Author
What makes her powerful: Even though the Harry Potter series has long since ended, the legacy lives on, and there's no denying Rowling's continued influence in the world of literature and pop culture. She also became the first billionaire author, and is still cashing in on the boy wizard 17 years later. She retained the digital rights to her novels, rather than signing them over to her publisher, and launched an online store so she can sell the e-books directly to readers. The Pottermore site allows Rowling to reap 100% of sales.
Since "Harry Potter," Rowling has written two adult novels, "The Casual Vacancy" and "The Cuckoo's Calling," which both became instant bestsellers. She's also returning to the wizarding world, writing the screenplay for a Harry Potter spinoff starring Eddie Redmayne. The film, "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them," will be out next year.