that Eiichiro Oda reached the finish line, given that:

Who Are the World’s Wealthiest Manga Creators? New Data Tells All.

As we continue to tally up the earnings, the creators of Doraemon find themselves on par with Takao Saito, the mind behind Golga 13, regarding royalties. Their collective income from sales alone surpasses $120 million USD. The top five earners are then completed by two well-known names: Akira Toriyama and Gosho Aoyama. Toriyama, with a total of $118 million, benefits from several series bolstering his royalties; Dragon Ball being the main contributor with over 260 million copies sold, but other titles like Dr. Slump and Sand Land have also played a part. Similarly, Aoyama’s wealth can be attributed to Detective Conan and Yaiba.

If you want to read this rest of the royalty rundown, no sweat. You can read the list below:

  1. Eiichiro Oda
  2. Fujiko F. Fujio (Duo)
  3. Takao Saito
  4. Akira Toriyama
  5. Gosho Aoyama
  6. Takehiko Inoue
  7. Masashi Kishimoto
  8. Rumiko Takahashi
  9. Mitsuru Adachi
  10. Osamu Tezuka

Manga Creators Make Most of Their Money Outside of Publishing

By examining this data, you’ll notice that the highest-selling mangas generate substantial income through royalties. However, the financial success of these creators extends well beyond these earnings. For instance, someone like Oda has such a vast fortune that money seems inconsequential to him. The net worth of top manga creators is immense, and this wealth continues to grow as anime gains international popularity.

In Oda’s situation, his royalty earnings place him among the highest earners in the manga industry, and his additional ventures have significantly boosted his overall wealth. With an estimated net worth exceeding $200 million USD, Oda plays a substantial role in the licensing of One Piece. This includes the Netflix live-action version, Universal Studios events, and merchandise lines such as clothing collections, all of which contribute to his income.

In terms of financial resources, it’s not always the case that manga royalties determine who is wealthier. For instance, Rumiko Takahashi, with an estimated net worth of over $70 million USD, has amassed her fortune not solely from her manga royalties, but also through her prestigious reputation and successful anime adaptations. This principle applies to creators like Hajime Isayama (of “Attack on Titan”) and Tite Kubo (of “Bleach”). While manga sales are crucial for success in the industry, they are only the beginning. Artists can significantly increase their earnings through licensing, a fact that newcomers such as Takeru Hokazono from “Kagurabachi” are learning firsthand.

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2024-10-27 22:39